02/06/2026
We’d like to take a moment to give land acknowledgment and honor the legacy of the Indigenous peoples who have long cared for the lands our shop now occupies in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk.
In Norfolk, the waterways of Chesapeake Bay once provided sustenance and a thriving way of life for the Nansemond Indian Nation. Their deep-rooted connection to the Nansemond River and surrounding lands nurtured traditions of fishing, farming, and trade. Their knowledge of seasonal cycles and practice of harmony with the environment continues to inspire Norfolk’s maritime heritage.
The Nansemond people built vibrant communities closely intertwined with the local ecosystem. Their sustainable practices and stewardship of natural resources remind us that living in balance with nature is not only possible, it is essential. These practices have shaped the identity of this region and continue to influence our approach to conservation and mindful living.
We also acknowledge the lasting impact of colonization, which disrupted these ancient ways of life and displaced many Indigenous communities from their ancestral lands. Despite these challenges, the enduring spirit and resilience of the Nansemond Indian Nation and all Indigenous communities remain a powerful influence in our region today.
We invite you to learn more about these original stewards and their rich heritage at nansemond.gov
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Image Credit: Historical map of Tsenacomoco (1607) by John Salmon, courtesy of Encyclopedia Virginia.
29/05/2026
Today is Leave a Review for a Small Business Day (this isn’t actually a recognized holiday), but honestly it probably should be.
Take a moment to think about the places you’ve visited in the past week. Did you enjoy your experience? If so, find that small business online and leave them a review. Most businesses are listed on Google, and Google makes it easy to leave a star rating and write a quick note about your experience. Yelp also has a strong review system, especially for restaurants and local services.
Other ways to support small businesses include Facebook recommendations, Apple Maps reviews, TripAdvisor (for travel + dining), and even niche platforms depending on the industry.
If you use the Nextdoor app, take a moment to post about a local business in your neighborhood that you’d like to share with your neighbors. A simple “had a great experience here” goes further than most people realize.
Supporting a small business doesn’t always mean spending money. Sometimes it’s the simple, free act of raising awareness sharing your experience, leaving a review, or telling an algorithm, “hey, this place matters.”
Another easy way to support your favorites is sharing their posts. Bonus points if you tag them and say why you like them. Over the past six years in this industry (and in previous ventures), we’ve seen the strongest connections come from direct shares and word of mouth that travels digitally.
It doesn’t have to be us, but if you’ve got a small business you love, take a minute today to leave them a review, share their work, or help someone else discover them.
Or start a petition to make this an official holiday. We’d sign it.
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28/05/2026
A reminder that our hallway and lounge continue to serve as exhibition spaces for both local and regional artwork. The piece pictured above, painted by a local artist, found its new home this week.
In addition to showcasing emerging artists, we also offer exhibition opportunities for private collectors looking to share works from their personal collection with the community. We are currently displaying pieces from a private collection featuring Tarkay.
Whether you’re an artist interested in exhibiting up to 10 pieces or a collector wanting to curate a temporary showing, we’d love to chat. You can schedule a conversation with us using the exhibit link on our website at enjoyceremony.com/exhibit
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23/05/2026
Today is our 6 year anniversary and year 5 was the hardest one yet.
Statistics show that only about half of small businesses make it to the five year mark and as we wrap up that year, we can understand why.
This past year pushed us harder than any before it. While navigating our slowest performing year to date, we made the decision to leave our small space on Shirley Avenue and take on something three times larger because we believed deeply enough in what this could become.
Over the last 12 months, we’ve poured ourselves into restoring and reimagining a century old home into the future of Less Than + Ceremony. A space where people can shop for nonalcoholic options in person, gather in a lounge designed around conversation rather than intoxication, and soon enjoy a seasonal food and pastry program centered around thoughtful ingredients.
It has required more than we can properly explain. Tight budgets and timelines. Delayed restocks that we’re still recovering from. Seven day work weeks, 15 hour days, and a level of personal sacrifice that rarely makes it onto social media.
But our goal has always remained the same: to create what is missing in our community and make healthier and more sustainable options more accessible.
Whether that means giving people the ability to refill their containers with cleaner products instead of constantly buying more plastic and synthetic chemicals, or creating a space that encourages fellowship, conversation, and living more intentionally.
A special thank you to everyone who heard the vision and instead of saying, “I’ll come back when your bar and kitchen is open,” said, “Let me pick up something now and we’ll see you again later.” That is genuinely the difference between a business surviving and a business closing.
Next week is a very big week for us and represents six years of work, sacrifice, risk, and support finally coming together.
Wish us luck 💚🥂
19/05/2026
No alcohol bottles. No plastic bottles. No bottles without a lid or cap. No bottles with a smell.
👆 This is what we’re able to accept for our free container station. 🚨 The biggest issue we run into is scent 🚨 Even after washing and sanitizing, smells tend to stick around… and no one wants pickle-scented conditioner.
We’re currently running low on containers for the free section, especially wide-mouth jars for thicker or powdered goods.
Take a look through your stash and bring by anything that fits. It helps keep this program going and supports our zero waste mission. If you share this news with someone, please also share with them what we accept.
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17/05/2026
We never try to convince anyone. We simply create the solution. It’s up to each person to decide if it matters enough to utilize it.
The reality is that the plastic bottle of product you bought doesn’t disappear when you toss it.
Over hundreds of years, it breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes something almost invisible. Scientists call them microplastics, tiny fragments now found in oceans, rainwater, seafood, blood, lungs, reproductive systems, and even human brain tissue. Recent studies have also detected microplastics in semen, menstrual blood, and amniotic fluid. Scientists are still learning what this means long term, but one thing is already clear… plastic doesn’t really go away.
Most of us are conditioned to buy the same products in new plastic containers over and over and over again.
That’s why refill shops matter. And honestly, it’s rare to have one local.
We’re fully refilled on liquids and open today from 12–5. We’d love to see familiar faces and new ones taking one more step toward a lower-waste world.
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16/05/2026
Our shelves have been restocked with Plant Paper! 🧻
Why bamboo? Bamboo grows incredibly fast, requires far less water than traditional tree-based paper products, and can regenerate without needing to be replanted.
It’s also naturally soft and durable while helping reduce dependence on old-growth forests.
Unlike many conventional toilet paper brands, Plant Paper is made without added dyes, fragrances, chlorine bleach, BPA, or formaldehyde, making it a thoughtful option for both your home and the planet.
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12/05/2026
Less Than brand refills are restocked and ready for purchase today.
Our shelves are filled back up with everyday essentials including all purpose cleaner, dish soap, hand soap, laundry care, and dishwasher powder for your dishwashing machine. Bring your bottles back in, we’ll weigh them before your refill, and you can stock back up on the things you use most while cutting down on single use waste.
If you’ve been curious about refill shopping, this is a great time to stop in and explore the station. Tap that re-share button if you’d like to introduce a friend to lower waste living.
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23/05/2026
19/05/2026
17/05/2026
16/05/2026
12/05/2026