Holidays

If you’ve ever found yourself inching through a Glen Allen cul-de-sac, kids in pajamas pressed to the car windows while your GPS insists “you have arrived,” you’ve probably experienced one of Richmond’s most delightfully over-the-top traditions: the Tacky Light Tour. Every December, our quiet neighborhoods turn into full-on holiday spectacles—40,000+ lights per house, inflatable Santas as far as the eye can see, synchronized music, and traffic that absolutely does not exist any other Tuesday night at 9 p.m. But how did Richmond, Virginia earn a reputation as the place for gloriously gaudy Christmas lights—and why do we wear the “tacky” crown so proudly? A Little History: From “Highly Illuminated” to Full-On Legend Richmond’s love affair with tacky Christmas lights really took shape in the mid-1980s, when local radio DJ Barry “Mad Dog” Gottlieb launched what was then called “Richmond’s Tacky Xmas Decoration Contest and Grand Highly Illuminated House Tour.” What started as a tongue-in-cheek contest quickly turned into a full-blown event. Gottlieb piled people onto buses, drove them around to see wildly decorated homes, and leaned hard into the idea that more lights, more Santas, and more inflatable reindeer were absolutely the point—not the problem. By 1990, the Richmond Times-Dispatch picked up the idea and turned it into the now-famous Tacky Lights List, printing the best (or worst, depending on your wattage tolerance) displays in the paper so families could create their own driving tours. Over time, bus and limo companies got in on the fun, offering chauffeured Tacky Light Tours complete with playlists, hot cocoa, and sometimes…adult beverages. The tradition grew so big that in 2010, the city even issued an official proclamation declaring “Richmond Tacky Light Tour Day,” referencing national articles that had called us everything from a “Christmas beacon” to “the capital of the lighting universe.” Honestly? That’s a title we’ve more than earned. What Makes Richmond’s Tacky Lights…So Richmond? Lots of cities decorate for the holidays—but Richmond’s version has a very specific flavor. We didn’t just put up pretty lights; we embraced the tacky part on purpose. Here’s what sets RVA’s tacky lights apart: There’s an unofficial “minimum” of 40,000 lights to be considered for some of the classic lists and tours. This isn’t your “a few icicles along the roofline” situation. They’re hyper-local and neighbor-driven. These aren’t commercial displays—they’re regular (and slightly extra) Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Hanover-area homeowners who start planning in September or earlier. It’s become a full family tradition. Kids grow up visiting these same houses year after year, then bring their own kids back to the exact same cul-de-sac 20 years later. We’re talked about nationally. Travel and lifestyle outlets have highlighted Richmond as the origin of the modern “tacky light tour,” cementing our reputation far beyond Central Virginia. In other words: it’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s very, very RVA. The Famous (and Infamous) Houses Every Richmonder has “their” house or street they go back to year after year. A few local legends: Christmas on Wendhurst (Glen Allen) – One of the most iconic homes in the region, often boasting well over 180,000 lights and hundreds of handmade decorations. It’s been featured on TV and regularly tops recommended Tacky Light Tour routes. Henrico & West End Classics – Streets like Asbury Court, Wistar Court, and Ridgecrest Drive have become must-stop destinations, often appearing on regional lists and guides. Massive Mega-Displays – Some homes now feature hundreds of thousands of lights, synchronized shows, and even charity tie-ins—raising money for local nonprofits while they light up the night. By early December, families are trading route tips, tour bus companies are fully booked, and social feeds are full of glowing houses you can practically see from space. It’s campy. It’s chaotic. It’s community.   How the Tacky Light Tour Became a Richmond Holiday Ritual One of the reasons the Richmond Tacky Lights Tour has endured is that it hits the sweet spot between tradition and adventure. It’s affordable. You can do it self-guided with just a car full of people, snacks, and a good playlist—no tickets required. There’s something new every year. Displays change, new homes make the list, others “retire,” and you never see the same tour twice. It builds neighborhood identity. Certain streets become known for being “the tacky light street,” and people actually choose to live nearby because they love the energy and tradition. Small businesses benefit. From RVA TukTuk tours to limo companies and local restaurants, plenty of Richmond businesses build special holiday offerings around tacky lights season. At this point, the Tacky Light Tour is less of an event and more of a season. It’s right up there with the first real fall weekend and the start of river season in terms of “RVA cultural calendar” moments. So…What Does This Have to Do with Real Estate? Quite a lot, actually. Real talk: when you’re choosing a neighborhood in the Richmond area, you’re not just buying a house—you’re buying into a way of celebrating. Some people want: Quiet streets, where the most festive thing on the block is a tasteful wreath and a candle in every window. Others want: Full “Clark Griswold energy,” with neighbors who high-five each other over extension cord counts and plan their December social calendar around the Tacky Light Tour schedule. The beauty of the Richmond metro area is that you can genuinely have either. From classic West End and Northside streets that glow every December, to newer neighborhoods where HOA rules keep things a bit more restrained, there’s a holiday vibe to match your personal wattage level. If you’re relocating to RVA—or thinking about moving across town—pay attention to how a neighborhood feels during the holidays. Do people gather outside with cocoa? Are there kids running around in fuzzy pajamas? Is the block completely dark by 7 p.m., or do you need sunglasses at night? Those little details tell you a lot about what living there will feel like in June, not just December. Thinking About Your Next Move in “The Capital of Tacky Lights”? Whether you’re dreaming of a quiet, candlelit Fan rowhouse or a cul-de-sac in Glen Allen with enough yard space for 50,000 lights and a 14-foot inflatable Santa, Richmond has a neighborhood for you. If you’re: Moving to the Richmond area and want help figuring out which neighborhoods match your lifestyle (and your holiday personality), or Already here, but craving a change in scenery—and maybe a different kind of December… …I’d love to help you find your spot. Send me a message, and let’s talk about: Your wish list (tacky lights optional), Your budget, and The kind of community that makes you excited to pull into your driveway—no matter how bright your neighbors’ house is. In a city that proudly claims the title of “tacky light capital of the world,” there’s a corner of RVA that’s just waiting to feel like home. (And if you want my tacky light map for 2025, stay tuned, and follow on social media!)

