Date Archives: October 2018

When it comes to preparing Thanksgiving dinner, if you're like many Chesterfield locals, you may opt to make reservations instead of a turkey.

If your heart sinks at the thought of missing mom's homemade mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, and pumpkin pie, don't despair. Our real estate agents have a solution that combines honoring the holiday with local history and coming together with family and friends.

Why not make your family's Thanksgiving Day reservation at the Half Way House in Chesterfield? Often referred to as "the best-kept secret in Richmond," Rick and Sue Young, Chesterfield residents and owners of the Half Way House, offer guests fine cuisine in a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

History of the Half Way House

Built in 1760, the Half Way House served as a resting point for people traveling between Richmond and Petersburg (it was approximately halfway between the two cities) from the Revolution until late in the 19th Century.

Some of its more famous visitors were the Marquis de Lafayette, Generals Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. Today, Chesterfield's locals and visitors can take a step back in time and see the original Manor House and the authentic antiques that furnish it. A unique feature of the Half Way House is that the kitchen is in a separate building from the Manor House.

Daily Dining in Chesterfield

Executive Chef Raymond Allen leads the restaurant's staff preparing both lunch and dinner fare. Topping the list of favorite meals are Chesapeake Bay blue crab cakes, blackened duck breast, and hot apple pie. Reserve the Half Way House for private dining as well.

Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 am until 2:00 PM. Dinner is served nightly from 5:30 PM until 9:00 pm.

Making Thanksgiving Reservations for You and Your Family

Thanksgiving dinner here is like none other in the area. A local Thanksgiving Day staple in Chesterfield for generations, the "gobbling" starts at noon on Thursday, November 22 and lasts until 7:00 PM.

You'll enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day menu with your choice of favorites like roast turkey and baked ham. If you're in the mood for something a little different, order a petite filet, salmon, shrimp, or prime rib entrees.

Make sure to leave room for a homemade dessert: pumpkin pie, pecan pie, hot apple crisp ala mode, and gingerbread with brandied hard sauce top off the meal.

We recommend reservations. Call 804.275.1760.  You can find The Half Way House at 10301 Jefferson Davis Highway, North Chesterfield, Virginia.

Come and visit this historic landmark in Virginia and become a part of nearly three hundred years of history.

Your Chesterfield Real Estate Professionals

If you're finding yourself with Chesterfield homes for sale on your mind, contact us at Napier ERA Real Estate to find out more about starting your search for homes in the Richmond real estate area.

Thank you, Richmond friends and family!

Another year of being voted as one of THE BEST Real Estate Firms in the Central Virginia area from Richmond Times-Dispatch. This is our fourth year as a finalist!

We are so grateful to work in communities we love with amazing people that made these awards possible. A hearty congratulations to agent Dianne Long for being voted #1 Best Real Estate Agent for the second year in a row.

Today, we are very proud of our whole team and our community! We loved working with you in 2018 and strive to give our best service in 2019. 

Richmond homes for sale are some of the best in the nation, and it's no wonder! Considered one of America's best places to live, Richmond offers a fantastic quality of life and more amenities than you're likely to find anywhere else. Add in Richmond's beautiful scenery and the gorgeous architecture prevalent in its thriving neighborhoods, and you've got the recipe for the perfect place to live.

Scott's Addition - Trending in Richmond

If you're a resident or potential future resident of Richmond, Virginia, then becoming familiar with the various neighborhoods and where to go for entertainment is paramount to enjoying life. Thankfully, our real estate agents are always on the hunt for new locales in the area.  Scott's Addition is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Richmond, gaining popularity for its shops, bars, breweries, restaurants, and numerous options for entertainment.

Tang & Biscuit Shuffleboard Opens in Scott's Addition

Newly-opened and already picking up interest from locals, Tang & Biscuit Shuffleboard Social Club (quite a mouthful, we know!) represent an ambition to bring people together again. Tang & Biscuit opened at the end of August 2018 and proudly advertises itself as RVA's first shuffleboard social venue. The venue offers delicious food, ten full-size shuffleboard courts rented for an hour at a time, a 50-foot bar complete with Tang-inspired cocktails alongside the usual bar fare, live music, and a menagerie of other games to fill the time while visitors wait for a court to open.

If you are unfamiliar with shuffleboard, you may be confused at the business's name. In shuffleboard, the 'tang' is another term for the tool players uses to push a puck--or 'biscuit'--into a goal area to score points. Keeping with this theme, Tang and Biscuit's menu has plenty of Tang (yes, the tangy orange powdered drink) and biscuit-themed options. Don't worry, though! If that's not your style, Tang and Biscuit offer a variety of delicious tots, salads, beers, drafts, and wine alongside their trademark 'Tangtails' and 'Biscuit' menu items.

Tang & Biscuit - A Bright Future in Richmond

Tang & Biscuit COO Gary Chadwick has a clear goal in mind for the venue, and that is to create a place that is community-minded and as inclusive as possible. There's something for everyone at Tang & Biscuit, and so far the business seems to be living up to its hype.

Whether you're 5 or 95, nothing is stopping you from having a good time and making new friends along the way. So bring your kids, friends, parents, or grandparents, and have some fun! Tang & Biscuit workers are welcoming and would be more than happy to show some shuffleboard first-timers the ropes. Not a rookie to the game? Gather up a team of some shuffleboard-veterans and get involved in some league matches!

Join the Richmond Community with Napier ERA!

Tang & Biscuit Social Club and the other exciting venues of Scott's Addition are only a small slice of what Richmond, Virginia has to offer. Whether you're a prospective home buyer or a current Richmond homeowner looking for the best in the business to get your house sold to someone who wants it, our realtors at Napier ERA are here for you. Contact Napier ERA today, and find out how we can help you meet your real estate goals.

