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Happy Tuesday, neighbors.

This one's packed. A Stafford basketball player just broke a 52-year scoring record, Bruno Mars is sending fans to BUMRUSH Vinyl Shop for an early album listen, and Checkers is headed to that vacant lot on Warrenton Road you've been driving past for years. We've also got an oyster roast for a great cause, a chef battle at Mason-Dixon where your order decides the winner, and a brand new dinner club if you're looking to meet some new people over a great meal.

Let's get into it.

Dori

Local Pulse: FXBG Edition

We’re launching something new in Fredericksburg: the FXBG Neighbors Dinner Club.

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

🗓️ March 11th at 6:30 PM

🍽️ Book your seat

Can’t make this one? Sign up to get updates on future dinners. Here’s to breaking bread and building something real.

52 Years in the Making: Stafford's Jackson Wallace Rewrites the Record Books

Some records stand for decades. This one stood for over half a century. On February 5th, Stafford senior guard Jackson Wallace did what no one had done in 52 years: he surpassed Gary Cooper's all-time scoring record, finishing his career with 1,399 points. The two-time Commonwealth District Player of the Year hit 1,000 as a junior and never took his foot off the gas. On Senior Night, Cooper himself stood alongside Wallace and head coach Steve Hibberd in a moment that bridged two eras of Stafford basketball. Wallace put it best: "I hope kids look up to me in a positive way and learn to be inspired by a good work ethic." Stafford, remember this name. He just made sure you will.

A Community Rallies Around 12-Year-Old Sadie: Annual Benefit Oyster Roast Returns February 28

Come hungry for a good cause. The annual Benefit Oyster Roast returns Saturday, February 28 from 2 to 5 PM at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds (2400 Airport Ave). This year's recipient is 12-year-old Sadie Sanchez, who was born with non-verbal quadriplegia cerebral palsy and requires around-the-clock care from her mother Chasity, who also works full time. Donations will go toward medical expenses and specialized equipment to help with Sadie's daily care and transportation. This is one of those afternoons where showing up really matters. Learn more at riverclubchurch.com/oyster-roast.

S.E.R.V.E. Food Pantry Receives $25,000 Grant from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to Advance Food IS Medicine Initiative

For S.E.R.V.E. Food Pantry, a bag of fresh produce isn't just groceries. It's a prescription. The local nonprofit has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Anthem Health Foundation to expand its Food IS Medicine initiative, a program that connects neighbors managing chronic health conditions with the fresh, nutritious food their doctors recommend but their budgets can't cover. Through partnerships with Virginia farmers, S.E.R.V.E. already distributes nearly 1.2 million pounds of food annually, with 60% of it being healthy and nutritious. With this new funding, guests can receive an actual food prescription from their medical provider and bring it to S.E.R.V.E. for the fresh items they need. Learn more at servefoodpantry.org.

A big thank you to our sponsors for keeping this newsletter free for the community🙏 Want your business in front of 24,000+ Fredericksburg-area neighbors? Become a sponsor. [email protected]

What Will Your Retirement Look Like?

Planning for retirement raises many questions. Have you considered how much it will cost, and how you’ll generate the income you’ll need to pay for it? For many, these questions can feel overwhelming, but answering them is a crucial step forward for a comfortable future.

Start by understanding your goals, estimating your expenses and identifying potential income streams. The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income can help you navigate these essential questions. If you have $1,000,000 or more saved for retirement, download your free guide today to learn how to build a clear and effective retirement income plan. Discover ways to align your portfolio with your long-term goals, so you can reach the future you deserve.

Get The Guide

Featured Event

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Lace Up for Moms Who Suffer in Silence: Unspoken Mothers 5K Walk/Run Returns to Fredericksburg

One in five women experience a maternal mental health condition like postpartum depression or anxiety, and too many never get the support they need. Unspoken Mothers is bringing the conversation out into the open with their Annual Maternal Mental Health Awareness 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, May 9 at Old Mill Park (2201 Caroline St, Fredericksburg). Check in at 9 AM, step off at 10 AM, and walk, jog, or run at your own pace. This isn't a competition. It's a community showing up for moms. Registration includes a custom t-shirt, a drawstring bag with goodies, a custom cup filled with your choice of wine or beer at the finish line, and full access to the afterparty with food, music, and vendors. Register by April 18 to guarantee your swag. Sign up at unspokenmothers.com

Business Briefs

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Sugar + Spruce Says Goodbye to Caroline Street, But Don't Worry. They're Not Going Far.

If you've been a fan of Sugar + Spruce's handmade soaps, scrubs, and bath bombs, here's what you need to know. The beloved local brand has closed its storefront at 726 Caroline Street and transitioned to online-only sales. Owner Morgan made the decision after her lease ended, allowing her to focus on her health while continuing to grow the business. The company is moving operations to a new warehouse in Hanover County, just north of Richmond off I-95. But here's the good news for downtown shoppers: Duly Noted, the popular Fredericksburg gift shop, is now carrying a rotating selection of Sugar Spruce's bestselling products, so you can still smell and shop in person. New scents and products are on the way, and workshops at the new space are in the works too. You can also shop samples, discovery kits, and full-size products online. Have a favorite fragrance you're hoping to see? Let them know. sugarandspruce.com

Women-Owned Businesses Are Thriving in FXBG. Now Let's Make Sure Everyone Knows About Them.

