Date Archives: March 2018

Richmond's Carytown Cupcakes Delivers Sweet Perfection

Whether you have a sweet tooth to satisfy, a hankering for a quality craft beer or wine, or just want to connect with other locals in a cheerful atmosphere, check out Carytown Cupcakes in Richmond. Located at 3111 West Cary Street, this gourmet bakery is known for their creative cupcake crafting skills, as well as what is now known as the "Carytown Cupcakes law," allowing them to serve craft beer and wine alongside their famous desserts.

Stop in today for a taste of the sweet perfection Carytown Cupcakes is known for. 

• Cupcakes
  One bite of a Carytown Cupcake and your entire definition of what a cupcake is will change. Instead of those boring grocery store cupcakes, these delicious little morsels are crafted around rotating themes. Around the holidays they were known for holiday flavors such as eggnog, but in April you'll find more spring-themed cupcakes in the case, such as strawberry shortcake. They always have a couple gluten-free and vegan flavors to choose from--not the same old boring ones every time but inspired flavors such as gluten-free key lime pie and vegan strawberry lemonade in April. If you're a vanilla type of person, there are also always a selection of favorites to satisfy your need for comfort food, such as vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, lemon, and carrot cake.

• Craft Beer and Wine
  Carytown Cupcakes isn't just for kids, and the fact that they serve craft beer and wine to pair with your cupcakes proves that their treats are engineered to appeal to more mature tastes. They worked hard to be able to serve beer and wine with your dessert, lobbying to expand Virginia's original law that limited bakeries to just serving cordials and dessert wines. Their dedication to the quality of your cupcake experience is why you can now pair a craft beer with your fancy cupcake in Richmond.
  
  
• Puppy Treats
  Don't forget your four-legged best friend! While you're enjoying a sweet treat at Carytown Cupcakes, you can also have a treat for your favorite canine wrapped up in a real "doggy bag." Created by dog lovers for dog lovers, these delicious doggy treats are sure to please your pup.

Carytown Cupcakes is just one of many local businesses in which you can see how communities thrive here in Richmond. Interested being a part of something this exciting and welcoming? Contact Napier ERA today and browse Richmond homes for sale. Your dream home is waiting for you here, and one of our real estate agents will help you find it!

Springtime is the perfect time to visit Richmond, VA. Warming temperatures are quickly arriving. Lush greenery and colorful blossoms are sprouting to life across the city. If you're searching for Richmond homes for sale, you'll see landscapes sprinkled with spring colors all around. And if you'd like to spend time in some of the most beautiful gardens in Richmond, don't leave town without visiting Agecroft Hall.

Our real estate agents know you'll enjoy Agecroft Hall with its beautifully landscaped grounds and elegantly cultivated gardens, They're a must-see feature of springtime in Richmond.

Agecroft Hall & Gardens

You don't have to travel to Great Britain to stroll through authentic English gardens. This spring you can have an English garden rendezvous at Agecroft Hall.

The home, located at 4305 Sulgrave Road in Richmond, is situated on 23 breathtaking acres overlooking the James River in the Windsor Farms neighborhood.  

When you enter the grounds, you'll feel as though you've been transported across the pond and dropped into Elizabethan England.

A Brief Agecroft History

In 1925, wealthy American families were building huge country estates. Thomas C. Williams, Jr. bought Agecroft Hall, dismantled it, and shipped it across the ocean to Richmond. Architect, Henry G. Morse, oversaw the dismantling process and piece-by-piece delivery to the Windsor Farms site overlooking the James River where it has stood since 1926-27. He also supervised the reconstruction, updating the mansion with modern conveniences.

The owner died in 1929, not long after the construction was completed. He bequeathed Agecroft Hall for use as a museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmark Register in 1978.

Tour the Museum and Gardens

Spring is the ideal time to visit the Agecroft Hall & Gardens. During operating hours, the museum provides guided one-hour tours. Guides will walk you through the museum and you can wander the grounds at will.

Landscape Architect, Charles Gilette designed the grounds during the original reconstruction. It's an opulent display of trees, greenery, and breathtaking gardens: Sunken Garden, Elizabeth Knot Garden, Crape Myrtle Walk, and Spring Sunken Garden.

You can visit the website to learn what's new in the gardens or listen to the "Sprouting Report" Thursday and Friday mornings on Mix 98.1.

Special Events

The Agecroft is the perfect venue for special events.

• Shakespeare Festival: Agecroft Hall presents Virginia's only Shakespeare Festival. This year's productions are "Titus Andronicus" and "As You Like It."
• School Programs: School tours are tailored to children based on their grade level.
• Group Tours: Ten or more people visiting together can arrange a Group Tour with "behind the scenes" information, a guided museum tour, and a guided or self-guided tour of the grounds and gardens.
• Event Rentals: The museum and gardens are a perfect backdrop for a wedding or other special event.

Hours & Admission

The Agecroft is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sundays from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

• General admission: adults $8, Seniors ages 65+ $7, full-time students $5.
• Garden admission only: adults $4, Seniors ages 65+ $3.50 full time students $2.50.
• Annual pass: $20.
• Admission is free for children 6 and under and active military with valid ID.

If you're thinking about relocating to Richmond, we want to help. Contact Napier ERA if you plan to buy or sell a home or if you simply want to know more about the communities we serve.

Every once in a while, you'll pass by a home that's for sale by owner (FSBO). If you're selling a home you may wonder if that homeowner knows something you don't know. The truth is that FSBO comes with many risks because listing (and selling) a house effectively requires time, experience, and specialized skills. Working with a REALTOR® makes life easier when selling a home, and our real estate agents are excited to tell you more about how we can help.

