Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Yes, the microwave saga continues. On Tuesday, my lovely husband with his grizzly strength accidentally broke the door to the new microwave the very first time he used it (it wasn’t actually his fault, rather a manufacturer’s defect, and we received a full refund).

Sooner than expected, we were once again in the market for a new microwave. Scrolling through the options online, I asked how he’d feel about us getting a turquoise one. Granted, I’d mentioned that 20-some days prior and didn’t get much of a response. This time, his facial expression changed completely—and not for the better.

“Oh my goodness, Mother’s Day,” he said. I raised an eyebrow because I love my husband, but if he got me a cooking appliance as a Mother’s Day gift, any judge would understand that’d be grounds for divorce. But, no—on Mother’s Day, he’d given me two stunning pieces of turquoise jewelry, proudly exclaiming that it was because I said I’d “always wanted” some.

I didn’t recall ever saying that, but I loved the jewelry, so… “It just dawned on me you weren’t hinting toward a gift; you were talking about the color of the microwave we were buying,” he broke my train of thought. With 20 minutes to go until midnight, we had the best laugh. Tomorrow, we’re buying the turquoise microwave of my dreams—but until then, we’ll be eating out, which is what today’s lead story is all about. Have a great weekend and remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

An exterior shot of the Silver Diner location in Fredericksburg, showing what will come to Gainesville in 2026. (Silver Diner)

Virginia’s dining scene expands with new must-visit eateries

Here’s what you need to know: Several new restaurants are opening across the commonwealth this year, ranging from diners to fine-dining establishments.

Our top picks:

At the time of writing, Silver Diner has 24 locations throughout the greater DMV area, with 12 of them being in Virginia. Our fair state has the most Silver Diner restaurants, and it’s taking that accomplishment further with a new location in Gainesville. The restaurant will soon set up shop on Wellington Rd. where Out of the Blue Crabs and Seafood once operated.
The Homeplace Restaurant has a long history in the Catawba area, with countless people making memories on its premises, whether they were eating delectable, home-cooked meals or getting married in the gazebo. However, the establishment shuttered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As fate would have it, the beloved local restaurant recently reopened under new ownership.
Taking you straight from sweets to snack time, it’s The Cheese Cartel. This restaurant which recently opened in Falls Church, is a one-stop-shop for scrumptious, cheese-filled bliss. From full charcuterie boards to sourdough sandwiches, the restaurant has a wide range of snack-to-meal options.

Hungry for more? We’ve got details about some of Virginia’s newest eateries at the link below.

Explore new options →

Colton holds up a custom minifig he made at Bricks & Minifigs in Danville. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

Custom creations are a hit at this new Danville business

By Amie Knowles

Colton, age 8, and I recently had the opportunity to attend a local store’s grand opening event. Bricks & Minifigs, a brick-and-mortar offering a wide variety of items for LEGO enthusiasts, recently opened in Danville.

We were among the first 150 people to enter the shop that day—a total that reached over 1,000! The store rolled out the red carpet for its guests with complementary coffee from Chick-fil-A and amazing cupcakes from local baker Sabrina’s Treats.

Colton and I throughly enjoyed the Minifig Maker experience, where you mix and match a LEGO figure head, torso, legs, hair, and accessory to create a one-of-a-kind combination. The fully functional figures were $5 each or three for $13. We went for the deal and each made one for ourselves as well as one for my husband, too.

It was our first time there, but definitely won’t be our last. Colton’s already asked about having his (January) birthday party at the store. Nothing like planning early.

Build on the hype →

When we asked this week, y’all really answered. We received dozens of responses when we mentioned that there are 10 Virginia hospitals considered at-risk of closure due to recent Medicaid cuts.

Shabie A. wrote, “Centra in Farmville can’t close! There’s two colleges. And they are renovating the [explicative] emergency room. [What are] we supposed to do in an emergency—go to Richmond or Lynchburg?”

“Cut Medicaid and health care subsidies, and this is what you get,” wrote Lisa P. “The sad thing is that the rural communities that would be affected by these closures are the ones that voted against their own interests.”

Tess T. wrote, “I’ve seen what happens because Lee County was without a hospital for years. Waiting for volunteer rescue squad members to assemble and reach an emergency scene to then drive an hour to reach an emergency room—how many lives were lost because of geography?”

Want to get in on the conversation? It’s not too late; write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com to express your opinion.

Share your take →

In Virginia, prices are going up for everyday necessities. (Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock)

Gas is over $4 in VA. Can solar and wind “bomb-proof” your energy bills?

By Jessica F. Simmons

Across Virginia this spring, the routine has become familiar: fill up the gas tank, watch the number on the pump climb past four dollars per gallon, then walk into the supermarket and see a few basic grocery items add up to more than they did even a month ago. For many Virginia families, incomes haven’t changed, but the cost of getting to work and putting food on the table has.

They’re not alone. Gas prices are rising again across the country. Since late February, when President Donald Trump ordered large-scale air and missile strikes on Iran, fighting in the Middle East has rattled global oil markets and put a key shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, at risk. That narrow waterway off Iran’s coast carries a significant share of the world’s oil. When it is threatened or closed, traders and oil companies brace for shortages, and global prices jump.

Solar and wind power don’t erase oil’s role in the economy, but they can blunt it. Once panels and turbines are built, their “fuel,” sunlight and wind, comes from home, not from a market that reacts to every explosion, blockade, or coup abroad. Their costs depend more on local construction, maintenance, and policy choices than on a tanker route half a world away.

That does not mean Virginia can walk away from oil and gas overnight, but it does mean that the more power the state gets from steady, homegrown sources like wind and solar, the less vulnerable families are to oil shocks.

How this works →

Virginia labor leaders are shocked and furious over Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s plans to block the expansion of collective bargaining rights to public sector workers. (Read more)
Want to get politically engaged this week? You can protest with New River Valley Indivisible, book club with Indivisible, or resist with Virginia Grassroots. (Read more)
Virginia voters won’t just vote for candidates in November, they’ll also decide the fate of a ballot measure that seeks to protect reproductive rights under the state Constitution.⁣ (Watch here)

Would you share this newsletter with a friend?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Dorothy Scott, Jessica F. Simmons, Michael O’Connor, and Ava Edwards. It was edited by Brook Bolen.

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