Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

There we sat, eyes wide in the seafood restaurant as my salad had all of the regular things—lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumbers, salt—and… cinnamon? I wasn’t paying attention when I grabbed what I thought was the pepper shaker, and proceeded to dump about 10 pounds worth of sweet potato topping on my leafy greens. 

The realization dawned quickly. So I did what anyone would do, naturally. Rather than simply ask for another salad, I picked up a slice of tomato, looked it over, proclaimed, “Hmm, I’ve never tried this with cinnamon on it before,” and proceeded to take a bite as my husband gazed on with both confusion and horror. To save you the trouble, it doesn’t taste good like that. 

I scrapped the top layer and enjoyed the rest, along with a side of delicious fried okra, and all was well. What’s there to glean from this experience? I’m not sure that there’s really a lesson to learn from cinnamon salad—other than now that I’ve tried it, you don’t have to. I’m so glad you’re here (and that cinnamon salad isn’t).

Here’s what you need to know: Driving around to see festive Christmas lights is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit. With dozens of home light displays in the Richmond area, you don’t have to venture far to feel like you’ve accidentally arrived at the North Pole. 

Our top picks: 

• One tradition 35 years in the making is a Tacky Lights List annually produced by the Richmond-Times Dispatch. These aren’t just any old Christmas lights, though—to qualify for the tour, the homes must have at least 40,000 lights in the display. 

• Why drive when you could ride? At Discover Richmond Tours, the guess-work isn’t something you have to worry about—the curated light tour weaves throughout the area, offering guests the comfort of the holiday spirit, without the need for a GPS.
• Another grand illumination opportunity is a guided tour from the inside of a limousine! The experienced chauffeurs know the best routes to see the most lights. Be sure to contact Richmond Limousine for a coveted spot on their two-hour Tacky Light Tour.

Want to explore at your own pace? We’ve selected some of our personal favorite winter wonderland displays in the Richmond area at the link below. 

Question of the Week: Do you have “that” gas station? You know, the one that you always stop at while heading home for the holidays (or away from home for the holidays). Where is it located, what makes it special to you, and of course, what snack are you picking up from there?! Let me know at amie@couriernewsroom.com.

Navigating the holiday hustle? We’re here to make it a tad simpler for you. 

Here are the dates to keep in mind if you’re sending the perfect present though the postal service. For private carriers, be sure to check the preferred dates on their respective websites. 

• Winter is finally here in Virginia—yet, while the temperatures are dropping, energy bills are rising. Keep your home warm this season without breaking the bank with our tips for saving on energy bills (READ MORE HERE).

• Dogwood’s Wholesome News Hour is a quick refresh from the day’s hard news, celebrating some of the positive things happening throughout Virginia. Today, we’re highlighting the commonwealth’s first Buc-ee’s, getting active for a good cause, and pet adoptions galore (READ MORE HERE).

• A major effort is underway in Virginia to improve voting rights for people who have been incarcerated and people who have disabilities. Hear more from a key player in this fight (WATCH HERE).

This week, we’re featuring a basketball 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.

AP Photo (photographer uncredited)

Did you know that back in the day, Virginia was home to a professional basketball team? Unfortunately, the commonwealth’s days of pro hoops were short-lived: The Virginia Squires were part of the American Basketball Association from 1970 to 1976. Yep, that means they didn’t make it to the partial merger with the National Basketball Association (NBA).

One big name to come out of the team was Roland Taylor, who also played for the Washington Capitals, Denver Rockets, and Denver Nuggets. He’s seen here, in 1970, trying to force a shot through two Denver Rockets defenders. By the time he retired in 1977, Taylor had a combined ABA/NBA career total of 5,098 points, 2,563 assists, and 2,524 rebounds.

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