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12 ounces spaghetti, linguine or bucatini 1 shallot, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced Zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus more lemon zest for serving 3 sprigs basil, plus more for serving 1 teaspoon kosher salt ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving 1 cup fresh or frozen peas (thawed if frozen) 1-2 Tbs butter 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1. Combine the pasta, 4½ cups water, shallot, garlic, lemon zest, basil, salt and pepper in a large skillet with 2-inch sides. 2. Bring the water to a boil, then turn down by 1/3 and cook, stirring occasionally, until the water is nearly gone and the pasta is fully cooked, 8 to 10 minutes. (Pay attention here!) As water is almost evaporated, add peas and butter. 3.  Stir until butter is combined and melted, then add the lemon juice and Parmesan, and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with basil leaves and lemon zest. This pasta is flexible, too! I had no basil, so I used parsley here. Still delicious! Also great topped with grilled chicken breast, salmon, or grilled shrimp.

Richmond is pretty great in most seasons, but festival season? That's really where we shine! There's little the River City loves more than the combo of outdoors+live music+friends+food trucks+celebration, and of course, adult beverages. Here are a few of my favorites, kicking off in March! March 5-12- Richmond Black Restaurant Experience. Less of a festival, and more of a weeklong celebration of our black owned restaurants. I'm a foodie, so this one definitely counts! March 11- Shamrock the Block moves to Leigh Street this year! Shamrock The Block is a FREE street festival in its 17th year and the kickoff to festival season! March 25-26- Church Hill Irish Festival. This one has the best to offer the 21+ crowd as well as the younger set. It's a party for everyone, and a great way to get a taste of Ireland in RVA. March 30-April 2- French Film Festival. Widely recognized as the best French Film Festival in the country, this event is held at the Byrd Theatre in Carytown, and is in its 29th year this year. A great way to pick up a little culture for a weekend. April 22- Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k. Touted as "Richmond's Biggest Block Party," that's a pretty accurate assessment. You can run. You can walk. You can do a bit of both. or you can just come down to cheer and party. Whatever you do, it's F U N for all ages. April 29- Herbs Galore & More at Maymont. Great plants- far beyond herbs, live music, food trucks, and more! This is a great way to learn while enjoying a day out, AND getting some great new plants for home. May 6-7- Arts in the Park. Surely one of the best things Richmond is known for is our passion for the arts, and all of the wonderful artists that call RVA home. Arts in the Park is a wonderful celebration of this. This free event is one of the largest outdoor events in Richmond, and a nationally rated juried arts and craft show. Also, just one of the best ways to get out and celebrate spring at Byrd Park. May 19-21- Dominion RiverRock- So much to do and see at this one, and it combines all our loves- the James River, getting outdoors, art, food, drink, and music! Seriously fun for the whole family, and always something new to see! June 1-4- Richmond Greek Festival- Celebrate Greek culture with music, dancing, vendors, and absolutely delicious food! (Fun fact- when my son was a baby, he wouldn't touch green beans until he had the ones from the Greek Festival, so I got the recipe and made them all through the toddler years!) Grab some friends, a couple of bottles of greek wine, and spend the day. It's a true Richmond tradition! July 14-15- Hanover Tomato Festival - Even those of us who don't live in Hanover claim the almighty Hanover tomato, and for good reason. They really are the absolute best. (I even know someone who moved far away but took a truckload of Hanover soil and plants to try to take them with her!) This is a celebration of the tomato, with lots of fun for the whole family (pet friendly, too!) July 29- Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival- The 14th annual, and need I say more? There's music, tastings of all your favorite "B's" and lots of vendors, too. At the Meadow Event Park in Doswell. August 12- Jam Packed Craft Beer and Music Festival- Just what it sounds like. This festival starts at 3:30 on Saturday, and August 13- Carytown Watermelon Festival- Food, music, vendors, fun, and of course, watermelon! (I mean, SO MUCH WATERMELON!) Super family friendly, lots of fun, and free! Obviously this list is not exhaustive, and there are PLENTY of other smaller events on Brown's Island and around town to learn more about RVA, our rich culture, and try great food and drink, enjoy music, and just have FUN.  Where will you be going?? 

