***THIS GIVEAWAY HAS REACHED ITS 10,000 ENTRY CAP AND IS NOW CLOSED – SEE WHO WON BELOW!***
And our VERY lucky winner this week is… Hallie (who knows that Belle Isle was once a fishing village for the Powhatan Indians – something even we hadn’t heard). Congrats – and see you in a few weeks!
We’re spending today with the family for the holiday, but we had to drop in with our big giveaway for you guys. See, when we found out we’d be speaking at this year’s R.Home for the Holidays event on November 8th (which we’ve gone to for the past four years for fun, so it’s really crazy to think that we’ll be speakers) a hair-brained idea popped into my head: what if we gave away a trip to Richmond? And when I mentioned it to the kind folks at Richmond Magazine (the hosts of the event), they not only didn’t call me crazy – they said “let’s do it!” So with their help and the generous support of Visit Richmond VA, my hair-brained idea is coming to life (insert evil cackle here). And it’s bigger and better than I ever guessed it could be. That’s right, someone is about to get hooked up.
The prize includes round-trip airfare from anywhere in the continental United States (arriving Thursday, Nov 8 and departing Sunday, Nov 11) and car rental for the length of your stay – all courtesy of Visit Richmond VA. While you’re here, you’ll be put up for three nights in Richmond’s most iconic and stately hotel – The Jefferson.
And of course, Richmond Magazine is giving you tickets to (sold out!) R.Home for the Holidays on Thursday night where we’ll be speaking and doing a book signing (psst- it has now sold out so we’re working on a free Richmond signing that we’ll share as soon as it’s finalized for any interested locals).
As for what else you can do while you’re here… what about a $100 gift card to one of our favorite restaurants? The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing overlooks the city and is actually the spot where Sherry and I celebrated finding out she was pregnant with Clara.
And since you can’t come to our town and not hit up some of our favorite stores, we’ve wrangled $100 gift cards from four of our favorite spots: La Difference, Mongrel, Quirk Gallery and the consignment store trio of Clover (kids), Clementine (adults) and Ashby (teens).
Plus, Richmond Magazine and Visit Richmond VA are tossing in a bunch of passes to various Richmond must-dos, like the Chihuly glass exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (one of our favorites!) and a Real Richmond Food Tour that’ll give you a taste of several local restaurants in one night.
- PRIZE: As described above: a round-trip flight to Richmond for two people plus a car rental from Visit Richmond VA, a three night stay at The Jefferson Hotel, tickets to R.Home for the Holidays, $100 each to The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing, La Difference, Mongrel, Quirk Gallery, and Clover / Clementine / Ashby.
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “RICHMOND ME” and tell us…
- BONUS QUESTION: … one fact you know about Richmond. Did you know that it’s known as The River City? Or that it was recently named The Best River Town In America by Outdoor magazine? Or that it’s where Spielberg’s new Lincoln movie was filmed? Or just that it’s the capital of Virginia and where we live?
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, October 10th at 8pm EST or at 10,000 entries (whichever comes first)
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
- ELIGIBILITY: Flights from the lower 48 United States only, must be 18 or older, tickets must be booked by October 15th. See more guidelines here. (*we really tried to get this to work as an international prize, so sorry that it couldn’t happen – maybe next year!)
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday as an update to this post. That’s right, come right back here on Thursday for the announcement of our winner. Good luck…
Note: We aren’t paid or perked for hosting these giveaways, we just do ‘em to thank you awesome folks for stopping in. See our Giveaway FAQ page for more info. Pics courtesy of the Richmond Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond Magazine, R.Home Magazine, , La Difference, Mongrel.
sarah says
RICHMOND ME!
I know that there is a discount lighting store there, and I am always insanely jealous of the deals you guys get! Does that count? :)
Erin says
Richmond Me!!
I know Richmond’s beautiful AND it’s home to the awesome Library of Virginia on Broad Street, which is a great resource for those doing Virginia genealogy research. I’ve been twice and would love to go again.
Tricia H says
RICHMOND ME! I don’t know much about Richmond, but would love to learn more! This would be a great trip to win, so I could come and meet you guys (and my husband and I could take our first trip without our two kiddos)!
Devon Horn says
RICHMOND ME!
Ashley says
RICHMOND ME!!
I have never been to Virginia!
Kayla says
RICHMOND ME!
The only fact I know for sure is that you live there! Looks like a pretty common answer :) Would LOVE to come see it in person in November!
stephanie says
RICHMOND ME!
It’s home to the University of Richmond spiders.
Jo McClure says
Richmond me! I surely know that I would love to visit your town!
Amy says
RICHOMOND ME!!!
John, Sherry, Clara & Burger live there!
Sarah Beaird says
RICHMOND ME! Don’t know much ’bout Richmond except what you guys tell us, but it sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. I would LOVE to see you and meet you at the show!!!!
ann b says
richmond me!!
have never been there!!!
