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Hey neighbor! 👋
Consider this issue your heads-up to come hungry. Restaurant Week returns in two weeks with a passport that literally rewards you for eating well, so now's the time to start plotting your food crawl. Can't wait that long? The Dinner Club is setting the table for six future friends downtown on Wednesday, and Reclaim Arcade will keep you fed between high scores any night of the week. Plus, meet two locals keeping FXBG feeling good: a Hall of Fame massage therapist and a nutritionist who believes food should love you back.
Grab your coffee and let’s dive in.
Dori
Local Pulse: FXBG Edition
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Eat Your Way Through FXBG and Win Prizes Doing It 🍴
Your taste buds have a busy ten days ahead. Summer Restaurant Week returns July 24th through August 2nd, with restaurants all over Fredericksburg showing off what makes our food scene one of the best parts of the 'Burg. Chefs pull out all the stops for this one, making it the perfect excuse to finally try that spot you keep walking past, or fall back in love with an old favorite. And this year, eating well pays off. The Restaurant Week Passport in the Visit Fredericksburg App lets you collect a stamp at each participating restaurant. Hit five and you're entered to win prizes, and every stamp after that earns you another entry. So no, you don't have to stop at five. Consider that a challenge.
The details 🍴
July 24 through August 2
Restaurants across Fredericksburg
Check out the participating restaurants here and start planning your food crawl.
No Quarters Required at This FXBG Time Machine 🕹️
Remember begging for one more quarter at the arcade? At Reclaim Arcade on Plank Road, those days are over. Every single one of their 70+ vintage games, more than 50 classic arcade cabinets and 19 pinball machines from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, is set to free play. Just walk in, pick your favorite, and settle in for the high score chase.
And this is no dusty rec room. The retro games come with a modern kitchen turning out signature smash burgers, loaded fresh cut fries, and crispy fried chicken sandwiches, plus a fully stocked bar pouring craft cocktails, beer, wine, and cider. Planning a party? Their VIP room comes with 20 arcade passes, welcomes outside food, and has no hidden costs.
The details 🕹️
2324 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg
reclaimarcade.com
Go beat somebody's high score. The quarters stay in your pocket.
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]
A Hall of Fame Massage Therapist Works Right Here in FXBG 💆
When your muscles need a defender, Fredericksburg has one of the best in the business. Shawn Stewart, owner of Stone Tower Massage, has been recognized as a leading Sports Massage Therapist in America, ranked among the top four sports massage therapists globally, and earned a spot in the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.
His studio also ranked among the top five spas in the area. Shawn specializes in therapeutic and deep tissue, sports, Thai, and prenatal massage, and he's nationally certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Whether you're an athlete in recovery mode or just carrying your stress in your shoulders, this is expert-level care close to home.
Newsletter perk: mention this ad and take $10 off any service! Your shoulders will thank you.
Shawn Stewart, Owner, Stone Tower Massage
Neighbor Notes
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The FXBG Nutritionist Who Reads Your Blood Work Like a Roadmap 🥗
Donna Hetrick has a simple test for any wellness plan: does it actually fit your life? For more than 30 years, the owner of Lifestyle Fitness & Nutrition has been helping people eat in a way that, as she puts it, loves them back. Donna is a certified clinical nutritionist, fitness trainer, and blood chemistry analyst, and that last credential is her secret weapon. Instead of chasing symptoms one by one, she reads the full picture of what's happening inside your body and builds a root-cause strategy around what she finds, whether that's sleep quality, hormone balance, pre-diabetes, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, or food intolerances. Her philosophy is refreshingly free of fads: there's no perfect diet, only the one that's right for you. A wife of nearly 44 years, mom of three, and grandmother of five little ones under age four, Donna knows how fast life moves, and she builds wellness habits that hold up in the real world. Her goal for every client? Stay young at whatever age you are.
The details 🥗
Lifestyle Fitness & Nutrition
donnaphetrick.com
[email protected]
540-898-5219
If you're ready for a plan that finally fits your life, Donna is exactly who you want in your corner.
Six Strangers Walk Into a Restaurant. They Leave as Friends. 🍽️
Making new friends as an adult shouldn't feel this hard, and the FXBG Neighbors Dinner Club exists to fix that. Here's how it works: take a quick personality quiz, and we handle everything else. We match six compatible people at one table, pick a great downtown Fredericksburg restaurant, and make the reservations. All you have to do is show up. Neighbors come from Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg, all ages, all walks of life, with one shared goal: finding your people in an era when that's harder than ever.
The details 🍽️
🗓️Wednesday, July 15, 6:30 PM
🗓️Downtown Fredericksburg
Take the quiz, we handle the matching, restaurant, and reservations
Book your seat, or sign up to hear about future dinners. Your table is waiting.
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.
Saturday, July 11
Acoustic Creed String Band Live | 5:00PM
Location: Strangeways Brewing, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Experience the energy of ACSB's first live performance and cheer them on at their debut show.
Kids Story Time | 10:00AM
Location: Tales & Tails, 1010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Our staff or a local author will read a story while children listen and follow along.
Naughty Little Monkey | 7:00PM
Location: Strangeways Brewing, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: High-energy, danceable, and totally unpredictable—don’t miss this night of great beer, friends and awesome tunes!
Location: 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, 1140 International Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Come raise a glass, share some laughs, and let's show Lindsey & Jamie how proud we are of them.
Rock-A-Billikens Pin-Up Contest | 5:00PM
Location: Billikens Smokehouse, 623 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Step back in time and celebrate vintage vibes, community spirit, and a great cause.
Fredericksburg Comic Con | 10:00AM (through July 12)
Location: Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Enjoy a full day packed with vendors, artists, crafters, authors, and so much more.
Outdoor Summer Party | 5:00PM
Location: Eden Try Winery, 6818 River Rd, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Bright colors, bold outfits, sunglasses at sunset, and main-character energy encouraged.
Drop-In Craft: Mason Jar Lanterns | 10:00AM (through July 12)
Location: Tater's Corner, 89 Chatham Heights Rd, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: We will be decorating mason jars with pressed flowers to make cute lanterns for your deck or patio.
Punk Fest | 3:00PM
Location: Adventure Brewing Company, 33 Perchwood Dr, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Adventure Brewing is cranking the amps, blowing the speakers, and kicking the doors wide open.
Free Family Movie Night | 4:00PM
Location: Victory Church of God, 125 Olde Greenwich Drive, Suite 120
Fredericksburg, VADescription: We will be featuring the film "Joseph" and will serve some free snacks and drinks while supplies last.
Rock-A-Biliken’s Pin-Up Contest | 7:00PM
Location: Billikens Smokehouse, 623 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Step back in time and celebrate vintage vibes, community spirit, and a great cause.
Brandon Scott Jones Band | 8:00PM
Location: Stockyards Restaurant & Bar, 407 William St., Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Great food, drinks, and music.
Sunday, July 12
Bingo Day | 2:00PM
Location: 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, 1140 International Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA
Location: Adventure Brewing, 33 Perchwood Dr, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Aubrey and Anna bring their shared love of nature and architecture to life through stunning, expressive artwork.
Location: Old Dominion Humane Society, 3602 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Join this low-impact yoga class that’s made even better with puppy cuddles.
Summer Tote Bag + Bag Charm | 10:00AM
Location: Curated FXBG, 817 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Description: Come paint a summer tote bag and make a bag charm for your tote bag!
Long Family Markets Stafford | 8:00AM
Location: Long Family Markets Stafford, 610 Slug Lot
Staffordboro Blvd, Stafford, VA
