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Happy Tuesday, neighbor! ☀️
If this week had a theme, it would be four-legged friends! A #1 New York Times bestselling author is signing books at Tales & Tails this Saturday alongside adoptable puppies and a $10,000 donation match, and Bowl-A-Rama returns Sunday to benefit the Stafford Animal Shelter. Even the National Zoo is joining in with a weekend-long celebration of its newest baby elephant.
You'll also meet Fredericksburg's newest restaurant, discover a mahjong haven on Caroline Street, and find the August edition of Spotsylvania Living waiting for you.
Grab your coffee and let's dive in. 🌊
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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A #1 NYT Bestselling Author, Adoptable Puppies, and a $10,000 Match: Tales & Tails Hosts the Event of the Summer
Book lovers and dog lovers, this Saturday is for you! On August 8th, Tales & Tails Book Cafe on Charles Street welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner for a signing of her newest thriller, You'll Be Sorry, a story featuring two dogs at the heart of the plot. A thriller with dogs at a bookstore cafe built around them? It's a match made in Fredericksburg.
Here's everything happening:
Meet Lisa Gardner: The book signing kicks off at 2 PM. Timed entry tickets guarantee your signed copy and cost only the price of the book, nothing more. Grab yours at talesandtailsbookcafe.com
Puppies named after the characters: Tales & Tails sponsored a litter from the Old Dominion Humane Society and named the pups after Lisa's characters. Meet the adoptable puppies on site from 2 to 4 PM
Every purchase helps the pups: Lisa has generously agreed to match the day's sales up to $10,000 as a donation to Old Dominion Humane Society
All day counts: The store is open 8 AM to 7 PM, and ALL sales, including advance ticket purchases, count toward the $10,000 match
So whether you come for the thriller, the puppies, or the coffee, every dollar you spend helps local dogs find their homes.
Grab your timed signing ticket now at talesandtailsbookcafe.com and join the fun Saturday, August 8th at 1010 Charles Street in downtown Fredericksburg.
Come for the book, stay for the puppies!
Crab O'Clock Is Officially Open in Fredericksburg, and the Crowds Are Already Lining Up
Seafood lovers, there's a new spot in town! Crab O'Clock celebrated its grand opening last week at 4714 Mine Rd, and the community response has been overwhelming, in the best way. Whether you're planning a relaxing dinner, a date night, or a meal with family and friends, everything is freshly made to order, and the early word on the atmosphere, food, and experience has neighbors buzzing.
A few things to know before you go:
Everything is made fresh to order: As they put it, always worth the wait
Weekends are popular: To make sure every guest gets a great experience while the team finishes staffing and training, seating is temporarily limited on Saturdays and Sundays, so wait times may be a bit longer than usual
Patience pays off: Their philosophy is simple: they would rather serve fewer guests exceptionally well than rush the experience
Photo by @michael_ellis_photos
There's something special about being among the first to welcome a new local business, and this brand-new restaurant is growing and improving every single day. Let's show them some Fredericksburg love!
Plan your visit to Crab O'Clock at 4714 Mine Rd, Fredericksburg, or call (540) 370-7376. Pro tip: try a weekday visit to beat the weekend crowds!
Meet the Zoo's Newest Baby Elephant: EleFest Celebrates Linh Mai August 7th Through 9th
Here's a family adventure worth the drive north! The Smithsonian's National Zoo is throwing EleFest, a three-day World Elephant Day celebration honoring its newest Asian elephant calf, Linh Mai, from Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th, with a full weekend of free, family-friendly fun:
Photo credit: Brett Kuxhausen, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Elephant Day (Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM): Meet the herd's veterinarians, chat with keepers, and write a thank you postcard to the care team
Performances and activities: Thai and South Indian dance performances, elephant-themed story times from the DC Public Library, and a community chalk mural on Sunday
Tasty treats all month: Elephant cookies, "Linh Mai's Trunkful of Treats" ice cream, and the "Linh Mai Tai" cocktail (21+)
Plan your visit and get all the details on the National Zoo's website, then make it an elephant-sized weekend, August 7th through 9th!