For years...okay, maybe decades, I've entered the holiday season with all of the business of a full time working mom, with multiple other obligations, as well as a love of making the holiday magic that we (moms) are famous for. I love baking, cooking, crafts, creating, decorating...all those sort of "Martha Stewart" style things that are generally not that easy every day, but are made more difficult and also more high stakes, at the holidays. A few of the things that I've done in the past as the holiday season hits me like a tidal wave and I try to "do it all," Created a full block of homes in Church Hill in gingerbread. Complete with black royal icing ironwork everywhere. (This one landed me on the news in the '90's) Another year, I did my mother's childhood home and church in gingerbread. Gold jewelry for everyone on my list when I was a jeweler. (Started this project somewhere around the first week in December.) Taught myself how to quilt and made quilts for both parents and in laws.(Again, started after Thanksgiving) Compiled all of the family recipes and a few of my own into a cookbook, also begun after Thanksgiving. Anyway, the list goes on. You might be getting the picture, though- I get very inspired, very late in the game, and push through with late nights, lots of coffee, and a good amount of stress, and often could have done these things well in advance, but they didn't occur to me until later! Finally a couple of years ago, I began doing something of a post mortem on the holiday season, just after it is over, but while it's all still fresh in my mind. Calendar in hand, I review anything that could have gone better, usually as a result of lack of time, planning, or both, and I schedule it out better for next year. Want to make homemade liquor? Vanilla extract? Fruitcake, etc? It can take months, but once the holidays are over, the idea flies right out of my head. I wanted to make homemade Vanilla extract last year, but waited too long. This year, when August rolled around, buying the beans, bottles, etc, was already on my calendar. So I actually did it! With no stress, because there is not nearly as much going on in August as in December, it was easy to put this simple gift together and make a bit of a wow come December. So today (it's 12/26 as I type) I'm going over the gifts, the wrap, the notes, and the recollections, while they're fresh, and putting them on the calendar for December of 2025. Things like: Buy butcher's twine for the tenderloin (so I'm not scrambling). Also Christmas lunch/dinner related- take my own salt and pepper, and BIG pans (why are all of her pans so small??), to my Mom's on Christmas Day. Seems ridiculous, but it's so much easier to cook with things I know work, rather than improvising everything. Buy giftwrap early, and have a plan for that too, so there's not just one roll left at the store when I'm ready. There are a few more things I know will come up as I do this, and I know now that 2025 Cindy will thank current me for thinking ahead and making a plan. If there's something I want to make, I can do it early, and I'll overall have a more relaxed, lovely, delicious, and most importantly, a lower stress holiday season as a result. Do you do this? If not, will you try it? I can pretty much guarantee it will help you tremendously! Merry Day after Christmas! Wishing you a very Happy Hanukkah and a joyous New Year!