It's hard to watch or listen to the news on any platform lately without getting some sort of news on the housing market. To hear the national news, things have cooled tremendously, but we all know that real estate is really local, right? The story around here is, more or less, a simple tale of supply and demand. A six month supply of housing units is widely considered to be a balanced market (neither buyer nor seller’s market), and we are still in a market with only just over 1 month’s supply. That means the simple concept of supply and demand is going to keep prices steady for a while, and in many pockets of our market, keep things competitive. (For perspective, in February of 2022, the inventory low- we had only .7 months.) For the same sort of perspective, in February or 2022, we only had 1544 active listings in our MLS, and this February, we closed out with 1792. That’s just not that big of a jump, and the buyers are still out there. In fact, homes last year this time were selling on average for close to 107% of listing price, but this year, they are still selling at nearly 98%. (And that’s an average. The median list price to closing price percentage is sitting at 100%) Last January, the average sales price of a home in the area was $378,029. This January, that price is up to $388,060. Yes, that’s up, for sure, but it’s important to note that the average price in May 2022 was $435,893. Does that mean the market has dropped/cooled/changed? Well, sort of. Things have definitely been flattening out from the wild spikes of the last couple of years, and if you were hoping to get on the market and garner 20 cash offers with huge escalations and no inspections, you may well have missed that boat. However, despite what you hear on the national news, our market is in a much softer correcting cycle than many in the country. Anecdotally, we have seen more and more buyers be able to have home inspections, appraisals, etc, over the last few months. That's been a very welcome change for the buyers out there, and we are still seeing them, but perhaps to a lesser degree at the moment. As we head into spring, and the spring market, we're definitely seeing more of those multiple offers, and more situations where those things are being waived again. In short, while rates have definitely gone up, there are still lots of buyers out there looking for homes, and just not enough homes out there for them. While we do anticipate that inventory loosening up a bit as the weather warms, we definitely need more listings! If you're thinking of selling, it's definitely a great time. And if you're thinking of buying, we can get you where you want to be! What will it take? Just a little bit of planning, a little creative/out of the box thinking, and yes- patience. If you have questions about the market, or just your little section of it, reach out! I'd love to break down the data that matters for YOU. *Graph and data- MarketStats by ShowingTime    

It is a good time to buy? Is it a good time to sell? What's the market doing? These are just a few of the questions I always get asked as a realtor. Didn't answer your questions? Let's talk! DM me on Instagram @cindybennettrealestate or via my website at cindybennett.net.

It's February, and that means Valentine's Day, so what better to share a few things that I think make your life (and your home) just a touch more romantic? 1- If you've been wanting to make home just a bit more cozy and warm, try a paint job. Whether you're thinking of selling, you've just bought, or you've been there a while, a new paint can make everything feel new, for a relatively low price. A 2023 spin? Say goodbye to grays, and warm it up! Here are a few of my ❤️ 2- Whether you're going out or staying in, having a delicious dessert waiting at home can make any day feel like Valentine's Day, or a little more luxurious, at least. Here are my RVA go to's: Shyndiz- Salted Chocolate Caramel Cake: Rich chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream, house caramel sauce and fleur de sel. Whisk- What's better than a monthly subscription of delicious macarons? What? You can't think of anything either? Or just buy a few to add a little French flair to your February. Order from WhiskRVA HERE Blue Cow Ice Cream- Goat Cheese Blueberry Swirl- Different, unique, with a nod to cheesecake, this one is next level. The Tiramisu at Edo's Squid or 8 1/2. Top notch, perfectly balanced, and so delicious. 3- Another "make your home more lovely" favorite is Punch Drunk Paper Company. A new, RVA based, temporary wallpaper company, they've got fantastic patterns and styles, and can give you a fantastic focal point or make a room completely different. They'll do custom styles as well! Check them out HERE    

You're getting ready to buy your first house, but everyone you know who bought a house in the last couple of years didn't have an inspection. But guess what? You can! Let's talk about home inspections. If you have questions, reach out to me, I'd love to help. DM me on Instagram @cindybennettrealestate or via my website at cindybennett.net

