Date Archives: July 2022

Boba tea has expanded its popularity around the world, including right here in Central Virginia. You may have heard boba tea referred to as bubble tea, pearl tea, or tapioca tea – no matter the name, boba tea is a sweet, refreshing drink ideal for summer sipping.

A popular treat in Asian cuisine, this drink has become a growing food trend, and with Central Virginia being a great culinary area, there are plenty of restaurants serving up boba tea options. You won't have to travel far to enjoy this delicious drink. Our real estate agents have all of the details on 6 of the best shops for boba tea in Central Virginia communities.

• GiGi Tea Time – 1355 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
  We start our journey with GiGi Tea Time, which is conveniently located near Richmond homes for sale with curbside pickup and delivery available every day from Wednesday through Monday. They are constantly adding new boba tea flavors, like Matcha-Jasmine Green Tea and Osmanthus Flavored Oolong Tea. Enjoy your tea with a side of Taiwanese fried chicken, a rocket shrimp roll, or a sweet French crepe.
  
  
• Zzaam! Kokee Midlothian – 4508 Commonwealth Centre Pkwy., Midlothian, VA 23112
  When you're in the mood for a full meal with your boba tea, Zzaam! Kokee Midlothian is the perfect place to visit. This restaurant specializes in Korean cuisine, with fully customizable bowls, Korean barbecue, wraps, sandwiches, and more. There are dozens of different types of boba tea to try, including some coffee-infused teas that are perfect for starting off your day, along with a variety of tea recipes that have been sourced from countries all around the world.
  
  
• Happy Yappy Bubble Tea – 11500 Midlothian Turnpike, Chesterfield, Richmond, VA 23235
  If you're seeking to satisfy your sweet tooth near Midlothian homes for sale, then Happy Yappy Bubble Tea more than has you covered. In addition to fully customizable boba tea drinks, Happy Yappy Bubble Tea offers a diverse selection of frozen yogurt, sweet slushies, milkshakes, and chocolate treats. The boba tea menu includes non-dairy options which aren't available at every tea shop.
  
  
• Boba Tea & Snow Ice House – 3431 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23221
  Searching for a boba tea shop that the whole family will love? Boba Tea & Snow Ice House has one of the best boba tea selections in Central Virginia, with a long list of always-available teas and even more rotating selections that switch up for every season. There are also a variety of fruit smoothies to enjoy, along with sweet, fruit-flavored snow ice snacks for the kids.
  
  
• Nisa Thai Cuisine – 133 N. Sycamore St., Petersburg, VA 23803
  For some of the best Thai cuisine near Petersburg homes for sale, as well as bubble tea, Thai iced tea, and Thai iced coffee, try a visit to Nisa Thai Cuisine. The menu is packed with great appetizers, curry, soups, stir-fry, Thai desserts, and extensive vegetarian options. You may already be familiar with the other Nisa Thai restaurant located on Belvidere Street in Richmond, and you can expect the same excellent experience at the Petersburg location.
  
  
• U Tea – 1601 Willow Lawn Dr., Ste. 130, Richmond, VA 23230
  Located just off Broad Street in Richmond, U Tea is an excellent local shop for picking up some refreshing boba tea during your busy day. The menu includes the most popular flavors and styles of boba tea, and the tea shop is located within a Pho restaurant, so you can grab a quick, delicious meal to pair with your drink.

Ready to buy or sell your next home in Central Virginia? Let our real estate team help you accomplish your goals. Contact us to buy and sell homes in Central Virginia communities.

Moving to a new city is exciting, but it also has challenges. If your new city is more than a couple of hours from your current home, then house hunting might be one of those challenges. How do you go about finding a home from a distance? We've helped plenty of out-of-town buyers find lovely Richmond homes for sale. Along the way, we've compiled a few tips.

• Make Sure You're Ready
  When shopping for a home from a distance, you often need to make quick decisions. You may need to say "yes" or "no" to a home without waiting for that weekend's open house. You may need to decide, within a day or two, whether you're interested in a home outside of the first neighborhood you were looking in.
  
  These decisions will be easier if you sit down and make sure you are completely ready to buy a home before you start looking. Apply for mortgage pre-approval, decide what month you want to move, clarify terms with your employer, and so forth.
  
