Good morning!

Here's what's happening in and around the burg:

  • Smugglers Cafe opened on Caroline with half-pound cookies

  • Trelawny Fusion is bringing Caribbean food downtown

  • Restaurant Week runs Jan 16-25 at 26 spots

  • A volunteer just cracked a 160-year-old Civil War mystery

Let's dive in.

Dori

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Featured Event

Email us to learn how to get your event featured: [email protected]

Local Pulse: FXBG Edition

26 Flavors of Fredericksburg: Winter Restaurant Week Returns January 16-25

Sample the city's culinary scene with special multi-course menus priced at $25.26, $36.26, and more during the 10-day dining event. From Alpine Chef's three-course dinners to Locavore's brunch specials, over two dozen restaurants are showcasing their signature dishes at special prices throughout downtown and beyond.

Paid in Sunsets: How Battlefield Volunteers Solved a 160-Year-Old Mystery

A volunteer's passion for transcribing Civil War diaries led to an extraordinary discovery: finding the descendants of two brothers who fought in the Battle of the Wilderness, living just five miles from their ancestral home. The Fredericksburg Visitor Center's new exhibition showcases this story and seven other volunteer profiles as part of the city's America 250 celebration.

Business Briefs

Trelawny Fusion Brings Caribbean Flavors to Downtown Caroline Street

The popular Jamaican restaurant is opening a second location at 1108-1110 Caroline Street in the space where Pimenta restaurant used to be. They'll bring their scratch-made jerk chicken, curry goat, and oxtails to the heart of downtown Fredericksburg. The veteran-owned family business already operates at 100 Randolph Road.

Cosmic Cookies Land on Caroline Street: Smugglers Cafe Opens with Half-Pound Treats

The space-themed coffee and cookie shop at 604 Caroline Street is serving up half-pound cookies baked daily alongside bold brews, cold brew with a smoked add-on option, and whole bean bags named Wizard Roast and Dragon Roast. Open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until they sell out, with monthly specialty cookies launching this year!

Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this newsletter possible 🙏

Test Your Strength: DEKA Fitness Challenge Returns to Stafford's Flex Farm in April

Let's Flex It! LLC hosts three standardized fitness competitions on April 11th at 2671 Garrisonville Road in Stafford. Choose from DEKA STRONG (10 zones, no running), DEKA ATLAS, or DEKA MILE, with tickets starting at $45. These Spartan-sanctioned events test strength, endurance, and grit through functional fitness challenges designed to push your limits and celebrate your progress.

New Name, Bigger Reach: Neighbors of Chancellorsville Becomes Spotsylvania Living

The January 2026 edition marks the debut of Spotsylvania Living, the expanded version of the beloved Neighbors of Chancellorsville magazine. The rebrand reflects broader distribution across Spotsylvania County, bringing the same community-focused storytelling, local business features, and neighborhood profiles to more readers throughout the region.

What’s Happening In & Around the ‘Burg

This section includes only the major events happening soon. Check event websites for the most current information.

Tuesday, January 6

  • VEGETABLE GARDENING: 101 | 10:00AM

    • Location: Fredericksburg Branch Library 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: We will cover all the basic knowledge you need to grow a variety of vegetables!​

  • Ceramics Foundations - Beginners-3 Hour Classes | 10:00AM

    • Location: Corgi Clay Art Center, 25 Tech Pkwy Stafford, VA

    • Description: You’ll cover the foundations of making ceramics including wheel-throwing and hand-building pottery, decorating, and glazing your own work.

Wednesday, January 7

  • Taylor Swift Music Bingo | 7:00PM

    • Location: The Social FXBG, 11047 Pierson Dr, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Get ready to sing along, test your Swift knowledge, and vibe out with fellow Swifties all night long.

  • Steve Solo Happy Hour | 5:00PM

    • Location: Bravo Italian Restaurant, 1 Towne Centre Blvd #3500, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Wine Wednesday! Happy hour with Steve down south, come and get it...

  • Magic: The Gathering | 6:00PM

    • Location: STRANGEWAYS BREWING FREDERICKSBURG, 350 Lansdowne Road, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Free raffle each week when you play with a Welcome Deck → win boosters & more. Friendly vibes, cold beer, plenty of games

Thursday, January 8

Friday, January 9

  • Trivia Night at Tales & Tails | 6:30PM

    • Location: Tales & Tails, 1010 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Grab your smartest friends and join us for a fun and competitive team trivia!

  • Makin’ Bacon for the Foundation | All day

    • Location: Dogtopia of Fredericksburg, 4272 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: For a $5 donation to the Dogtopia Foundation your pup can get 2 pieces of Turkey Bacon at nap time!!

  • Magic Show and Wine | 7:00PM

    • Location: City Vino, 100 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA

    • Description: Light hearted fun magic show with wine pairings.

See More Events

FXBG Neighbors Featured Podcast

From Marine Corps to Flex Farm: How One Veteran Built a Fitness Oasis on Nine Acres in Stafford

Coach Kimberly Lanford runs her gym on generator power, insulated the walls herself, and welcomes athletes from 18 to 84 to her facility on 610. Her approach skips the fads and quick fixes, focusing instead on strength training, habit-based nutrition, and DEKA functional fitness events that draw up to 200 participants. A new Flex Lounge is opening soon for members to connect beyond the workout.

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[email protected] | www.FXBGneighborsConnect.com | 540.288.7928