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Happy Tuesday, neighbor! ☀️
This issue is your permission slip to make the most of summer. Restaurant Week kicks off this Friday, so we rounded up the area's best patios to help you pick the perfect table, river view included. Feeling adventurous? Virginia's first alpine coaster just opened 90 minutes west. And looking ahead to next week, River House Day Spa is turning girls' night into açaí bowls, flower bars, and fine-line tattoos on July 30th. However you spend it, there's a whole lot of summer left to enjoy.
Grab your coffee and let's dive in. 🌊
Dori
Poll: Restaurant Week starts Friday! What's your food personality? 🍴
Check out the participating restaurants here and start planning your food crawl.
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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Rooftops, Riverside Decks, and Dog-Friendly Patios Await 🌿
There's nothing quite like dining outdoors in this corner of Virginia, and Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania deliver in every direction. Watch the Rappahannock roll by from Brock's Riverside Grill, catch golden hour from Sky Bar's rooftop above William Street, or bring your pup to EATS Burgers for a "Yappy Meal" that gives back to the SPCA. Craving something different? There's a German biergarten at Alpine Chef, backyard charcuterie at Burg Charcuterie, $1 happy hour oysters at Port Oysteria, and those famous TikTok empanadas at Mama's Kitchen in Spotsy. From riverside decks to shaded Stafford cafés, we rounded up dozens of spots where the breeze is free and the view comes standard. Even better: many of these patios are part of Summer Restaurant Week, running July 24 through August 2, so you can pair the perfect view with a special menu.
Açaí, Flowers, and Fine-Line Tattoos? This Girls' Night Has It All 🌸
Round up your favorite people, because River House Day Spa is turning self-care into a whole event. For $75, your evening includes a fresh handcrafted açaí bowl, your own custom bouquet built at the Flower Bar, and a design-your-own succulent planter to take home, all set to great music in a gorgeous spa atmosphere. Want to make it memorable? Fine-line tattoos and piercings are available as add-ons for the brave (or the spontaneous). Whether it's a birthday, a long-overdue girls' night, or just a well-deserved treat, this is the kind of evening you'll be talking about for weeks.
The details 🌸
$75 per person: açaí bowl, Flower Bar bouquet & succulent planter
Fine-line tattoos and piercings available for an added cost
River House Day Spa, 5901 River Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
July 30th at 5 PM. Limited spots, reservation required
Reserve your spot at riverhousedayspa.com before they're gone.
Buckle Up: Virginia's First Alpine Coaster Is Here 🎢
Road trip alert! Massanutten Resort just opened Mountain Mayhem, Virginia's very first alpine coaster, and it's already blowing up on social media. Here's the twist: you control your own speed the entire ride, so you can bomb down the mountain or cruise slow enough to soak up the Shenandoah Valley views. Nervous? The coaster is built with four anti-rollback systems and centrifugal brakes, so you can never go faster than intended.
Photo: Massanutten Resort
Whether you're a coaster enthusiast or just looking for a memorable family day trip, this is a brand new reason to point the car west. Massanutten has been a Valley staple for 50 years, and this thrill ride is its newest headliner.
The details 🎢
Mountain Mayhem alpine coaster, now open
Massanutten Resort, Rockingham County
You control your speed the whole way down
About an hour and a half from Fredericksburg
A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 41,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]
Thursday Is the New Friday in Downtown FXBG 🎶
Somewhere between golden hour and the last song of the night, downtown Fredericksburg becomes a different place. Every Thursday through August 27th, Downtown Summer Nights keeps the whole scene humming past closing time. Boutiques, galleries, and bookstores prop their doors open late. Restaurants stretch out their happy hours and set the good tables outside. And no two Thursdays are ever the same.
This Thursday, July 23rd, the lineup is a good one:
🎨 Deenalin Art & Design paints a live oil painting of the Downtown skyline, so you can watch the city come to life on canvas in real time.
🎸 Jim Williams, a local acoustic singer-songwriter, plays your favorites while you stroll, shop, and catch up with friends.
🎹 Maxxx Dennis creates immersive ambient soundscapes live on analog synthesizers, blending tiki, world music, and Western classical influences into something you have to hear to believe.
Whether it's date night, happy hour with friends, or just an excuse to stay out a little later, wandering costs you nothing. But fair warning: the shops are open, the food smells amazing, and your willpower has had a long week.
The Details 🎶
📅 This Thursday, July 23rd (and every Thursday through August 27)
📍 Downtown Fredericksburg
🕰️Five 5:00 to 8:00 PM
🎟️ Free to attend
House Hunch FXBG
Can you guess the price of this real estate listing in Stafford County based on just one photo? Here’s a hint: 5 bd, 5 ba, around 4,700 sqft. on around 3 acres.
This listing is brought to you by:
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Featured Event
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, July 22
FREE Party Trivia Night | 6:00PM
Location: Brock's Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia St. Fredericksburg, VA
Young Adult Book Club: Percy Jackson | 6:00PM
Location: Tales & Tails, 010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg VA
Location: Wilderness Run Vineyards, 11109 Plank Road, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
Thursday, July 23
2000s Pop Music Trivia Night | 6:45PM
Location: Strangeways Brewing, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Craft Weekend | 10:00AM (through JUly 26)
Location: Tater’s Corner, 89 Chatham Heights Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Friday, July 24
Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair | 1:00PM (through August 2)
Location: Fredericksburg Fairgrounds, 2400 Airport Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA
Descriptio: Join us in celebrating traditional fair events, contests, entertainment, food and fun for the whole family!
Summer Restaurant Week | All day
Location: Downtown Fredericksburg, 706 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Join us for a ten-day culinary adventure, featuring the best local restaurants and delicious dishes.
Countdown to Christmas Craft Show | 11:00AM (through July 26)
Location: Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Shop from 175+ talented vendors from across the region and discover unique, handmade gifts perfect for everyone on your list.
Sunshine Concert Series | 6:00PM
Location: Eden Try Winery, 6818 River Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Featuring local music, sangria and charcuterie specials, seasonal mocktails, and golden-hour views.
