It's time to dive into the timeless and heated debate of whether Virginia is the South.

Why it matters: The conversation taps into whether the South can evolve without losing its identity, how much weight to put on history versus culture, and who gets to define a region and why.

The big picture: The common metrics classifying Virginia as Southern have been the symbolic boundary of the Mason-Dixon line, the U.S. Census and how it was one of 11 Confederate states.

• Virginia is also regularly referred to as the last state in the South without a post-Roe abortion ban, the first in the South to legalize weed and the first Southern state to ban child marriage.

The other side: Naysayers say Virginia's southernness hinges more on its history as the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond's Confederate monuments and its prominent role as the birthplace of American slavery than its culture.

• Others point to Virginia's political shift to the left, driven by Northern Virginia, while the rest of the South maintains its conservatism.
• To be fair, we don't count NoVa and its fleeced vests as Southern, either.

Yes, but: Virginia's slave codes were the blueprint for other Southern colonies and helped create a system that defined the South's economy and politics.

Zoom in: It was enslaved chefs "who created the meals that made Virginia, and eventually the South, known for its culinary fare and hospitable nature," wrote Smithsonian Mag.

• Southern barbecue was also invented in Virginia, with enslaved people as the original pitmasters.
• Black women in Virginia sold fried chicken to passengers through train windows and popularized it in the South and the U.S.
• And you know what the birthplace of mac n' cheese, whiskey and Brunswick stew is? Yep, yep: Virginia.

The bottom line: You wouldn't have the South without us.

Keep reading for what our readers think

While much of the nation likes to focus on the South's nasty history — which is fair — being Southern is so much more than our oppressive past, and its people more than a bunch of hillbillies.

Why it matters: We think being a Southerner is actually kind of cool. Here's why.

Diversity

The Southern region of America is one of the most racially diverse in the country; nearly half its population is nonwhite. Comparatively, more than 60% of northeasterners are white and more than 70% of midwesterners, per Census data.

Y'all

Southerners get to claim the greatest word in the English language — y'all.

• We're also the only group of people capable of both spelling and using it properly.

Our food traditions

Were it not for the southern part of America, the world would not have:

• Biscuits and gravy and buttermilk biscuits (hey there Southern Appalachia), sweet tea and shrimp and grits (thanks South Carolina), beignets and jambalaya (Louisiana) and Nashville hot chicken (duh).

Meanwhile, Fast-food breakfast biscuits started in the South, too. In Virginia, actually, at a Virginia Beach Hardee's.

• And Virginia may not be responsible for inventing French fries, but you can thank Virginians Thomas Jefferson and James Hemings for bringing them here.

You're welcome, y'all.

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🏆 Two Richmond restaurants — L'Opossum and Stella's — were named among the top 100 restaurants in the nation by OpenTable, Karri reports.

• The reservation platform also put Lemaire as one the top 100 romantic restaurants in the U.S.

🚨 Richmond and Henrico police are looking into a streak of vandalism incidents stretching from Sandston to Broad Street that resulted in dozens of businesses, homes or cars getting sprayed with BB gunfire. (WTVR)

📸 Richmond area reps in the state legislature plan to push for new laws to allow speed cameras around colleges and daycares in next year's session. (The Richmonder)

• Currently, they're only allowed in school and highway work zones.

After three years as a widely popular, takeout-focused Fan District taqueria, TBT El Gallo is now open in a bigger location just a few blocks up the road.

🌮 The new spot at 2614 W. Cary St., serves up the same tacos and burritos locals know and love, plus more menu options (hot honey wings covered in white sauce) and a full bar.

• It's open nightly 5-10pm, but all-day and late-night hours should be coming soon.

Also now open:

🍲 Susie's, a Jewish and Moroccan cafe, opens today at 4pm at 1600 W. Cary St. serving Jewish classics like latkes, matzo ball soup and a brisket sandwich.

🍕 Secret Squares Detroit-style pizza joint is finally open for pre-order takeout in Church Hill at 306 N. 29th St.

🫒 Ash & Olive, the fast-casual cafe and market in Ashland, is up and running on weekdays for breakfast and lunch.

🫗 Meanwhile, Burger Bach's Midlothian location closed earlier this week, leaving just the Carytown location.

Full list

Sabrina here. My family does Thanksgiving a little differently after we realized none of us like turkey. 

Every year, my brother chooses a theme — like "Cheese, and why you should eat it in everything" — and he creates a multi-course menu based on it. 

• He's also the chef. 

Why it matters: It got me wondering if any of you have fun, weird, or unexpected Thanksgiving traditions, too. 

• It can be a family ritual, a must-have dish or an activity (besides the Turkey Trot 5k because running on holidays terrifies me) (I'm half-kidding).

😏 Let us know and your answers might be included in a story next week. Pics are welcome.