  
• Find the Right Real Estate Agent
  You'll be relying on your real estate agent to be your eyes and ears on the ground. So, you want to hire a real estate agent who is used to working with remote clients. When interviewing various agents, ask how comfortable they are with video conferencing technology. Make sure they are comfortable navigating remote document signing software, too.
  
  You also want an agent who knows the area well. Since you're not there and may not be overly familiar with the area, you will be relying on your agent to know which neighborhoods suit your needs, what the market is like in certain towns, and so forth. Search through our real estate agents and see how they'll be able to help with your house hunt.
  
  
• Research the Area
  Read up on the cost of living in the city you're moving to. Research various neighborhoods and what they have to offer. As you learn more about the area, you can start to create a short list of neighborhoods where you would prefer to buy a home. Provide this list to your agent, and ask them for more information on your desired areas.
  
  
• Use Cost of Living to Inform Your Budget
  Setting a budget when house shopping in a new city can take some work. First, you want to see what various homes are selling for in certain neighborhoods. However, you also need to consider the cost of living in the new city. You can do this by creating a mock budget.
  
  Based on the cost of living, write down how much you expect to spend on groceries, utilities, fuel, and other needs. Subtract these costs from your monthly income. How much of what is left can you afford to spend on housing? From this number, you can work backward and determine how much house you can afford.
  
  
• Be Flexible
  It's always good to be flexible when buying a home, but even more so when you're shopping remotely. You may not find a home that checks every one of your boxes, but you may find one that checks 9 out of 10. You may not find a home in your top-choice neighborhood, but your agent may recommend one that you like even more. Make plans and lists, but be willing to change them as needed if your information and goals change.

Follow the tips above to successfully find a home in a different city. If you're looking for a home in the Richmond area, please contact us soon. Our real estate agents have experience working with out-of-town buyers and can simplify the process for you.

Richmond's vibrant craft brewing scene isn't just nationally recognized for all of the unique, delicious craft beers available in the city. Local breweries also play host to some amazing special events, and summer is an especially busy time for events at Richmond breweries. Our real estate agents have the latest details on 5 fun events at local breweries around Richmond this summer.

• BINGO Night – 3331 West Moore St., Richmond, VA 23230
  Held at Vasen Brewing on July 19 from 7:00-9:00 PM, BINGO Night is sure to be a fun evening for all. There will be prizes awarded to the winners after every round of bingo, as well as delicious food from Stella's Grocery. If you love this event, stop by again on August 16. Vasen Brewing is one of the most creative breweries in the area, blending flavors made famous in the American brewing scene with the best of classic Belgian beers.
  
  
• Welcome-ish Sunflower Wreath Workshop – 423 3rd St., Petersburg, VA 23803
  Make a fun craft for your home at Trapezium Brewing Company's flagship location near Petersburg homes for sale. Dragonfly Door Decor will be there on July 24 to walk guests through how to make a sunflower-themed wreath that you can work on while enjoying great beer. Buy tickets in advance to reserve your spot for this crafty event. 
  
  
• Books & Brews – 10089 Brook Rd., Unit A, Glen Allen, VA 23059
  The team at Intermission Beer Company loves great books and even better beer, so they've started quite a unique book club located around the corner from Glen Allen homes for sale. On the first and third Sunday of every month at 4:00 PM, the Books & Brews club meets to discuss books and enjoy a few outstanding craft brews. The event is open to all, and there's no assigned reading involved. Instead, participants show up to discuss the latest books that they're reading with the group.
  
  
• Tropic Like It's Hot Cookie Workshop – 2410 Ownby Ln., Richmond, VA 23220
  The Tropic Like It's Hot Cookie Workshop on July 19 is a chance to learn some new baking techniques in a fun, inviting setting at the Hardywood Park Craft Brewery location near Richmond homes for sale. Baker Morgan Huynh will take you through the step-by-step process of creating your own royal icing cookies with colorful tropical designs and delicious flavors. You'll leave the event with 5 royal icing cookies to try, along with plenty of tips for creating your own batches of tropical cookies at home.
  
