Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Children eat for free on Mondays at The Dirty Buffalo. (The Dirty Buffalo)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Dining out can be expensive. Luckily, some Virginia restaurants let kids eat for free when paired with an adult meal.

Our top picks:

• Aloha Snacks bills itself as offering “food for the relaxed.” Kids get to eat for free with the purchase of a burger or bowl for $10 during happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. on Mondays.

• Visit The Dirty Buffalo anytime on Monday, where one free kid’s meal is offered with the purchase of an adult entrée. The family-friendly sports bar that opened in 2012 bills itself as “more than just a wing joint.”

• Boujiee Dogs & Cocktails is the place to go in Virginia Beach for a gourmet hot dog. Kids eat for free all day on Tuesdays. The special applies to children 10 and under. One free kid’s meal is offered per adult order.

Hungry for more? We’ve got more offers for you at the link below. 

Virginia lawmakers remain divided on whether to end the tax breaks for data centers or tie them to rigid environmental standards. (Adobe Stock)

By Zamone Perez

Tax breaks for data center developments across Virginia cost the Commonwealth more than $2 billion in 2025, according to new research.

The report from Good Jobs First, an organization promoting corporate accountability, found the tax abatements cost Virginia schools more than $250 million the year before.

Elena Schlossberg, executive director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, said Virginians are already subsidizing data centers by footing the bill for large utility rate hikes, which compensate for their intense energy demands.

“The wealthiest industry in the world is getting subsidized because of the state tax, because ratepayers are forced to pay for the massive transmission line infrastructure and the new generation,” Schlossberg contended. “You have to ask, if this is winning, I’d like to lose for a while.”

This historical marker stands in front of the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center and Museum, housed in the 1824 courthouse. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

By Amie Knowles

I have a confession—the past week was so busy, I think I’ve read two chapters of the novel I’m currently enjoying. So rather than drop y’all in medias res to Laramie, Wyoming, I’d like to take you on a quick trip to read a historical marker instead. 

Our adventure takes place in Martinsville, a small city in Southwest Virginia. The area’s steeped in history, which began before America’s recognition as a nation. One of the local claims to fame comes from Founding Father Patrick Henry—a Virginian best known for his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech at St. John’s Church in Richmond in 1775. The neighboring county, Henry, as well as the next-county-over, Patrick, were named after the famous writer and orator. 

However, Martinsville wasn’t his only Virginia estate. Henry had several homes throughout the commonwealth, including one in Leatherwood (that’s the one near Martinsville), Scotchtown in Hanover County (which is open to the public for tours), Red Hill in Charlotte County (the reconstructed estate serves as a living history location), and of course, the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg (he was elected Virginia’s first post-colonial governor).

Nowadays, the historical marker stands in front of the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center and Museum, housed in the 1824 courthouse. It’s across the street from local favorites like The Ground Floor coffee shop, the Walsh’s Chicken & More restaurant, and the BlackBox Theatre performance hall.

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