Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Can you believe 2024 wraps up next week? Personally, it was a year of great sadness and challenge; I’m thankful for a new beginning on Wednesday. But in all of the tears and turmoil, there was a constant—you guys. And I mean that.

I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, and so many of you wonderful readers reached out to me in times of loss and frustration. While I wasn’t always in a space mentally to respond, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you. Your words of kindness, of encouragement, and humanity deeply touched my soul, and I’m grateful to you (and for you).

Today, we’re taking a quick look back at some of the coverage that made an impact in 2024. Thank you for tagging along with us this year—and remember, I’m so glad you’re here. 

P.S. Our offices are closed from Dec. 24-Jan. 1; fear not—your newsletters will continue as normal. However, I won’t be keeping tabs on my inbox during that time—so while I always look forward to hearing from you, I likely won’t see your message(s) until the New Year. Happy holidays from all of us here at Dogwood!

Here’s what you need to know: Foodies and frequent viewers of the Food Network are likely familiar with the prolific Guy Fieri show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” It features Fieri as he takes cross-country road trips to some of America’s classic “greasy spoons.” Given that the show has been on the air for 39 seasons, it likely comes as no surprise that it has featured its fair share of Norfolk-based restaurants.

Our top picks:

• Doumar’s Cones & Barbeque—This iconic curb service restaurant has been around since 1904. Start with its North Carolina-style barbecue and a glass of its famous limeade, which are made by scratch and by hand. When it’s time for dessert, the handmade waffle cones are rolled right in front of you on the original four-iron waffle machine that was built in 1905. 

• Pendulum Fine Meats—Dylan and Dana Wakefield are so dedicated to the business that they live upstairs in the historic building that they painstakingly restored. In the “Sandwiches, Spaetzle and Sticky Wings” episode, Fieri was taken back to his childhood by the slow-roasted beef that he described as being “so thin, it only has one side.”
• Alkaline—This restaurant prides itself on the fact that almost everything it serves is made in-house. While ramen is its specialty, it also serves Asian-style street food like lumpia, Asian tacos, stewed pork nachos, and okonomiyaki. 

Hungry for more? We found six local spots where the famous restaurateur left his mark.

Question of the Week: Let’s talk about 2024! Are you feeling more nostalgic about it and wishing it would hang around a little longer, or are you ready to leave it in the dust? Message me at amie@couriernewsroom.com with your thoughts. 

Photo by Emily Thompson/ShearGypsy

Meet Emily Thompson, the owner of ShearGypsy salon in Danville. Thompson, who lives just across the line in North Carolina, is no stranger to the western part of the state. Both she and her husband enjoy hiking the various peaks and winding through the variety of trails in the NC mountains. When Hurricane Helene devastated the area, Thompson felt a desire to help.

The local hairstylist quickly took to social media, offering her talents in exchange for donations. Thompson blocked a day off of her calendar for a haircut and hair tinsel event at her salon, with 100% of profits heading straight to God’s Pit Crew, a Danville-based nonprofit helping with the hurricane relief efforts. The event scheduled for Oct. 12 booked so quickly that Thompson added another day. She requested minimum donations of $25 for each service provided.

• From the echoes of Appalachian folk to the pulsating beats of hip-hop, Virginia’s music scene is a testament to its rich, evolving heritage. Discover how this historic commonwealth went from the birthplace of country music to a modern hotspot for diverse genres (READ MORE HERE).

• A number of inmates at a western Virginia state prison have intentionally burned themselves in response to alleged abuse, prompting state lawmakers to call for immediate action and an investigation (READ MORE HERE).

• Earlier this year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed HB 609 and SB 237, legislation that would’ve codified the right to birth control in Virginia. The US Senate later voted on the Right to Contraception Act, which would’ve guaranteed the right to birth control at the federal level—but it didn’t pass (WATCH HERE).

This week, we’re featuring a football highlight! If you’d like to see your team’s accomplishments broadcast on Dogwood’s platforms, send a note and photo to amie@couriernewsroom.com or reply to this message. Just be sure you have permission to share from all of the proper sources—players/guardians, photographers, and coaches/schools, to name a few.

Photo by Marvin E. Newman/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

From player to pro to coach, Sonny Randle was no stranger to the football field. Randle attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville from 1954-59, where he was a multi-sport athlete. The student played football and basketball and ran track.

The UVA alumni then went on to play football for the NFL. Over his career, Randle played for the Cardinals, 49ers, and Cowboys. He was voted to the Pro Bowl four times.

The Cohasset native later returned to Virginia, where he served as UVA’s head football coach from 1974-75. 

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