Handmade Bowls, Soft Serve, and Shelter Pets: Bowl-A-Rama Returns to Corgi Clay Art Center August 8th
Ice cream tastes even sweeter when it helps animals find homes! On Saturday, August 8th from 12 to 4 PM, the Corgi Clay Art Center in Stafford hosts its annual Bowl-A-Rama. Pick a one-of-a-kind bowl handmade by the center's artists, teachers, and students ($15 each, any style or size), fill it with soft serve from the on-site ice cream truck, and enjoy art activities like paint pouring and live demonstrations throughout the day. Every bowl sale benefits the Stafford Animal Shelter!
Scoop up the fun on Saturday, August 8th from 12 to 4 PM at the Corgi Clay Art Center, 15 Tech Parkway, Stafford. Get all the details on the event page, and remember: come at noon, because the bowls go fast!
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 44,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
Ready to discover your genius and live your purpose? Join Janel Donohue and Charlie Evans for the Created for More wellness seminar on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Grab your tickets and learn more at faithfullyfitandfrugal.com/created-for-more
Community Digest
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🀄 MAHJ FXBG Is Now Open on Caroline Street!
Mahjong lovers, your new home base has arrived! MAHJ FXBG held its soft opening this past Saturday at 1011 Caroline Street, bringing open play, classes for newcomers and seasoned players alike, and a curated retail selection to downtown Fredericksburg.
In their words, it's about to be a BAM good time! Stop in, pull up a seat, and welcome this fun new addition to the neighborhood.
📍 1011 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg
🌐 mahjfxbg.com
🎨 No Rules, Just Art: "Artist's Choice" Opens at Canal Quarter Arts This Friday
Canal Quarter Arts is celebrating creative freedom with Artist's Choice, a show featuring varying mediums, subjects, and styles with no thematic constraints, just pure individuality. The show opens at the August First Friday reception on Friday, August 7th from 5 to 8:30 PM, then continues during regular business hours (daily, 11 AM to 5 PM) through Sunday, August 9th at 5 PM. Stop by, meet the artists, and see what happens when creativity gets free rein!
📍 Canal Quarter Arts, 1517 Princess Anne St. | 🌐 facebook.com/canalquarterarts
Spotsylvania Living Magazine is Here!
The August edition of Spotsylvania Living magazine is here, packed with the neighbors, stories, and local businesses that make our community shine. Click below to read the full issue!
What’s Happening In & Around the ‘Burg
Here are some of the top events happening soon. Always check with the venue for the latest details. Got an event coming up? Add it to our calendar.
Wednesday, August 5
FREE Wednesday Party Trivia Nights | 6:00PM
Location: Brock's Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia St, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Come for the trivia. Stay for the impact.
Knitting Club at Madame’s | 5:00PM
Location: Madame’s Oddities, 2011 Princess Anne Street Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We’ve got some pretty cool FREE events, hosted by pretty cool people lined up.
Muttflix and Chill | 6:00PM
Location: The Barking Barley, 1515 Olde William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Enjoy while drinking delicious local beers, eating the best hot dogs in Fredericksburg.
Live Music w/ Dave Nichols | 6:00PM
Location: Courtyard by Marriott Historic District, 620 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Come join us for a night of live music with the talented Dave Nichols.
Thursday, August 6
Mezeh Mediterranean Grill Grand Opening | 11:00PM
Location: Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, 815 Wonder Rd, Suite 100, Stafford, VA
Description: Enjoy customizable rice bowls, salads, and wraps with more than 40 fresh toppings, house-made dips, and sauces and more.
Supernatural Trivia Night | 6:45PM
Location: Strangeways Brewing, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We dive into the world of hunters, angels, demons, monsters, and everything in between.
Location: Folklore Rooftop Bar, 314 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Desciption: Fun raw bar pop up featuring fresh seafood, free merch and fun cocktails.
Friday, August 7
FXBG First Friday | 5:00PM
Location: Downtown Fredericksburg, VA, 601 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Enjoy extended shopping hours, gallery openings, live music, and unique pop-up experiences.
First Fridays Karaoke | 8:00PM
Location: Reclaim Arcade, 2324 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: It's your chance to grab the mic and belt out the greatests hits of the decades.
00s/10s Hip Hop Music Bingo | 6:30PM
Location: Laudenbach Brewing, 45 Centreport Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We'll pumping up the volume to these great Hip Hop tunes!