Are you running out of time? Shipping deadlines have passed, but you still need something amazing? If you're in the Richmond area, these are a few gifts and places I'd recommend! Food gifts Looking for something for the host/hostess, or just a little something for that hard to buy for recipient? Food is always a great answer! Here are some of my local favorites: Copper Fox Distillery- With locations in both Sperryville and Williamsburg, Copper Fox makes some great, American Single Malt whiskies (and so many other spirits). I'm not a big drinker, but it is delicious, and if you take a trip, you can get a behind the scenes tour, which is pretty fantastic on its own. Stock up for gift giving all season, or for your own bar. Are you on the list? Every year, a lot of my clients get a gift of croissant cinnamon rolls from me, from one of my favorites, Up All Night Bakery. They're always a huge hit, and it's a great alternative to the flood of cookies that often come with the holidays. A little treat for breakfast is always a welcome gift. (And everything they make is fantastic!) Looking to put together an amazing basket or box of RVA goodies? My favorite spot to run in and grab some goodies is Yellow Umbrella. Either location- Patterson Avenue or Libbie Mill- has all sorts of great grab and go party foods, chips, salsa, crackers, local snacks, and of course, everything you need for dinner or charcuterie. A great host gift? A loaf of fresh sourdough and a block of my favorite Isigny Ste Mere Butter with sea salt crystals. For just about anyone on your list, pop into Shop Made in Virginia in Scott's Addition and pick up anything from fabulous art, handmade jewelry, textiles, locally made craft kits and gifts for kids, and all sorts of Virginia made foods. Seriously, you could totally check off everyone on your list here. Another spot where it's easy to find something for just about anyone on your list is The Shops at 5807. With a multitude of shops under one roof, you can't go wrong. Maybe some fun readers for Mom from Frillseekers, a great shirt for Dad from Cronies, something useful and fun for the wine lover at All About the Beverage, and of course, a stop through RVYAY Toys for the kiddos. (There are plenty of things for the hard to buy for teens, etc, with great jewelry, fun stationery, and so much more!) It really is possible to avoid the mall (and Amazon!) and get everyone on your list something local! Happy Happy Holidays to you and yours! See you in 2025!  

Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers  8 oz. extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, finely shredded (about 2 cups) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup fine plain white cornmeal 1 Tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 3 Tbsp. water 1/4 cup diced, well drained pimientos 1/4 cup finely chopped chives Directions: Make dough: Process cheese, flour, cornmeal, cornstarch, salt, dry mustard, and pepper in a food processor until combined, about 5 seconds. Add butter, and process until mixture resembles wet sand, about 20 seconds. With processor running, add water through food chute; process until dough forms a ball, 10 to 15 seconds. Add chives and pimientos: Knead into the dough until well combined. Roll and chill dough: Divide dough in half, and shape each half into a 6-inch log, about 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Wrap logs individually in plastic wrap; chill at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Slice crackers: Preheat oven to 350°F with oven racks in upper and lower thirds. Unwrap logs, and slice into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Place dough rounds, 1/2 inch apart, on 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake crackers: Bake in preheated oven until edges are golden brown, about 14 minutes, rotating baking sheets top to bottom halfway through bake time. Cool crackers on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. *Southern Living

