Do you want to watch the game (or maybe just the commercials and snippets of Taylor) and love the energy of a crowd but don't want to be managing the food and friends at your place? I've got you. Here is a short list of some places you can watch the game, AND get great food, great drinks, all without having to cook or clean up! Where are YOU watching?     Island Shrimp Co. Super Bowl Luau  Head to Island Shrimp Co at Rocketts Landing for a full spread of island-inspired eats through halftime including Island BBQ Wings, Kalua Pork Sliders, ISCO's signature shrimp, veggie fried rice, and more! Each ticket comes with 2 Painkillers to get the party started with a taste of the islands. They're even hosting some giveaways at halftime! $45 (tickets required) Cabo Fish Taco Cabo Fish Taco is hosting a great watch party, with 7 screens,  an All You Can Eat Taco Bar and drink specials all evening for $20. (tickets required) Always good for a game, snacks, and drinks...(just arrive early!) Address: 3022 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230 Wood & Iron Game Day Short Pump: 12288 W Broad St, Henrico, VA 23233 Midlothian: 11400 W. Huguenot Road, #109B, Midlothian, VA 23113 Scott's Addition: 1405 Roseneath Rd, Richmond, VA 23230 Pizza and Beer Richmond The Fan: 2553 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23220 Hanover: 9325 Chamberlayne Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Gus' Bar and Grill Address: 2701 W. Broad St., RVA 23220 HomeTeam Grill Address: 1630 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23220

I've worked with a lot of folks that are moving here from other parts of the country and often I have to condense into an hour or so all of the things that I love about Richmond. So just in case you're thinking about making a move, I thought I would condense them even further into my top five things that I love about Richmond and the Richmond area and why you might want to move here.  The food. Yes, the food, the food, the food. We have got so many literally world-class, world-renowned restaurants here and there is always something new. Almost any type of food that you like, anything that you have heard about or is interesting, you can find here somewhere. Except Moroccan food. I don't know why there's none. If you know of any let me know. But lots and lots of fantastic food and always something new to try. Getting outside. We have some fantastic green spaces, outdoor parks, playgrounds, dog parks, anything down by the river, and so many things to do if you love the outdoors. Whether it's biking, hiking, ziplining, all sorts of things. We've got a place for it. So if you love to get outside and you have a family who loves to be outdoors, this is a fantastic place to live. Festivals and events. We love a festival here. If you can give us an opportunity to have maybe a crowd, music, food trucks, probably some beer. We're in, all in and we're all going to be there. So if you want to find an area to live where there's always something to do always a great way to meet new people, try new things, hear new music, drink new beer, eat new food, we've got you covered all year long. Bored of the Richmond area, if you could ever, but if you do want a little day trip or a weekend trip or just a little change of pace, within two hours, you can be in Washington DC, at the beach, in the mountains, at the river. The world is your oyster really. Virginia has tons and tons of options and lots of places just outside of Virginia too. In six hours hop on the train, and you can be having breakfast at your home in Richmond and at a Broadway show that evening 20 minutes. That is about how long it would take you to get just about anywhere in the whole Richmond area. You're in Chesterfield, how long does it take to get downtown for most places? About 20 minutes. How long does it take to get to the airport from just about anywhere? About 20 minutes. If you're coming here and you tell me that you want your commute to be no more than 45 minutes to an hour, I'm going to tell you that you can do much better than that. And if you have a 45-minute commute, it's usually because you have a horse farm or some other very exceptional life reason that you want to live that far out. So if you're contemplating a move, and you're thinking about moving to the Richmond area, I'd love to talk to you and tell you all of the other things on my list that I love about the Richmond area and help you find that perfect place to call home here. Just give me a call, send me an email, or message me here.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but back to school is coming up pretty fast and furious, and unless this is your first year, first kid, first rodeo, so to speak, you probably know that that stress can hit hard, and keep on coming if you're not organized. Forget about the stress that comes if you're moving, or in a new home. But never fear- I've got some great tips from Mary Davis, professional organizer and owner of In Good Order, LLC, to help get you, your home, and especially, your kids, ready for everything that comes with back to school. At home: Make a comfy homework space. To provide structure and consistency, choose one designated area for your student to work. The space should be distraction-free and have good lighting, a comfy chair, and a power outlet. They will need enough workspace for their device, as well as any supplies they need while learning. If you have a desk with drawers, use drawer organizers to give easy access to pens, pencils, markers, glue sticks, and other small supplies. Use file sorters or sturdy hanging files to hold extra paper and notebooks. If your workspace doesn’t have built-in storage, a caddy or divided turntable are great solutions to hold writing utensils, glue sticks, and other small supplies, and f your work surface isn’t big enough for a device and supplies, or your workspace pulls double duty (like a kitchen table) a rolling cart is a lifesaver. This gives easy access to supplies while learning, and can be rolled into a corner or closet when the work is done. Having everything they need at hand can make all the difference in getting the homework done or trying to find "just the right pen, pencil, whatever," for 30 minutes. Print out a copy of the school schedule (even if it's available online) and post it somewhere everyone can see for reference. Trust me, if you're tracking homework, projects, supplies, needed, etc, having that schedule handy can really come in handy. If you have a calendar or family calendar you use or a Google calendar, get all of those days off and holiday dates and put them in the calendar for the entire year. (If I had a dollar for every time I was surprised by my son having a day off, I'd be retired- he's in college and I still do it.) Make a drop zone. Even if you don't have a mud room, per se, having a designated space for shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, and more, so they're not all over the house. At School: Make sure you know the rules on backpacks, lockers, etc. If there are no lockers for the students, ensure that that backpack can hold everything they need all day, AND be at least somewhat comfortable. If your student takes lunch, consider a lunchbox that clips on instead of taking up valuable real estate inside the backpack. Get all the supplies now, so you're not scrambling that night before school starts. Did you know that if you type the name of your school into the supplies bar at Walmart.com , it will populate with the entire school supply list required, and you can buy and pick it up, or have it shipped. What? How easy is that?? Meal prep snacks and or lunches. If you've got fruits washed and cut, sandwiches made, etc, it's easier for kids (of any age) to grab a healthy snack, rather than junk, when they get home, and definitely easier for you to get lunches packed efficiently and with minimal stress. Are you ready for the school year? If you want more info on getting organized or to work with Mary, reach out to her HERE.       

