Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

I’ll never forget the looks I received one evening while sitting at a hotel bar in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. It was our first wedding anniversary, and Kody and I had gone on a small weekend trip to the coast. Neither of us was a drinker, but we both enjoyed mocktails—which is what we were having. 

Oh, and I was very, very pregnant with Colton. 

It didn’t even register to us until later why folks were giving us the side eye, and by that point, there was nothing we could say or do to prove our innocence.

But the beach isn’t the only place to get a good non-alcoholic drink—and if that’s your style, today’s lead story is perfect for you. I’m so glad you’re here. 

Sip on a variety of mocktails at these Virginia spots. (M.S. Meeuwesen/Unsplash)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Whether you’re dedicated to seeing Dry January, a month-long challenge to go without drinking after the holidays, or simply abstaining from alcohol for a night, Virginia’s restaurants and bars ensure going without alcohol doesn’t mean having to go without flavor. 

Our top picks:

• The beloved neighborhood restaurant Leesburg Public House doesn’t just offer seasonal snacks but also enticing mocktail and non-alcoholic beer options. The mocktail options include Lavender Lemonade, Pina Colada Mocktail, and Mango Honey Mule, which comes with mango puree, honey syrup, fresh lime juice, ginger beer, and soda water.

• Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen’s mission is to bring people together on neutral ground, allowing them to connect over its new interpretations of American classics. Try one of the zero-proof drink options, like the Spiced Tide, Harvest Breeze, and Poinsettia. The Poinsettia comes with orange juice, hibiscus syrup, spiced syrup, and Wolffer Estate non-alcoholic sparkling rosé.

• While Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen is known for its bourbon, it also boasts two tasty mocktail options, including the Blueberry Mint Smash and Strawberry Fields. Non-alcoholic gin can be added to either mocktail. The Blueberry Mint Smash comes with blueberry puree, simple syrup, lime juice, muddled mint, and soda water.

Thirsty for more? We’ve got over a dozen suggestions at the link below. 

As we’re getting back into the swing of things, I wanted to circle back with a very special email I received while I was out of office over the holidays.

Irene B. shared her Christmas tradition as a response to one of our Question of the Week sections: “I love going to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg with my family. We enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights, holiday themed shows, excellent food, and other activities throughout the park. We have to have a train ride too. Such fun!”

We’ll be back next week with a new question for y’all. In the meantime, you can send me an email directly at amie@couriernewsroom.com.

The Virginia Capitol is seen March 4, 2010, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

By Michael O’Connor

After years of effort, Virginia Democrats and pro-worker advocates hope this is the year they finally pass two paid leave bills to strengthen the social safety net for workers. 

Both bills would make paid leave available to more Virginia workers, but in different ways. 

Senate Bill 2 would address the need for weeks of paid time off for major life events like cancer treatments, the birth of a child, or end-of-life care for a loved one. House Bill 5 aims to give Virginia workers paid sick leave on a day-to-day basis to deal with shorter-term needs. 

The push to expand paid leave is years in the making, especially in the wake of the pandemic as public health and the needs of frontline workers became more of a priority. But outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has previously vetoed versions of these bills based on the idea they would be bad for business. 

The election of Democrat Abigail Spanberger as Virginia’s next governor and Democrats’ growing majority in the General Assembly have renewed hopes that these bills will finally become law. 

• Virginia US Sen. Mark Warner recently warned about the “dangerous” precedent President Donald Trump set with his abduction of Venezuela’s leader. (Watch here)

• In Richmond, history is enjoyable and accessible for all. One year ago, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture partnered with the Autism Society of Central Virginia to train staff in an effort to become a Certified Autism Center. (Learn more)

• Curious to know which political stories made Dogwood’s “most read” list in 2025? We crunched the numbers. (View results)

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