Harira Soup 8 oz diced lamb, chicken, or beef, as well as bones optional 3 tbsp vegetable or olive oil 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (or about 6 lg tomatoes, peeled, seeded, pureed) 1 handful dry chickpeas, soaked and peeled 2 handfuls dry green or brown lentils 1 large onion, grated 1 stalk celery (with leaves), chopped 1 small bunch flat leaf parsley, finely chopped 1 small bunch cilantro, finely chopped 1 tbsp smen (Moroccan preserved butter) optional 1 tbsp salt 1 tbsp ginger 1.5 tsp black pepper 1 tsp ground cinnamon - optional  1/2 tsp turmeric 3 tbsp tomato paste - combined with 1 cup water 3 tbsp broken vermicelli 1 cup flour - combined with 2 cups water INSTRUCTIONS  Ahead of Time – Prep Ingredients Soak chickpeas overnight. After they've soaked, drain and peel. (Press chickpeas one-by-one between your forefinger and thumb or by rubbing all of the chickpeas vigorously in a kitchen towel. Pick through lentils to remove stones and debris; set aside until ready to use. Grate the onion or process it to a thick pulp in a food processor. Wash the celery and finely chop. Set aside. Remove and discard large pieces of stem from the parsley and cilantro. Wash the parsley and cilantro and leave to drain thoroughly before chopping finely by hand or in a food processor. Make the Soup In a 6-quart or larger pressure cooker or stock pot, brown the meat in the oil over medium heat. Add the soup bones if using, peeled chickpeas, pureed tomatoes, grated onion, spices, smen (if using) and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook with medium pressure for 25 minutes (or simmer on stovetop for 50 to 60 minutes). Add lentils, tomato paste mixture, chopped herbs and 9 cups water. Bring to a boil and cover. Cook soup with pressure for 45 minutes (or simmer on stovetop for 90 minutes.) Stir in the broken vermicelli. Continue simmering for a few minutes until the vermicelli is tender. Adjust seasoning if needed. Thicken soup by gradually adding the tedouira (flour and water mixture), stirring constantly to ensure that it’s well blended. DON'T just dump it all in. Add just as much as you need to get the consistency you want. Simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally .  Skim off any foam that forms on the surface. Remove from heat and serve. Garnish with lemon wedges and cilantro (optional)