French toast has been one of my favorite breakfast dishes for as long as I can remember. With the business of the holiday season, this is a terrific make ahead dish for breakfast, brunch, or Christmas morning, and perfect for a crowd! For French Toast Butter, for greasing 1 loaf crusty sourdough or French bread 8 whole eggs 2 c. whole milk 1/2 c. heavy cream 1/3 c. sugar 1/2 c. brown sugar 2 tbsp. vanilla extract or paste Warm maple syrup, for serving Butter, for serving 1 c. fresh blueberries or strawberries, for serving Topping 1/2 c. flour 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. salt Freshly grated nutmeg (optional) 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces Directions: For the French toast: Grease a 9'x13' baking dish with butter. Tear bread into chunks, or cut into cubes, and evenly distribute in the pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, both sugars, and vanilla. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover the pan tightly and store in the fridge until needed (ideally, overnight). This can also be made and baked all at once. For the topping: Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and some nutmeg in a medium bowl. Stir together using a fork. Add the butter and use a pastry cutter or your hands to mix it all together until the mixture resembles small pebbles. Store in the refrigerator until needed. When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350˚. Remove from the refrigerator and sprinkle the topping over the top. Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, (bread pudding-like) texture or for 1 hour or more for more firm, crisp texture. Serve and top individual portions with butter, drizzle with warm syrup, and sprinkle with berries.

"If you're looking for one stop to know where all the biggest, best, lighting displays are around town (county by county), look no further! I've updated my tacky lights map for 2022, so check it out, grab some cocoa, and plan your stops!" Click HERE to follow along!

Dinner parties, family gatherings, and extra time at home. All great reasons for you to try my favorite Christmas recipe. What You Need: 6 cups water 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits (not instant) 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided) 1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces (divided) 1 pound ground pork or turkey breakfast sausage 6 large eggs 1 1/2 cups milk salt and pepper to taste How To Make: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish. Cook sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain. Cook grits according to package directions. Mix in 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and butter. Stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Beat eggs and stir together with milk. Slowly stir in the egg mixture, then add the sausage. Transfer to a lightly greased 9"x13" pan. (Can be refrigerated for up to 2 days at this point.) Bake preheated oven for 1 hour until puffed/set/golden. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 2 min. more.

Full disclosure- this is not my recipe, but one I found a few years ago on ABeautifulPlate.com. I've made it many, many times since, though. The crispy, roasted Brussels sprouts, the creamy, slightly sweet chunks of butternut squash, studded with sweet dried cranberries, and tied together with the tart Dijon vinaigrette is simply amazing (and pretty festive looking as well.) If you're looking for something just a little different than the norm to add to your Thanksgiving table, this is definitely one to try! Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Squash with Dried Cranberries and Dijon Vinaigrette Ingredients 1 lb butternut squash peeled and cut into ¾-inch chunks 1 lb Brussels sprouts trimmed and sliced lengthwise in half 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ¾ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup dried cranberries (unsweetened or sweetened) Dijon Vinaigrette: 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar or rice vinegar 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil two pinches kosher salt freshly ground black pepper   Instructions Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Place the butternut squash chunks and halved Brussels sprouts on a large baking sheet. Drizzle them with the 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and toss them with your hands to distribute the oil evenly. Sprinkle the vegetables evenly with kosher salt and pepper, and toss them again with your hands. Spread the vegetables out evenly onto the baking sheet. Roasting Tip: Place the Brussels sprouts cut-side down, this will allow them to caramelize more evenly against the surface of the sheet pan. Roast the vegetables for 20 to 30 minutes (time will vary depending on the size of your Brussels sprouts and butternut squash chunks), tossing them gently 1 to 2 times during the roasting time to ensure that they caramelize evenly on all sides. Scatter the dried cranberries onto baking sheet in the last five minutes of roasting time. Allow the pan to sit on a rack to cool slightly while you prepare the Dijon vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard and rice wine vinegar. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking continuously with your other hand, until the ingredients are emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Gently place the roasted vegetables in a large serving bowl or platter. Pour on the Dijon vinaigrette and toss the vegetables gently until they are lightly dressed. Serve warm, lukewarm, or cold.

The Best Gingersnaps Recipe These are my must make holiday cookies, and keep really well in a closed container for a few weeks (or so they say, I seldom have them last that long.) The dough freezes well, too, and they make great gifts or treats with coffee or tea. Gingersnaps 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup molasses 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg Additional sugar. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, and nutmeg. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle. Roll into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and flatten slightly with a glass. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned. Cool for one minute before removing to wire racks. Yield: 11 dozen