Week In Review: Sip and stroll coming to Merchants Square...Frame raising Saturday for historic Black church...James City approves 139 new homes on surplus Eastern State land.

Good morning! Here are some of the stories we covered for you this past week:

Jul 18, 2026

∙ Paid

Friday, July 17

Sipping an alcoholic beverage while shopping downtown Williamsburg is coming to Merchants Square next Monday, July 20. Williamsburg announced a yearlong pilot program for what it calls a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in a block of Merchants Square, along Duke of Gloucester Street between College Corner and Henry Street.

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