1. Why Working with a REALTOR® Is Always Best
   Whether this is your first time selling a home or you have done the dance before, there is so much that your REALTOR® can do to simplify the process. From generating interest in your property to negotiating and closing the deal, your REALTOR® will be with you every step of the way.
   
   
2. The Right Price for the Right Place
   Setting a price is one of the biggest challenges of going the FSBO route because there are a ton of variables that factor into the equation. The home itself is of course very important, but so are neighborhoods, school districts, entertainment destinations, and employment options. An experienced REALTOR® will also be a neighborhood expert and can provide a comparative market analysis to help set a price that maximizes your return. When it comes to pricing, having a trusted, experienced expert on your side is very valuable.
   
   
3. Effective Marketing to Generate Interest in Your Home
   Let's say you are looking for a real estate agent who sells homes in Midlothian, and you want to make sure that your home moves as quickly as possible. Your REALTOR® understands how to market to your target audience, and how to showcase the community where your home is located. Staging an open house is hard work, and that's just one piece of the marketing pie. Your REALTOR® can also help generate interest in your home through online listings, showcasing your property on social media, and turning interested prospects into active bidders.
   
   
4. Negotiating the Sale and Closing the Deal
   It takes real effort to make it to the stage of serious negotiations, but the work isn't over just yet. There is often a difference between the list price and the ultimate sale price of a home with plenty of smaller terms to negotiate in order to find a deal that works for both sides. Your REALTOR® will be a huge help with the negotiation process and has experience with all of the fine-print details required to complete a transaction.
   
   When you work with a REALTOR®, you also make negotiations easier on the buyer--assuming they're working with a REALTOR® of their own. Many REALTORS® don't like to negotiate with FSBO sellers because there are often unexpected snags that don't come up when negotiating with another real estate professional. Your REALTOR® is also your advocate, working on your behalf to get the best possible deal.
   
   
5. Real Estate Is a Passion
   Ask ten different real estate agents why they became a real estate agent, and you might get ten different answers. The one thing that remains the same? Real estate is a passion, because it's a challenging, rewarding, exciting profession. The best REALTORS® are passionate about what they do for a living, and that passion translates to plenty of hard work on behalf of clients.  Hire a real estate pro who is passionate about what they do and the communities they serve.

Looking for the right REALTOR® to help with your next real estate transaction? Contact Napier ERA.  Our REALTORS® are experts in the Central Virginia real estate area including Richmond, Powhatan, Colonial Heights, and Glen Allen.

Looking for a fun and exciting time to spend with the family just outside Richmond, VA? Don't miss Kings Dominion, the best amusement park in the whole state!  

Kings Dominion is the spring iteration of a special seasonal park that showcases four different themes throughout the year. In the summer it transforms into the wet and wild Soak City water park with 20 acres of slides, pools, and much more.

Fall brings the Halloween Haunt, while winter is known for WinterFest – the best time of the year to meet Santa Claus himself.

So, what does Kings Dominion have to offer in the spring? Glad you asked!

The All-New Twisted Timbers Roller Coaster Headlines Kings Dominion

In spring, Kings Dominion bursts with more than 60 breathtaking rides, spectacular shows, and amazing attractions.

Each year brings something new, but one consistent draw is the East Coast's biggest collection of roller coasters. People come from all around to enjoy these thrilling rides! This year, Twisted Timbers puts the king in Kings Dominion with a debut that's sure to be unforgettable.

An evolution of the world famous Hurler roller coaster that was retired back in 2015, Twisted Timbers runs to a total height of 111 feet with a drop of 109 feet. The total length is more than 3,300 feet, which riders will traverse at a speedy 54 miles per hour.

These amazing features and more are made possible by the coaster's unique design. It combines wooden supports with a steel track to give the most thrilling ride imaginable on 20 airtime hills! Kings Dominion has been making regular updates on their progress with it, including a peek at the first train.

Twisted Timbers will launch for the first time when the park opens for the season on March 24.

Family-Friendly Rides and Events Abound at Kings Dominion

Although Twisted Timbers is the best for experienced roller coaster riders, there's plenty of fun for everyone at Kings Dominion. Youngsters can enjoy Planet Snoopy, where they'll get to meet their favorite Peanuts characters in person.

Rides and games for the younger kids include Joe Cool's Driving School and its kid-friendly go-karts, Flying Ace with Snoopy, the Great Pumpkin Coaster, and the Linus Launcher. The live entertainment features plenty of character meet and greets, too.

Kings Dominion is well known for an assortment of venues featuring music, dancing, athletics, and acrobatics. Want to add to the experience? Kings Dominion is surrounded by great hotels, of course, but it also has something truly unique so you can take it to the next level.

The Kings Dominion KOA (also known as Richmond North KOA) is the premier family camping experience. You can choose from RV camping, tent camping, or cabin camping in an environment perfect for younger campers.

There's also a pool, wireless internet, cable TV, and a dog park. Current reviews put the campground at a solid 4.5 out of 5, and you even get discounts at Kings Dominion when you choose to stay at KOA.

Family Fun Doesn't Have to End When You Find the Perfect Richmond Home

If you want to see the most desirable Richmond homes, it all starts by consulting an expert in the local real estate scene. At Napier ERA, our real estate agents have the insight and experience to make your house hunt that much easier – and then it can be an adventure all year long for you and the whole family. Contact Napier ERA.