A Few of My Favorite Things

by Fayeruz Regan 11.2023

Thanksgiving has had many iterations for me. In elementary school, my classmates and I, armed with construction paper, would choose between a making a pilgrim hat or an American Indian headdress. I always chose the latter because, hello? The feathers, the color – is it even a fair choice?

I spent my 20s and 30s in Los Angeles, where it was all about Friendsgiving. No one in LA is from LA, and a flight home isn’t worth it one month out from Christmas. So it was a gathering of chosen families, where everyone felt included. It was always an ambitious potluck with plenty of weed and California wine.  

Nowadays, Thanksgiving is a trip to Bucks County, outside of Philadelphia. It’s often snowy in November. It’s all covered bridges, stone houses, and 75 cent martinis at The Pipersville Inn – a tavern once frequented by George Washington.

But over the past few years, Thanksgiving has evolved into more than comforting traditions. I focus on the things I’m grateful for. It was a little harder this year. Every time I shop for groceries, I’m almost as nervous as I get when I weigh my salad at Whole Foods. Inflation, and other gripes that indicate we may be descending into a dystopian society, make it harder to look on the bright side.

That being said, I know I have so much to be thankful for. One thing I like to do every November is list the things I am grateful for in Richmond, for North of the James. Without further ado...

Three Sheets to the Wind

The soft rock hits of the 70s and 80s transport us to a simpler time, when suits were pastel and whispers were careless. Three Sheets to the Wind have positively nailed it, if not made it more joyous. Their reputation has them playing gigs around the country, but sometimes we are treated to a hometown show. www.threesheetsyachtrock.com

Garden Glow at Maymont

For those who haven’t been to this annual autumn event, know that words cannot describe how ethereal and other-worldly Garden Glow is. Trees, rock walls and water features are lit up at night in every color of the rainbow, and little corners offer eclectic light art and moving installations. This dreamy event even caters to those who have difficulty taking longer walks, offering golf cart shuttle service. 

https://maymont.org/calendar/garden-glow-2023/

Leslie Herman

Last year I raved about Hotel Greene but Leslie Herman deserves his own mention. This artist is integral to their branding, from the famous postcards placed around their lobby (which I consider collector’s pieces) to the website. The style is even more Wes Anderson than Wes Anderson. And if you visit his website, you’ll see he has a unique style, but expansive influences. www.leslieherman.com

The food!

Here’s a special shout out for: the Krispy Kreme bread pudding at Lunch. Supper!, the brussels sprouts at Lillie Pearl, the banh mi at Pho So 1, the carne asada tacos at Big Chile, the gargantuan apple fritters at Country Style Donuts, the homemade corned beef hash at Millie’s Diner, and the smash burger at Black Lodge.

Porchella

This COVID-era event, where local musicians played on front porches for crowds, started when those in quarantine pined for live music. The tradition has happily carried over to our post-COVID world, and has grown to attract people all over the Richmond Metro area. The lucky ones have ties in Bellevue, where porch keys are hidden. They have access to bathrooms (rather than a port a-potty), a fridge for their beer, and if the host is especially gracious, a nice spread of snacks. https://bellevueporchella.com/about/

Parney’s Pants

They say no one remembers what a man wore to the wedding. Todd “Parney” Parnell (former VP and Chief Operating Officer of The Richmond Flying Squirrels) actively fights against the bland nature of men’s clothing. His signature collection of wild, technicolor pants is impressive, and quite joyful.

Truckle Cheesemonger

This quaint cheese shop in The Devil’s Triangle is unmatched. The owner isn’t just passionate about cheese, she has impeccable taste and can introduce you to undiscovered cheeses around the world. When it’s cold out, they host Raclette Sundays from 12-5p. People can stop in and sample raclette, a gooey cheese from Switzerland that’s heated before being served, because it has the ultimate, showiest cheese pull. https://www.trucklerva.com/

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!