Eve says
Richmond Me!!! My only fact is that it’s the Capitol! I want to learn more!!
Katie Mattingly says
Richmond Me!!! Virginia Commonwealth University located in downtown Richmond is the number 1 State art school in the country and has an excellent basketball team known as the Rams coached by Shaka Smart. I lived in Richmond while going to VCU and I love reading your blog because it reminds me how much I miss it :) Keep up the good work and I am so excited about your book!!!
Stacey says
RICHMOND ME!
I’ve been to Richmond once before, and it was awesome!
Lauren says
RICHMOND ME!
YOU live there! :) Which, in my book, makes Richmond the greatest city eva!
Sarah says
Richmond me! This would be so, so awesome!
Stephanie H. says
RICHMOND ME!
One of my friends is from Richmond. And I played in a soccer tournament there when I was younger. AND I’m pretty sure Blessed Union of Souls mentions it in their song about Virginia. :)
Kerry says
RICHMOND ME!….because I know for a fact Richmond is a fun time.
Lori A says
RICHMOND ME!
Miki says
Richmond Me! It’s the home to the amazing Cary Street. It also lays claim to the capital of the confederacy.
Annie says
Richmond Me!
Stephanie says
Richmond me! “Give me Liberty or give me death!” And Richmond is a green city.
Annie says
Richmond me! I’ve been to Richmond once…they screwed up my flight out of Charlottesville and I had to speed to Richmond to get on a flight there! Seemed like a cool town – I’d like to go back to visit! :)
Lauren says
Richmond Me!
I know it is home to the scenic University of Richmond, which hosted the Junior Classical Convention when I was in high school (Latin Nerds Unite!)
Amy says
RICHMOND ME! Richmond is an independent city and not part of any county {thanks, Wikipedia!}
Katie says
RICHMOND ME!
The only thing I really know about Richmond is that I want to go there! Well, and that you live there. :) Thanks for doing such an awesome giveaway!
brian says
RICHMOND ME!
A fact about Richmond?
FACT: I had to google a fact about Richmond.
give me liberty (insert: this trip), or give me death.
Patrick Henry in Richmond 1775
Robin says
Richmond Me!!!
A HUGE advanced THANK YOU in case I get picked!!
I have never been to Richmond or Virgina for that matter.
It would be an awesome trip on so many levels!!
tiffany says
RICHMOND ME !
Virginia is known as “the birthplace of a nation”.
YAY!
Amanda says
RICHMOND ME!
I know that Richmond is an independent city and not part of any county. :)
Summer says
Richmond Me!!!!
abby r says
RICHMOND ME! I only know that there is the University of Richmond!
Nicole Puckett says
RICHMOND ME!
I know lots about Richmond but the most important is that it is the home of my best friend and I would love to share a weekend with you and her!
Iris says
RICHMOND ME!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
Katie says
RICHMOND ME!! This would be such a fantastic weekend getaway. I’ve never been and would love to go!
Nate says
Richmond Me! That’s where y’all are from and its the capital!
Ashley says
RICHMOND ME!! Richmond is the half-way point for our family when we are traveling to visit our hometown of Suffolk.
Michelle says
RICHMOND ME! My knowledge of Richmond pretty much just extends to what you’ve written about. It would be great to have some first-hand knowledge!
Ana says
Richmond me! I know that there’s a university there and their mascot is the Spiders. Wait, I think…
Diane says
RICHMOND ME
I wanna eat my way through RVA! Richmond has great restaurants!
Sarah says
RICHMOND ME! I actually do not know much about the city and would love to go explore it!
Amanda T says
Richmond me…did you know one of my good friends/roommates in college lives with her family in the Richmond area!
allison says
Richmond ME!
Richmond is 1660 miles exactly from where I live right now!
Katherine says
Richmond Me!
My Favorite bloggers live there!
Bree says
RICHMOND ME!!!!
I’d love to win this one, because I have never been to Richmond and honestly don’t know that much about it!
Emily says
Richmond Me!!
I know that when I mentioned it to my husband he asked if there were any civil war sites there to visit. Would love to find out!
Haley W says
Richmond me! All I know is that you live there but it looks like a beautiful city!
Dionis T. says
RICHMOND ME! I know that Richmond is also known as RVA!
Mandee C says
Richmond Me, Please!!!
Wow! John, just wow. Thank you.
What I know about Richmond is that I get to see it through your eyes and for someone who lives on the other side of the US (Southern CA) that’s not too shabby. :) The only other place I’ve lived is WA State and that’s even farther away. Richmond truly seems awesome and I’m glad I get to see it through you guys – and it’d be even crazier to see it through my own eyes! ack! You never know, it could happen… fingers crossed!
Laurel says
Richmond Me! I’ve never been to Richmond, so I don’t know much but I think it’s a fun word to say :)