Hey y’all. It’s Amie.

If you’ve been around here for a minute, then you know Christmas is my favorite holiday. Black Friday might just be second. I love the hustle and the bustle of the (albeit small) city, with everybody excited about the deals they’ve scored. You’ve heard of the five love languages? Mine’s gifts, so having a full day from before sunup to sundown dedicated to finding the perfect thing for folks on my list is a dream come true. Also, being out and about for so long is a great reason to drink copious amounts of coffee—and who doesn’t love that? If you don’t see me in the toy section at Target, you’ll definitely find me at the Starbucks.

Then right after Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday. Created in 2010 by American Express, the day to support locally owned and operated businesses quickly gained a following. If you’re looking for a certain kind of item to shop for, Yelp offers a free small business finder tool on its website.

Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, too. It’s a day designed to help the helpers in the community—or to become one. Many nonprofits throughout Virginia hold special fundraising drives, oftentimes with monetary goals for specific needs at the forefront. Be sure to check with local organizations in your area to see which need may best suit your generosity. If you’re looking for ways to help, the Generosity Toolbox is a great place to start; there, you can find ideas based off of categories and regions that suit your goals.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, surrounded by people that you love (and who also love you back). Now it’s officially time to bring on the holly jolly—and I’m so glad you’re here for the joy that’s soon to come.

Amie Knowles

Community Editor, Dogwood

Where to shop locally in Richmond on Small Business Saturday

Here’s what you need to know: The holiday season is here, and with it comes the rush to buy presents for loved ones. Instead of going the traditional route of buying a generic gift from a big box store on Black Friday, opt for a unique gift that will likely be cherished for years to come from a Richmond retailer on Small Business Saturday.

Our top picks:

Black Swan Books—This is not your average bookstore, as it focuses almost entirely on rare and antique books, as well as letters, manuscripts, photographs, and ephemera. That’s why the space is called “where old books meet new friends.”
Cool Colors Gallery—The gallery, which was started by local artist and master furniture craftsman Mehmet Sahin Altug, sells fine art and handmade gifts. “The artist-owner’s eye for color and whimsy creates a unique gallery experience,” the gallery’s site reads. “You will find stunning paintings, artist prints, cards, furniture, and delightful baubles.”
Small Business Saturday Artisan Market—The second annual Small Business Saturday Artisan Market at Hardywood West Creek on Saturday, Nov. 25 from noon-6 p.m. is the perfect event to attend if you’re looking to knock out a significant portion of your holiday shopping all at once.

Ready to shop? Learn more about each of these local shopping opportunities and seven more by clicking below.

Read this article

Small Business Shoutout: Do you have a favorite small business in Virginia? Shout it out to us at amie@couriernewsroom.com or by replying to this email. Now’s the perfect time to sing the praises of the local business owners in your community. If we get a good number of responses, we’ll create a map of the different stores to share on Facebook and Instagram—so please don’t be shy with your shoutouts!

Del. Don L. Scott, Jr. (D-Portsmouth) recently made history as the first Black person to become Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates since its establishment in 1619 (then called the House of Burgesses).

The vote for speaker will become official in January when the new General Assembly is sworn in. At that time, the entire chamber will elect its leader under the new Democratic majority. Scott’s main agendas as house speaker are to establish constitutional amendments for abortion rights, same-sex marriage rights, and automatic restoration of rights for convicted felons.

~ ICYMI ~

For many students, Thanksgiving week is a special time to spend with family and friends over large, festive meals. But for international students, a couple of days without classes oftentimes isn’t enough time to travel back home. That’s why Dr. Greg Hodges, president of Patrick & Henry Community College, and his wife, Renee Hodges, open their doors to students who won’t be home for the holidays (READ MORE HERE).
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) will not seek re-election next year and will instead run for Virginia governor in 2025. In a video announcing her run, Spanberger promised to tackle issues like lowering prescription drug prices, growing the middle class, recruiting and retaining teachers, and protecting women’s reproductive rights (READ MORE HERE).
Did you see? Band Director and music professor at Averett University in Danville, Janet Phillips, participated in the Band Directors Marching Band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. The 400-member marching band was made up entirely of band directors. Phillips referred to the opportunity as a “bucket list experience” (READ MORE HERE).

Your Commonwealth Connection

Our weekly #ThisIsVirginia shares stories of the people, places, and things that make us a commonwealth.

High school students in Martinsville stepped up to the challenge this week, preparing thousands of festive meals for people in their community. The W. Dan Prince III Thanksgiving Eve Dinner, organized by the Harvest Youth Board, started in 2016 to provide a meal for those who needed a place to celebrate the holiday. Since then, it’s become a community tradition.

“Being able to serve and bring joy to my community during Thanksgiving while hosting the dinner is an unforgettable opportunity,” Madison Crowe, a Harvest Youth Board member, said in a recent media release about the event.

Held at Martinsville High School, community members enjoyed a free meal and fellowship with one another. The meal included everything you might expect to find at a Thanksgiving table: Turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, bread, and a cookie. Children under 12 also received a free copy of Eileen Spinelli’s book, Thankful.

📸: Harvest Youth Board

This email is written by Amie Knowles, community editor at Dogwood, lifelong Virginia resident, and mom to a fantastic five-year-old who loves monster trucks.
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