"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!

As you might have heard, we are in a shifting market. Rates are higher, and the economy is a little more questionable. Let's talk about pricing your home in this adjusting market and what you need to keep in mind. If you have more questions, I'd love to answer them. Reach out to me on Instagram at @cindybennettrealestate or via my website at cindybennett.net

It's National Ice Cream Day! I'm celebrating with some of my RVA ice cream (or ice cream like) favorites. I've always loved ice cream. I mean, what says celebration, and summer, as much as ice cream? Just like so many things, I have a hard time picking a favorite, because sometimes that favorite just depends on my mood. So, here are a few (well, more than a few, really) of my faves. I'd love to hear yours!   When it comes to gelato, our overall, hands down favorite is Deluca Gelato at Gayton Crossing. Their gelato really transports you to Italy, and never disappoints. They've got all the classics- from Stracciatella and Spumoni to loads of sorbets and seasonal flavors. My favorites? I always go for a combo of Banana Nutella and Chocolate Sorbet, but you really can't go wrong here. (It's also very close to home, which is definitely a blessing and a curse.) One of the longest running ice cream spots in Richmond is Gelati Celesti, and it's the OG for a reason. (When I had my cafe in the early '90's, in fact, I would not rest until I had a full scooping cabinet of their ice cream.) With multiple locations now, it's super easy to grab your favorite no matter where you are. My go to here is always "Just Ask," a delicious white chocolate ice cream with frozen peanut butter ribbons and Oreos. We have some seriously fantastic "newer" additions to the Richmond ice cream scene, and yes, I have favorites there too! Charm School Social Club on Broad Street (in the heart of the Arts District) has a great, slightly edgy/artsy vibe and fantastic ice cream and flavors. Anything is great, but whatever you choose, you must get the house made, toasted fluff on top. So damn good. For flavors here, my favorites are Fruity Pebbles or Cereal Milk (obviously I have a thing for cereal) or the Princess Cake. If you find yourself on Southside, Charm School's Study Hall is the place to stop by for some delicious soft serve. This walk up window has a more limited menu than their flagship, and soft serve only, with a rotating variety of flavors (and a killer Dole Whip!) If you're looking for vegan ice cream, both locations of Charm School have good options for you, too! Scoop is located in the Fan, tucked into a little spot on Strawberry Street (next to Idle Hands Bread Company, another favorite). They are a small batch creamery as well, offering unique flavors, brownie sundaes, ice cream flights (hello!) featuring three flavors, shakes, and custom ice cream sandwiches. My favorite flavor here was always Croissants & Jam, but that's no longer a signature flavor. (The nerve!) Now, it's a toss up between Banana Pudding (going away soon), Roasted Strawberry, and Brown Sugar Cookie Dough. You may recognize the name Ruby Scoops from the Food Network show featuring Ben & Jerry's. Yes, she won the Grand Prize (justifiably so!) Located on Brookland Park Boulevard in Richmond's North Side, here you'll find a rotating menu of unique flavors, from ice creams like Dulce de Leche and Black Sesame (my two favorites) to vegan flavors and sorbets. Westray's Finest on Lombardy St. went from truck to cafe this year, and they've got some seriously top tier, small batch handmade ice cream. My favorite there is Gold Rush (Sweet Cream base, Dark Chocolate Swirl, and Honeycomb Candy. Yes please!) Bruster's has always been a favorite, since there is a location near my parents' house and we'd go there on hot summer evenings when my son was little. A great place to walk up, get a delicious sundae or waffle cone, and have lots of variety in flavors. ( A few locations have a drive