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What a week. Last Thursday we revealed the inaugural edition of Power Players: Women Entrepreneurs Fueling FXBG's Growth to over 100 women entrepreneurs in downtown Fredericksburg and we are still riding that wave. If you missed it do not worry because the digital edition is waiting for you.
We also have some great news for crab lovers, the best outdoor dining guide we have ever put together, a stationery shop on Caroline Street you need to visit, and ice cream. Because it is almost summer and you deserve it.
Grab your coffee. Let's get into it. 💛
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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150 Women. One Magazine. One Unforgettable Night in Downtown Fredericksburg.
It is here. The inaugural edition of Power Players: Women Entrepreneurs Fueling FXBG's Growth.
The first-ever print and digital magazine dedicated entirely to the women building businesses and driving impact across Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania. One hundred and fifty women. One hundred and fifty stories. Pages filled with the faces, the journeys, and the businesses that make this region extraordinary every single day.
We revealed it last Thursday at River's End Speakeasy to a room of over 100 women entrepreneurs who had been featured inside it. Watching them hold it for the first time was something we will never forget.
👉 Read the digital edition here: fxbgneighbors.com/powerplayers
Riverside Decks. Rooftop Views. Biergartens. Your FXBG Outdoor Dining Guide Is Here.
Riverside decks on the Rappahannock. Rooftops at golden hour. Dog-friendly biergartens. Sidewalk cafés with people-watching built in. The Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania area is full of incredible outdoor dining and we put together the full guide so you can stop guessing and start reserving.
We organized everything by area with addresses, hours, and what to order.
Your patio awaits. 👉 Get the full guide here.
The Crabs Are Back. And Your Wallet Might Actually Survive the Summer.
Last year, the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population hit its second-lowest count on record. Prices went through the roof. Crab lovers everywhere shed a single Old Bay seasoned tear.
This year? A completely different story.
The latest winter dredge survey shows the overall blue crab population is up 46 percent from last year. Juvenile crabs are up a staggering 120 percent. Researchers at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources attribute the rebound to a mix of favorable weather and habitat conditions.
In other words. Start planning that crab feast. The bay is coming back. 🦀
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 33,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
There Are Shops You Walk Into Once and Shops You Walk Into Every Week. Duly Noted on Caroline Street Is the Second Kind.
On New Year's Day 2021, right in the middle of a global pandemic, Chris told his partner Tobin that his resolution for the year was to open a stationery shop. Tobin said yes. And here we are.
Duly Noted opened in Washington DC in March 2021 and less than two years later landed right where it belongs. Downtown Fredericksburg. 714 Caroline Street. A shop that somehow manages to make you feel calm and excited at the exact same time.
Inside you will find a Pen Bar stocked with writing instruments from Japan, France, and beyond. Notebooks in colors you did not know you needed. Greeting cards that say exactly what you have been trying to say for weeks. Stickers, washi tape, letter sets, art supplies, planners, studio pouches, and gifts that actually mean something. It is the kind of shop that makes you want to slow down, pick up something beautiful, and actually write more letters.
Fair warning. You will walk in for one thing and leave with six. 👉 Go see for yourself.
📍 714 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
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Community Digest
Seven Years. A Quarter Million Guests. Nearly 500 Flavors. Happy Birthday Abner B's. 🍦
Since 2018, Abner B's Ice Cream has been handcrafting some of the most creative and delicious ice cream in the region right in their downtown Fredericksburg shop. Seven years. A quarter million guests. Nearly 500 unique signature flavors.
This weekend, they are celebrating, and the community is invited to come scoop it up.
📍 821 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Business Owners. There is a $1 Million Prize Pool on the Table, and You Have Until June 10th.
The SBA just announced the Patriot Pitch Competition, part of their Freedom 250 initiative, celebrating 250 years of American entrepreneurship. Selected businesses will compete for a share of a $1 million prize pool and pitch live in Washington DC.
📅 Deadline: June 10, 2026
👉 Learn more and apply: preview.sba.gov/freedom-250
Dinner Club is Back with a New Date for June!
Six people. One table. A great meal and meaningful conversation.
How it works
Take a short personality quiz
Get matched with 5 compatible guests
We choose the restaurant and handle logistics
You just show up
📍 Downtown Fredericksburg 🗓️ June 17th at 6:30 PM
Can’t make it? Sign up to get updates on future dinners. Here’s to breaking bread and building something real.
She Left Social Work, Asked Herself One Question, and Built One of the Most Beautiful Event Companies in the FXBG Area.
Kathlynn Donald, Owner, Elevate Designs & Events
After a major season of personal transition Kathlynn Donald asked herself what she loved most. The answer was creating experiences that make people feel special. So in 2023 she founded Elevate Designs & Events and has not looked back since. Here is what she offers:
Custom event decor and design
Floral rentals
Custom backdrops
Day-of coordination
The fragrance bar & flower bar
Every detail is intentional. Every event is personal. And the community feels it. weelevatedesigns.com
House Hunch FXBG
Can you guess the price of this real estate listing in Stafford based on just one photo? Here’s a hint: 5 bd, 4.5 ba, around 5,300 sqft. on around 6 acres.
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Want to feature your listing in House Hunch FXBG? Respond to this email for info!
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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, May 27
Dog-Eared Book Club | 6:00PM
Location: The Barking Barley, 1515 Olde William Street, Fredericksburg
Spotsylvania Farmers Market | 2:00PM
Location: 9015 Old Battlefield Blvd, Spotsylvania
FREE Party Trivia Night | 6:00PM
Location: Brock's Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg
Magic: The Gathering | 6:00PM
Location: Strangeways Brewing FXBG, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg
Thursday, May 28
Lemon Door Hanger Workshop | 6:30PM
Location: Always Flavored, 619 Caroline St, Fredericksburg
Location: Tales & Tails, 1010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg
Location: Curated FXBG, 817 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg
Friday, May 29
Summer Bash with Jonathan Austin | 5:30PM
Location: John Lee Pratt Memorial Park, Fredericksburg
Location: FAM Market Square, 907, Princess Anne Street, Downtown, Fredericksburg
Location: Adventure Brewing Company, 4 Hazel Park Ln, Fredericksburg
