I’ll let you in on a little secret: I absolutely love a good antique show or flea market. I’ve been to the Hillsville one several times throughout my life (featured below), and I always enjoy the atmosphere. Vendors there are ready to sell, sell, sell, and most of them enjoy a good haggle about the prices, too. 

If you’re looking for some good deals this spring, we’ve got you covered. There are markets galore, from craft fairs to antique shows. And there’s almost certainly something that’ll catch your eye right here in the commonwealth. Happy treasure hunting—I’m so glad you’re here. 

By Michael O’Connor

Dogwood has obtained audio of Republican Virginia Congressman John McGuire from earlier this year in which he explains his 2024 vote against raising the marriage age to 18. 

McGuire, who represents Virginia’s 5th congressional district, was the lone vote in the Virginia Senate against a bill to raise the legal marriage age in Virginia from 16 to 18. It passed out of the House of Delegates in a 57-40 vote. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin ultimately signed it into law. 

Prior to the law changing, Virginia allowed children 16 and older to marry if a judge approved and emancipated the minor involved. 

American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic research group, shared audio with Dogwood from a February event in Prince Edward County where McGuire was asked about the rationale behind his vote against raising the legal marriage age. 

“We need more families,” McGuire said. “If a young man and a young girl get pregnant, they need to have a marriage.” 

By Amie Knowles

If you’ve been a Dogwood reader for a while, you know I dabble in a little bit of this and a little bit of that. From playing half a dozen instruments to writing novels, I really do enjoy creating all forms of art. That doesn’t mean I’m “the best” at it—or even particularly “good” at everything I try. But, if not being the next Picasso is the price I must pay for making something simply for the enjoyment of it, so be it. 

That brings us to today’s try: creating a classic American Wild West scene, complete with a buffalo. Last weekend, I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up a few art supplies. I figured I’d get a small canvas, probably an 8 by 10 inches, or maybe even treat myself to a larger 11 by 14 inches. But when I walked inside, a 12-by-36-inch canvas caught my eye. I stood in the aisle and contemplated which canvas I’d prefer for an embarrassingly long amount of time.

You’re not that good. Don’t waste a big canvas. You’ll get frustrated when you can’t finish it in one setting. You won’t paint realistically enough to want to hang that in your house. Those were the types of “positive affirmations” going through my head—but that 12 by 36 inches kept staring at me. With the store about to close, I picked it up and headed to the register.

As my husband drove home, I drafted up an idea in my head for the scene I’d like to create. I spent over an hour drawing a rough sketch and then looked at my mostly empty art wall. There’s a painting by Bill Tucker, a man I never met who lived in Boonesboro hanging right in the middle. It’s far from “perfect,” but that certainly didn’t stop me from falling in love with the sunset scene at his estate sale last spring. Born in 1936, Tucker’s obituary claimed that art “opened a whole new world of enjoyment” for him when he started painting in his 80s. 

My personal attempt fit the open space above Tucker’s piece just right, and I decided that no matter how “well” it turns out, my painting’s going right next to his when it’s done. Because at the end of the day, I’m not striving to be the next-best van Gogh—but I sure would like to be a simple Amie Knowles, with a house full of things made simply because the joy was in the creating.

By Dorothy Scott

Burger joints are a dime a dozen, but it’s not that hard to find a diamond in the rough when you know what to look for. For high-quality burgers and sides made from top-notch ingredients that are still affordable, look no further than Good Stuff Eatery in Arlington.

Celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn owns this fast-casual restaurant, and as the establishment’s website notes, his family works alongside him, with Micheline Mendelsohn Luhn serving as deputy CEO and Harvey Mendelsohn serving as CEO.

Spike’s lengthy resume includes appearances on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” and Bravo’s “Top Chef,” but longtime foodies know him for his knack for nailing flavors and techniques in precise ways that bring out his ingredients’ best flavors and textures. 

At Good Stuff Eatery, you’ll find upscale burgers at competitive prices, each featuring a unique flavor combination. The Prez Burger, for instance, features onion marmalade and horseradish mayo, while the Fried Green Tomato Veg features chipotle aioli, goat cheese, and arugula, of course with the tomato. 

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 Aila Boyd, Michael O’Connor, and Dorothy Scott. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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