  
• Brewtown, USA Brewfest '22 – 2000 Dock St., Richmond, VA 23223
  Many of your favorite craft breweries from the Richmond area will be coming together once again this summer for the Brewtown, USA Brewfest '22 on July 16. The event will be held on the Richbrau Brewing Brewfest lot, with live entertainment, craft beer, and fantastic food available all day long. There will be 3 live bands performing throughout the event, as well as 1 live DJ. The Kids Corner area will feature plenty of exciting attractions for younger visitors, making this an event that the whole family can enjoy.

Ready to find your next home close to all of the attractions and events in the Richmond area? Let our team help you find the perfect match. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Richmond, VA area.

Fertile farmlands, award-winning chefs, and appreciative foodies like our real estate agents all combine to make Richmond one of the country's latest culinary hotspots. Visit these remarkable restaurants and see why Forbes Magazine calls Richmond a "hidden culinary gem." 

• Longoven - 2939 W. Clay St., Richmond, VA 23230
  Tasting menus provide a great way for diners to sample a range of different dishes. Just three years ago, Longoven landed on Bon Appetit's list of America's Best New Restaurants. Their 10-course tasting menu, which changes to accommodate seasonal ingredients, earns high marks for offering sophisticated food in an unpretentious way. Dine indoors or out on their covered garden patio. Hours are 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are strongly recommended.
  
  
• Brenner Pass - 3200 Rockbridge St., Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23230
  Richmond's culinary scene received some high-profile validation on Top Chef. Brittanny Anderson, executive chef at Brenner Pass, was a recent contestant on Bravo's iconic cooking competition show. Brittanny's love of European influences is highlighted in dishes such as grilled quail, braised lamb, and nettle agnolotti. Customers love the Brenner Pass Burger, a blend of ground brisket and short rib with a dollop of luscious fondue. Hours are 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
  
  
• Cobra Cabana - 901 W. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23220
  Take a walk on the wild side at Cobra Cabana, which has been described as a "spot for vegan punks." Creative sandwiches come with irreverent names such as the Bahn Mi So Hungry and the Edgar & Allen Frog Brothers Poe Boy. Don't eat vegan? There are some meat-friendly items on the menu as well, although their vegan version of the McRib sandwich might make you a convert. Stop by for lunch while viewing Richmond homes for sale. Cobra Cabana is open 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily except Sunday when doors open at noon.
  
  
• Africanne on Main - 1102 W. Main St., Richmond, VA 23220
  As the colorful mural at Africanne on Main proclaims, "It's OK to lick your fingers here." Chef Ida MaMusu, a native of Liberia, brings the exotic flavors of West Africa to Richmond with chicken yassa, jollof rice, and other traditional favorites. Enjoy a variety of dishes with the daily buffet for $7.99 per pound. During the past year, Chef Ida has expanded the menu to incorporate more vegetarian and vegan options. Hours are 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday.
  
  
• Proper Pie Co. - 2505 E. Broad St. #100, Richmond, VA 23223
  With flaky crusts that adapt to a multitude of fillings, pies are just too good to be limited to desserts. Proper Pie Co. specializes in New Zealand-style pies that are hand-held for easy portability. Savory choices included the popular smoked salmon, leek, and potato, as well as pork chile Verde and chorizo. Of course, they also sell wedges of dessert pies such as coconut cream, chocolate pecan, and sour cream & wild blueberry streusel. The taste and convenience of the pies makes them a natural choice to fill a picnic basket. Order online for pickup at the "piehole." Proper Pie is open Thursday through Sunday from noon - 6 p.m. 
  
  
• Croaker's Spot - 9 E. Old St. Petersburg, VA 23803
  Perhaps one of the best things about Richmond's culinary scene is that great local restaurants are all throughout the Central Virginia area. For example, Croaker's Spot is a fantastic Soul food restaurant serving up comforting dishes in both Richmond and near Petersburg homes for sale. When you live near the RVA, great restaurants like this are never far away! Stop by their Petersburg location between 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. on weekdays, or 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Friday. Weekend hours are noon - 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon - 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Want more information about Richmond's lively dining and entertainment scene? Contact us at Napier Realtors ERA for other insider tips.