FXBG Neighbors is spotlighting every woman-owned business in the Fredericksburg area with a free online directory and a brand new magazine, Power Players: Women Entrepreneurs Fueling FXBG's Growth. Your free listing puts you in front of 50,000+ local readers who want to shop, hire, and support women-owned businesses. Want even more visibility? We've got options for that too. And on March 22nd, we're bringing it all together with a celebration event at Eden Try Winery. This is your moment. Space is limited. Click here, and we’ll send you more information.

That Vacant Lot on Warrenton Road? It's About to Become a Checkers.

If you've driven past that empty lot between the Clarion Inn and Wawa on Route 17 and wondered what was going on with it, now you know. The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to approve a new Checkers drive-thru restaurant on the site, which has been sitting vacant for years. The roughly 1,000-square-foot restaurant will include drive-through lanes, outdoor seating, and 11 parking spaces. No construction timeline has been set yet, but the lot is finally getting a second life.

Bruno Mars Is the Face of Record Store Day 2026. BUMRUSH Vinyl Shop Is Throwing the Party.

Every year, Record Store Day chooses a musician to champion independent record stores and the magic of physical media. This year, that ambassador is Bruno Mars, and he's kicking things off by sending fans to their favorite local shops for Early Listening Parties ahead of his new album THE ROMANTIC, which officially drops February 27. BUMRUSH Vinyl Shop in Fredericksburg is hosting theirs on Wednesday, February 25 at 6 PM. You'll get to hear the full album before anyone else, with exclusive giveaways including posters, lanyards, and totes, plus raffles for t-shirts and the chance to pre-order on indie-exclusive translucent red vinyl, CD, or cassette. Grab your people and head to 2225 Plank Rd. This is one of those nights you don't want to miss. bumrushvinylshop.com

The Book Market FXBG Turns One and They're Celebrating Where It All Started

The Book Market FXBG is marking its one-year anniversary with a celebration on March 21st at Laudenbach Brewing, the very first business that took a chance on the mobile bookstore when it launched. Founder Katie O'Mara is bringing even more to the party this time around, starting with Linx Permanent Jewelry joining the event so you and a friend can grab matching bracelets while you browse books and sip a beer. More announcements are on the way, so stay tuned. Follow The Book Market FXBG on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Local Flavor

Mason-Dixon Cafe's Chefs Are Going Head-to-Head. Your Order Picks the Winner.

If you've ever wondered who's really running things in the Mason-Dixon kitchen, you're about to find out. The beloved Fredericksburg scratch-made comfort spot at 2100 Princess Anne Street is launching Battle of the Chefs, running February 23 through March 7. Five chefs have each created a signature dish, and the one that sells the most wins. No judges, no panel, just you and your appetite. The lineup includes Rosania's Chicken and Shrimp Tacos, Drake's BBL Waffle, Nez's Hot Dog Salad, Aries' Candied Croissant stuffed with coffee pastry cream and chocolate ganache, and Alex's Breakfast Sandwiches. Founded by chef Kelly Hunt in 2012, Mason Dixon has been voted Best Breakfast and Brunch in Fredericksburg every year since 2015, so you know every dish on this menu is going to deliver. Tag them on social media with #MDBattleOfTheChefs2026 for a chance to win a $25 gift card. Go eat. Go vote with your stomach.

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, February 25

  • Virginia Distillery Co. Dinner | 7:00PM

    • Location: Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen FXBG, 309 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Please join us for another amazing 4 course bourbon dinner featuring Virginia Distillery Co.

  • Comedy at Galvin's | 7:00PM

    • Location: Galvin’s Delicatessen, 218 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Fredericksburg's own Rahmein Mostafavi brings some of DC/Richmond's best comics to the Burg!

Thursday, February 26

  • Grand Opening of Uptown Cheapskate FXBG | 10:00AM

    • Location: Uptown Cheapskate Fredericksburg, 2293 Carl D Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Stop by each day to find hidden store credit throughout the store, shop thousands of items at a fraction of the retail price, enter our raffles, and more!

  • Deadric with Roderik, Enemies & Allies | 6:30PM

    • Location: Madame's Oddities, 2011 Princess Anne Street, ##101, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Deadric live at Madames Oddities w/ support from Roderik Enemies & Allies Weekend at Noon.

Friday, February 27

  • Karaoke Night with Rockstar DJ and Karaoke | 7:00PM

    • Location: Strangeways Brewing FXBG, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: We’re teaming up with Rockstar DJ & Karaoke to bring a full concert feel to the brewery. Whether you’re a seasoned stage star or a first time mic grabber, this is your moment.

  • Jazz and a Mission | 7:00PM

    • Location: Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 2301 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: A free jazz concert to benefit the work of Simply Angels.

  • Shelley Star & The Galaxy | 8:00PM

    • Location: Reclaim Arcade, 2324 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: This glammed out duo bring the beats, the outfits, the choreography, and the charisma to move galaxies!

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