Richmond homes for sale are becoming a hot commodity, and our real estate agents are here to make sure you find the perfect home for you – quickly and easily.

Unless you've already started your Richmond house hunt, the odds are pretty good you haven't heard about Scott's Addition yet. It's an exciting place to live and work, especially if you're among the legions of up and coming Millennial homebuyers here in Virginia.

Scott's Addition is Blazing a New Trail as a Neighborhood with Style 

Since 2015, Scott's Addition has been attracting a new generation of businesses and residents.

This hotspot became a center of Richmond culture back then as developers moved in to revitalize the area. Scott's Addition was a little-known industrial area at first, and it had only been in the headlines as the result of a minor scandal.

Scott's Addition sits on prime real estate southwest of The Diamond ballpark and bounded by Interstate 195. Investment began around 2010, but creative, eclectic small businesses started to sprout up in earnest around 2015. More and more people saw Scott's Addition as an opportunity.

Now, it shows its true colors as one of the most vibrant areas of Richmond.

Scott's Addition is Where History Meets Tomorrow for Local Residents

Scott's Addition was conceived as a historic district, and it still has a number of fascinating treasures that set it apart. Among these are 284 buildings harkening to the origin of the area as a commercial and industrial hub. Its heyday ranges back to 1900.

Some of the key historic sites in the district include:

• Jones Motor Car Company (1926)
• The Hofheimer Building (1928)
• Radio WMBG Broadcasting Station (1938)
• Boulevard Baptist Church (1916)
• National Biscuit Factory (1923)

While maintaining its noteworthy past, Scott's Addition has also been looking toward the future.

The hard work of the Scott's Addition Boulevard Association has attracted lots of investment and plenty of interest to the area. The Association focuses on building up the charm, economy, and community of Scott's Addition – maintaining it as one of Richmond's hottest neighborhoods.

Both residents and businesses are welcome to join the Association.

Community collaboration has paid off for Scott's Addition. A recent survey showed that it is the #1 trending Millennial neighborhood in the entire state of Virginia. The reason why is a combination of cost-effective housing, quirky character, and forward-looking amenities.

The startup-friendly atmosphere in Scott's Addition attracts creative and innovative businesses to launch there. As a result, the area has some of the most fascinating cuisines in all of Richmond: You'll find robust, flavorful street food alongside Avante-Garde high cuisine.

The Big Kitchen, a drive-through gourmet food concept, is one of the most recent newcomers.

You'll also find Tang and Biscuit, Richmond's first shuffleboard club or The Circuit Arcade Bar with over 80 retro and modern arcade games, sports games, skeeball and pinball plus over 50 taps of craft, wine, and cider. These are just a few of the fascinating enterprises getting bigger and better in response to demand from enthusiastic Scott's Addition fans.

Blue Bee Cider, located in our historic Scott's Addition, is Virginia's first urban cidery.  Blue Bee's ciders are made with Virginia heirloom apples known for their tannin, acidity, and flavor.

You Could be the Latest "Addition" to Scott's Addition in Wondrous Richmond

Richmond is soaring to new heights as the centerpiece of commerce and culture for a resurgent Virginia. Here at Scott's Addition, you'll have the opportunity to see it all up close.

To find out more or get started, contact Napier ERA.

When it comes to Fall festivals, our real estate agents will tell you that the city of Richmond has plenty to offer. When you're touring Richmond homes for sale, you'll want to carve out some time to pay a visit to the Richmond Folk Festival taking place October 12 - 14. Here's everything you need to know so you can get this most out of this popular event.

What to Expect at the Richmond Folk Festival

A day spent at the Richmond Folk Festival is sure to be a memorable one. As one of the most significant events held in the state of Virginia, this free three-day festival attracts over 220,000 visitors to downtown Richmond's riverfront. While attending the festival, you can expect to see plenty of live music and dance performances, an arts and crafts marketplace, and a stellar selection of ethnic and regional foods.

Entertainment

With seven live music stages and over 30 performers, the Richmond Folk Festival offers something for everyone. Here you'll find jazz, bluegrass, blues, zydeco, salsa, polka, reggae, rockabilly, gospel, and more.

The Virginia Folklife area features costume artists, master crafters, stilt walkers, contortionists, dancers, and revelers. Families will love the CarMax Family Arena where children can learn about various cultures, do crafts, play games, and win prizes.

Shopping

Stop by the Crafts Marketplace to browse the handcrafted and traditional items made by local and national artisans. Here you'll find jewelry, pottery, artwork, handcrafted soaps, clothing items, and more. You can also commemorate your trip to the festival with merchandise like original posters, stickers, ceramic mugs, and hats.  

Food

Throughout the event, you'll find plenty of traditional festival foods like fried Oreos, funnel cakes, corn dogs, and kettle corn. Ethnic food options include Indian, Thai, German, Mexican, Greek, and more.

Those feeling a bit more adventurous may opt for menu choices like fried alligator, Ruben egg rolls, a steam shrimp boil, or gourmet mac & cheese. No matter what your tastes, be sure to bring your appetite so you can enjoy the wide selection of delicious foods. 

Important Event Details

This year's Richmond Folk Festival runs from October 12 - 14. Event hours are Friday from 6 pm until 10 pm, Saturday from noon until 9:30 pm, and Sunday from noon until 6 pm.

There is no charge for the event, although there is a suggested donation of $10 per person per day. Free parking is available.  Free shuttles will regularly run throughout each day. You can find more event information including schedules, directions, and parking information on the Richmond Folk Festival website. 

Your Richmond Real Estate Professionals

Learn more about living and working in Richmond with us.  Our agents love welcoming new clients to our community. Contact Napier ERA today to learn how we can help you find your dream home in Richmond and our surrounding areas.