through, too!) If you're in the mood for something a little different than "just" ice cream (though none of the above are "just" ice cream!), here are a few of my other frozen favorites: Sno Shack in Mechanicsville is the most unassuming little shack (yep, the name is no exaggeration) smack in the middle of a parking lot in Mechanicsville. With dozens of flavors for sweet, fluffy shaved ice, it's a true, old school, summertime treat. (Oh, yeah, they close after Labor Day, too, so get it in the summer or wait till next year!) My recommendation here? Tiger's Blood, with a Volcano. (A yummy blob of ice cream in the center of the magical ice!) Another soft serve/custard option around town is JiJi's Frozen Custard. With delicious flavors that change periodically, and "Pundaes" to go with the event/season and the flavors, they always have something unique and tasty. They are a truck, so seldom in the same place at once, but follow them on social to know where they'll be. There are a few new(er) places on my list to check out too- Sweet Wynns is an ice cream workshop, giving you the opportunity to create your own handmade, custom flavor. How fun and delicious does that sound?? Graham's Ice Cream reopened in Mechanicsville a few months ago, with lots of fun flavors, sundaes, and shakes. The only other "must have" on my list (as of today- that's always subject to change!) is Carl's Frozen Custard in Fredericksburg. I got turned on to Carl's when my brother was at Mary Washington, and I've been a super fan ever since. Carl's is an institution, and in operation since 1947. Usually a line, always worth it, and 3 flavors- chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Why mess with perfection? My go to is a Chocolate Strawberry Malt (not on the menu, but they'll make it.) It's a must stop any time I'm going up I95, and I'll confess that on more than one occasion I've taken a cooler to buy a spare to have later.        

Have you been hearing all the talk about the real estate market in the last 6 months or so, and wondering if maybe it actually IS the right time to sell? You're not the only one. (I've even thought about it myself!) But where to begin? Well, the obvious solution is just to call me, right? Kidding. Well, kind of... Stick with me. Here are a few things to think about as you get ready sell your home in the Richmond area. Obviously, I'd like you to call me, but if not me, call your agent of choice. Sooner than you think. We will walk through your home and pull the data to help give you a comprehensive list of to do's, discuss your personal goals, and touch on pricing, at least within a range. No one knows your home as well as you do. So, if there are items that you know need repairing, making a list of those and starting to get them checked off is a great place to start. Clean, clean, and clean some more. (I have a comprehensive cleaning list to remind you of the things buyers tend to look at that sellers often forget.) Staging is often important in our market and others. Depending on your home, that may mean just decluttering, and depersonalizing your space, and others it means a full staging with furniture, art, and accessories. Know the comparables and price it well. Yes, the market has been wild for the past few months, but pricing has always been, and will always be, a crucial component of a successful home sale. That means paying attention to the comparables, the market, and your own personal goals to get the pricing right. Getting your home prepped can sometimes be accomplished very quickly, but more often than not, it takes a little bit of time (Real talk? The average time it takes to prep a home for sale is 2 months, from start to finish.) The most important thing to know? Call your agent as soon as you start thinking about selling. That will absolutely reduce your prep time, keep you on the right track, and make sure that any money you spend helps maximize your time and sales price and minimize your stress.  Are you ready?