The Richmond area is home to many talented bakers! Our real estate agents love stopping by a local bakery to pick up a sweet treat, or two. With National Cheesecake Day coming up on Thursday, July 30 be sure to check out these great bakeries and restaurants around Richmond to celebrate.

1. WPA Bakery - 2707 E. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23223
   Are you craving cheesecake "just like your grandma would've made 'em?" That's the promise from WPA Bakery, whose name stands for "Well-Made Pastry Alliance." WPA's tasty baked goods are often found in many kitchens, restaurants, and retail outlets around Richmond homes for sale. In addition to classic cheesecakes, WPA offers popular flavors such as mocha, cherry, and sticky bun. Have allergies or special dietary needs? Most items are available as vegan or gluten-free. Allow 48 hours for special orders. WPA is open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday.
   
   
2. Geescakes - St. Stephen's Farmers Market, 6000 Grove Ave., Richmond, VA 23226
   When it comes to Geescakes, less is truly more. In 2016, Gee served her miniature artisan cheesecakes at her Christmas party, where they were a huge hit. Word of mouth took over, and three months later Gee began her successful retail business. Shop Geescakes each Saturday from 8 a.m. - noon at St. Stephen's Farmers Market or visit the web site to pre-order trios of classic, key lime, or red velvet for $12.75. Daily and specialty flavors, including carrot cake and maple bacon, are also available with a minimum order of 12. If you can't make it to the market, contact Gee to make alternate plans for pick-up.
   
   
3. The Dessert Diva RVA - 1726 Altamont Ave., Suite C, Richmond, VA 23230
   "Diva" is defined as "one who is spoiled and entitled." But at The Dessert Diva RVA, the only ones who are spoiled and entitled are the customers, who keep coming back for their luscious cheesecake. Try a slice of the classic flavor with a drizzle of strawberry sauce, banana pudding, or one of three other toppings. Go full-on diva with a slice dipped in white or milk chocolate. Visit Dessert Diva's Facebook page for the link to their convenient ordering app. Hours are noon - 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday.
   
   
4. A N.Y. Slice - 133 Browns Way Rd, Midlothian, VA 23114
   Who says you have to head all the way to the Big Apple to enjoy New York-style pizza and cheesecake? In fact, you don't even have to venture too far from Midlothian homes for sale! As the name suggests, A N.Y. Slice offers slices of New York-style delicacies including a cheesecake perfect for celebrating National Cheesecake Day. Open 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday through Saturday open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. And Sundays 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
   
   
5. Buttermilk Bake Shop - 257 E. Bank St., Petersburg, VA 23803
   Buttermilk Bake Shop is the perfect place to stop in if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth after looking at Petersburg homes for sale. Their menu is full of made from scratch goodies, but to celebrate National Cheesecake Day we recommend their delightful mini cheesecakes! Stop by between 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Also, open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No wonder the New York Times named Richmond as a city on the "cutting edge" of food. Contact us at Napier ERA to learn more about why Richmond is a wonderful place to call home.

Roadways take us from Point A to Point B, but what if the street suddenly became the spot where we drank, laughed, and dined with our friends and family? Prepare to park yourself in the middle of the road for a picnic: parklets are coming to Richmond! If you're unfamiliar with the relatively new concept of the parklet, our real estate agents have a feeling that you'll love this innovative idea that brings the RVA community out into the street!

What is a Parklet?

Outdoor dining has always been a popular option, particularly in Richmond where our warm weather is limited during the winter. Having the opportunity to dine outside with our friends and family, enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze, is perhaps even more of a luxury in today's world. Richmond is preparing to turn streets within the Richmond city limits into a parklet so that restaurants can expand their seating options for diners to safely gather.

Think of a parklet like a tiny oasis right in the heart of Richmond. This temporary pop-up park is built in an area that is predominantly used for vehicular traffic like metered parking spaces or smaller roadways. The parklet takes this space and connects to the sidewalk to increase the pedestrian space available. In many instances, these spaces are positioned around popular areas such as restaurants and coffee shops to provide more space for patrons.

The concept of a parklet dates back to 2005 when a design group in San Francisco repurposed a parking space into a "people space". This was joined by a larger movement called PARK(ing) Day which is an annual act to bring attention to the need for more public spaces within urban areas.

Parklets in the RVA

Venture Richmond is taking the concept of parklets and using them to help restaurants while indoor capacities are still limited. The project called Picnic in a Parklet is easy for businesses to apply for online and will help them with design and getting permitting assistance for their parklet.  

Parklets may be temporary or permanent structures and there are already many businesses around Richmond interested in this idea, including The Stables in the Museum District and Soul Taco.

Other past parklet projects have included Robinson Street Association Parklet Project, which brought parklets near Stuart & Robinson and at Cary & Robinson, and Park(king) Day 2019 which brought parklets to local restaurants like Saison Market.

This initiative is one of the many ways our community is coming together to support small businesses. If these parklets are created, Richmond's community will be offered a new space to enjoy the outdoors comfortably and safely.

Would you like to live within walking distance of these proposed parklet locations? Want to be a part of a community that loves supporting local businesses? We can help! Contact us today to browse our Richmond homes for sale.