Just in case you don't follow me on social media (where I've posted hundreds of pics), I just returned from a long awaited trip from Morocco. When I say long awaited, I mean LONG awaited. This was a group trip, scheduled pre shut down, and was rescheduled multiple times. But prior to that, Morocco was at the very top of my "must see" list from the time I was 15. Waiting that long to do anything puts a ton of expectations out there, but to say it met and exceeded my expectations is really any understatement. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite thing about it, but here are a few: The people. The ones I traveled with (who I did not really know before I went, but who were so absolutely fantastic they just made the trip exponentially better than I could have imagined.) Find you a group of people who cause you to push yourself, ask good questions, and make your muscles sore from all the belly laughs. 10/10 recommend. The locals. All of the people we met were really welcoming, kind, and helpful. Culturally, I think, just fantastic people. The food. Wow. I could go on and on about the food. Orange and olive trees everywhere, and so many wonderful spices and flavors. I'll definitely be replicating, exploring, and recreating Moroccan foods for years to come. (I'm including a great recipe for a delicious, traditional Moroccan Harira Soup HERE. Perfect for the winter, or any time, and easy to freeze for later. The colors. Rugs, baskets, pottery, brilliant tea glasses, mountains of olives and herbs, and so many wonderful, brightly colored doors (that blue!). So much natural beauty and vibrancy. I'm definitely bringing color back into my home as a result. The architecture. We stayed in Marrakech, in the heart of the Medina (the original, fortified city- founded just after the year 1000), characterized by winding, labyrinthine cobblestone streets filled with studded wooden or often blue doors. Some magnificent, and some very discreet and unassuming. Traditional homes are called riads, and are built around a center courtyard. There are often (certainly in the old city) no exterior windows, but rather windows opening to the center courtyard and some sort of outdoor space on the rooftop. Really magical, actually. Other notable elements- lots of nature (trees, plants, and fountains), natural wood elements, lots of color and texture, beautiful tiles and plasterwork. ( I could go on!) After almost a week in Marrakech, we moved on to Essaouira, which is another fortified city, on the Atlantic coast. We all fell in love with the slower pace, wider streets, and ocean views of Essaouira, and it's no wonder there were so many Europeans there on holiday, even in January. We did a lot of moving in Marrakech, too, with no "free day" (thanks for the delay, Delta), so getting to the sea was a great way to relax and slow down a bit before the journey home. Take a look at some of my photos, and if you're planning to head to Morocco, or even thinking of it, scroll down for a quick rating of the events and things we did! Yves Saint Laurent Museum and Jardin Majorelle 7/10- Beautiful gardens and a very interesting (though not terribly large) museum about YSL and his time in and inspiration from Morocco. 7/10 if it's slow with no line. If the line is around the block like it was when we left, I think we'd all agree it would have been a 3/10. Souk shopping with a guide. 10/10- I highly recommend having a guide to give you the lay of the land, help with finding the "good stuff," and if needed, help with pricing/negotiating. Honestly, I feel like I'm a top notch negotiator (I'm in real estate, after all!), but I 100% know I paid more than I needed to for a few things. For example, one of our group paid ~$28 for a tagine cooking pot, and we all thought that was a great deal. On our last night, the Abdou, our cooking instructor, informed us we should not pay more than ~$5 for one. Our collective jaws dropped, and another gal promptly went out and purchased 2 for $5. (I've done the conversions here) Visit to the Ourika Valley and the Atlas Mountains. 10/10- Absolutely stunning vistas of the mountains, and so striking to see snow atop some of them. We hiked up the mountain to the waterfalls with a wonderful guide (@ourikatours on Instagram), but we were not well prepared for the rigor of the hike. (I had a handbag and a bottle of water, and was wearing athleisure. I could not have felt more ridiculous immediately.) Aside from that, learning the history and culture of the more rural area at Setti Fatma, eating lunch right on the rushing river, and catching the views? Definitely a 10/10 experience. We had dinner at Kasbah Bar Ourika, a luxury resort in the valley, and it was the perfect, luxurious end to our energetic day. Visit to the Berber EcoMuseum. They don't have a website, but if you're in the area, it's definitely a great learning experience- info about the Amazigh people (the indigenous people of Morocco, often referred to as Berber), how they used to live, how they live now, stories of how rugs are made and why. (Watch out to get bombarded with requests for money by teeming hordes of children. They can spot a tourist at 40 paces.) Agafay Desert. 8/10- We visited Be Agafay, a new luxury clamping resort, and had lunch there. It's very beautiful, and the drive there is fantastic. It would be an interesting place to stay for the night, although it's not inexpensive (~$300/night) Lunch was delicious, but it appeared they were working out the kinks, because it took forever. Camel ride. 0/10- (This would be lower, but I wanted to make it visually clear that we universally hated this.) It seems like this is something you'd have on the "must do" list, but trust me- if you have any heart for animals, do so at your own risk. There may be places that care for their animals well, but we did not feel like that was the case at the place we stopped. They were chained to the ground, seemed very stressed, and it felt terrible. We actually cut the hour down to maybe 20 minutes, and it was only that long because we could not get the man leading the camels to understand we wanted off. Essaouira. 10/10- Take a walk to the ocean, the blue boats, wander the the shops, and have some seafood tagine. Definitely catch the sunset over the Atlantic. We booked a cooking class through Airbnb experiences, and it was absolutely fantastic. Unfussy, laid back, and so much fun, with great hosts. (@weloveessouira on Instagram.) Are you thinking of planning a trip? Ask me questions! Want to know if you should go? You should!

It's January 2023 and I'm here to give you the scoop on the Richmond area real estate market for this coming year. Have questions? DM me on Instagram @cindybennettrealestate or at my website at cindybennett.net

You want to buy in Richmond, who are you going to call? The obvious answer is me. But if you're buying a home in New Jersey, California, Florida... or anywhere else? How do you even know where to start? Have questions? Reach out. I'd love to help. Find me on Instagram @cindybennettrealestate or at cindybennett.net.