Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

If you ever want to feel good about yourself, don’t ask an 8-year-old. Actually, sometimes, you don’t even have to ask—they’ll just tell you, out of the goodness of their hearts. Earlier this week, we were sitting on the couch after dinner. “Mommy, how much do you weigh?” Colton asked. About 90 pounds, I told him. “Wow,” he said. “You’re heavy.”

Needless to say, I am (along with my alleged heft) really excited to share today’s lead story with y’all, highlighting some of the yummiest restaurants slated to open in the commonwealth this year. I’d gladly, willingly, gain a couple more pounds eating at any one of them—they all sound so good! Enjoy your dinner, and remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

Four dishes from Floriana served in pristine white dinnerware. (Floriana)

You’ll want to try these Virginia restaurants opening in 2026

By Dorothy Scott

Here’s what you need to know: Virginia’s eateries are the cream of the crop, and we’ve only got more delicious dining options on the horizon.

Our top picks:

The beloved Italian restaurant Floriana has been whetting palates in DC for more than 40 years, and now it’s bringing those sultry flavors to Alexandria. It’s also filling a big void, taking over the building where Virginia’s Darling, a local-loved wine bar, operated until December 2024.
From the South all the way up North, Shipley Do-Nuts is on a true Atlantic journey, bringing delightfully sweet treats to Virginia and beyond. The breakfast spot has one existing Virginia location in Lynchburg, but in 2026, it’s setting up shop in Vienna.
A new restaurant called Saki is in the works, with the food coming from the mind of Michelin-starred Chef Masaaki Uchino. He’s honed his sushi skills thanks to spending more than 20 years in the industry.

Hungry for more? We’ve got the inside scoop on new eats coming this year.

Explore new culinary options →

Earlier this week, we asked an open-ended question: What would you, the readers, like to see us cover more in 2026?

We got plenty of answers, but one stood out to me so much because it started with a compliment (and that always, always, alwayssss feels good).

Frank and Anita wrote: “Like the current mix—however, would enjoy more politics and Virginia economy, too.”

Well, Frank and Anita, I believe I have some very good news for you. Michael O’Connor, who does the bulk of Dogwood’s political reporting, has recently launched a newsletter all about the local economy. It’s called Virginia Capital, and it’s absolutely free to sign up for his bi-weekly email list.

In fact, I’ve subscribed to it myself, and I really enjoy the content he shares there. I think y’all—and plenty of other folks in our audience—would like it, too.

As always, it’s never too late to weigh in on the conversation. You can write to me anytime at amie@couriernewsroom.com.

A footbridge in Forest Hill Park was dedicated to the memory of the Harvey family in 2010. (olekinderhook/CC BY 3.0).

Richmond community keeps Harvey family’s memory alive 20 years after their murders

By Sam Cohen

On Jan. 1, the bodies of the Harvey family were found inside their Woodland Heights home after a friend called 911 to report a fire at the property.

Kathryn “Kathy” Harvey was 39, and her husband, Bryan, was 49. Kathy ran World of Mirth, a popular toy store in the Carytown district, and Bryan was a lead singer and guitarist for the band House of Freaks. Their daughter Stella was nine years old at the time of her death, and their daughter Ruby was four years old.

They were victims of a crime spree that ultimately resulted in the deaths of seven people total (including the Harveys). The men responsible for the murders were caught and prosecuted—one was executed via lethal injection in 2017, and the other is serving a life sentence without parole.

Following their deaths, an endowment was created to honor the Harveys. The Bryan and Kathryn Harvey Family Memorial Endowment Fund “carries forward their legacy by supporting projects that invite families and communities to come together through music, visual art and the performing arts.” It’s meant to pay homage to “a family remembered for their kindness, creativity, love of music and the arts.”

Since it was established, the endowment has awarded over $146,000 through 32 grants.

Learn how the grants have impacted the community →

If Virginia had the gun death rate of the 10 states with the strongest gun safety laws in the US, 6,552 lives could be saved in the next decade. If that data from Everytown for Gun Safety interests you, here’s a link to the 2026 state gun law rankings.
On the first day of the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, the Virginia House of Delegates advanced four constitutional amendments dealing with abortion rights, gay marriage, voting rights, and redistricting.
In Virginia, rising energy bills are forcing a rethink of what “affordable power” really means. Electricity costs are already set to climb again in 2026, after state regulators approved Dominion Energy rate increases that will add about $13 a month to the typical residential bill over the next two years.

Would you recommend this newsletter to your friends and family?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles with stories from Dorothy Scott, Sam Cohen, Everytown for Gun Safety, Michael O’Connor, and Jessica F. Simmons. It was edited by Paula Solis. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon.

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