Summer Market Update

Central Virginia is still buying and selling in Summer 2020! June had thousands of transactions and we're seeing higher home prices as time goes on. Even the average price has increased since June 2019. Watch our latest video for all the latest numbers.

Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs. 

Living in the Richmond area means you are never far from exciting outdoor adventures. Home to many parks and nature trails, outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring all Richmond has to offer.

Our REALTORS® encourage you to embrace these wonderful natural areas around the RVA this summer. 

1. Pocahontas State Park — 10301 State Park Rd., Chesterfield, VA 23832
   Nature lovers will enjoy Pocahontas State Park just a few miles from our best Chesterfield homes for sale. Hikers will have plenty to do with over 90-miles of trails to explore. And if getting out on the water is more your thing, Swift Creek Lake offers 225-acres and plenty of seasonal water-based activities. The whole family will enjoy spending the day at this state park. 
   
   
2. Powhatan State Park — 4616 Powhatan State Park Rd., Powhatan, VA 23139
   Another picturesque state park, Powhatan State Park is a lovely green space located on the James River. With a full-service campground and miles of multi-use trails, you could spend an entire week exploring the park! If you're only visiting for a day, we suggest you bring your boat or another water vessel so you can relax on the serene waters of the James and appreciate everything this area has to offer, including plenty of nearby Powhatan homes for sale.
   
   
3. James River Park — 4001 Riverside Dr., Richmond, VA 23225
   Discover wilderness surrounded by Richmond homes for sale at James River Park. The James River Park System encompasses the majority of the fall line of the James River, including wetlands, the meadows, rapids, forests, the Virginia Capital Trail, and the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge. Receiving over one million visitors each year, James River Park is a fantastic place to explore this summer. 
   
   
4. Byrd Park — 600 South Blvd., Richmond, VA 23220
   Relax and take in the views at Byrd Park near the West End. Nearly 300-acres of space creates one of the city's most popular parks. With the warm weather moving in, now is a perfect time to enjoy an afternoon by one of Byrd Park's lakes. Fountain Lake, Shields Lake, and Swan Lake are ideal for pedal boat rides, fishing, and sunbathing. The park also has an exercise trail, softball fields, picnic areas, a playground, and a tennis complex. No matter how you choose to spend your time outside, a trip to Byrd Park has everything your family needs for a day of outdoor fun!
   
   
5. Powhite Park — 7200 Jahnke Rd., Richmond, VA 23225
   For those who would rather explore nature on two wheels will love the Loop Trail at Powhite Park. Powhite Park covers 100-acres, devoting nearly two-miles of land for walking, running, and biking. The Loop Trail is a trail of moderate difficulty that's moderately trafficked, allowing explorers to view wildlife. Great for mountain biking, the Loop Trail at Powhite Park is also a perfect place to hike with your dog on a lovely summer day!  

Would you like to live in a home surrounded by these beautiful green spaces? Contact us today to start your search!

Summer is the perfect time for reorganizing your garage. The long daylight hours mean you have plenty of time to tackle this task and better showcase the space your garage has to offer. Depending on the size of your garage, you may be able to have everything cleaned and organized in a weekend!

When potential buyers are viewing Richmond homes for sale, a well-organized garage will help them envision the possibilities, or at least not trip over an unruly extension cord. If your garage hasn't been cleaned lately, a cleaning plan will help you get through the task efficiently. Use the tips below to get started. 

1. Break Down the Big Project 
   Working in sections or categories will help you break the work down into manageable sub-tasks. You can divide the garage into sections to thoroughly clean and organize each section. This can work very well if your garage is small or relatively uncluttered. You can also break the work down into categories for what you normally store in the garage. You may decide to organize auto care supplies, outdoor decor, tools, or other items you store. This approach is ideal if your garage has been recently cleaned or is new, but you need to cull items. Either method will help you efficiently divide cleaning your garage into tasks that you can delegate to helpers or stretch out over a long weekend.
   
   
2. Keep, Donate, Toss
   Every reorganization will turn up items that you may not use often. If you don't have use for an item, but it's in good condition, a local thrift store will often be happy to have them. If you have a tool that needs a new home, the RVA Tool Library accepts donations of gently used tools. If you need to dispose of potentially hazardous items such as paint or car batteries, the Richmond Department of Public Works accepts multiple types of hazardous waste.
   
   
3. A Clean Slate
   Decluttering will improve the look of your garage, but gleaming surfaces will complete the makeover. A scrub brush and soapy water will work on many surfaces, but a drill with brush attachments and a pressure sprayer will help with rust, oil stains, and dirt that's become deeply embedded into surfaces. If you're not sure if a cleaning solution or method is appropriate, please test it on a small hidden area first. 
   
   
4. Just A Touch Up of Love
   The surfaces of your garage endure a lot of wear and tear, and it's common for surfaces to become chipped. Perfectly clean surfaces can look less, so when they're scratched or chipped a fresh coat of paint will make your garage look new inside and out and show the pride in your home that our real estate agents love to see.  

Reorganizing your garage can seem like a daunting task, but it's deeply satisfying to see the clutter and grime melt away into a space that makes it easy to find the tools you need and retrieve the items you've stored away. But if you're looking to make a more dramatic change in where you live, contact us today.