Ed 117: Tea Time, Pandemic Pivots, Startup News
Image Source: @airva_drone
Hey there 👋 Alicia here!
I nearly spit out my coffee this morning when I saw that pumpkin products are already hitting shelves.
Here we are in the dog days of summer, sweating our butts off with a real feel of 100 degrees, and we’re supposed to start getting ready for sweater weather and PSLs? No way, it’s not time yet! I’ll be outside by the pool — someone let me know when the temperature dips below 80, and then we can talk.
Anyway.
There are a lot of fun things to report in Richmond this week, from new spots opening (like a tea cafe and a new neighborhood restaurant-slash-market) to major changes going on with annual events (some that are going virtual, some that are redirecting altogether) to start-up news (including one service in particular that we’re itching to try) and more.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
P.S. Don’t forget, we are putting together the ultimate (free!) newcomers’ guide to Richmond, and we want YOU to tell us which local spots should be included, from dentists to florists to mechanics and beyond. Click here to submit your responses before this Saturday, August 15!
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SOCIAL NEWS
A French-style tea cafe is opening this weekend in Scott’s Addition. T-Caf, Salon de Thé is hosting their grand opening this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2943 W Marshall St. The owner Theodore Akueson-Gannyi is French himself, which explains the name — “salon de thé” means “tea room” in French. Akueson-Gannyi hopes T-Caf will be cute and cozy, reminiscent of the tea rooms he used to visit back when he lived in Paris. But don’t expect an all-French menu; the teas will come from all over the world, and you can also look forward to coffee, crepes, quiches, cakes, and cookies. Stop by this weekend and they’ll split the bill with you 50/50. Très bien!
Fulton Hill will soon get its own combination restaurant/neighborhood market. Coming soon to the Artisan Hill community, Blue Atlas is expected to open this fall with an espresso bar, a breakfast and lunch counter, grab and go options, pantry essentials, an upscale dining room, a bar, and lawn seating with sunset city views. This spot will be located on the second floor of Schoolhouse at Artisan Hill, a 100+ year old former elementary school transformed as new one- and two-bedroom apartments, artists’ studios (including including live-work studios, a ceramics lab, and a gallery), and other amenities serving the Artisan Hill community.
After being closed for four months due to the pandemic, The Westover is open once again — with some major changes. When they re-opened, the owners announced that they added a small local market where you can now pick up dry goods, specialty products, cheeses, charcuterie, beers, wines, and other provisions, with new in-house prepared foods coming to the menu soon. They also added a new ice cream counter, where they’re serving up King Of Pops, Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Gelati Celesti ice creams and sorbets, which you can get in ice cream cones and cups, sundaes, and milk shakes.
Speaking of pandemic pivots, Bryant’s Cider just launched their own hard seltzer brand. After canceling the original March 2020 grand opening plans due to COVID-19, Bryant's Cider is officially opening in Shockoe Bottom with the launch of River City Seltzer on September 11. Their first release? Peach seltzer, made with real peaches (not “natural flavors,” and no added sugars)!
Some of our favorite annual festivals and races are still finding creative ways to bring the community together in the face of COVID-19. The 2nd Street Festival will commemorate its 32nd anniversary October 3 - 4 with a virtual event celebrating downtown’s Jackson Ward community, including new musical performances, favorite artists from past festivals, cooking demonstrations, virtual tours, neighborhood testimonials, fun family activities, and more. Meanwhile, the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k is switching things up by setting up “Official 10k courses” at four different spots around Richmond so you can run the race independently from September 25 - 27 — and you can still register to get a 10k shirt, enter your time in the Race Joy app, and take part in the virtual Dress Up & Run Contest.
Virginia-based startups are ready to accelerate. Richmond BizSense’s Jack Jacobs reports that local accelerators Lighthouse Labs and Dominion Energy Innovation Center each recently announced a total of 15 startups throughout the region that will make up their fall programs. Not all of them are from Richmond proper, but a few are, including Longleaf Conservation Capital (a sustainable natural resources investor and manager), Linebird (a new method for taking contact measurements of high voltage transmission lines using unmanned aerial systems), and my personal favorite, Bookclubz (a free online management tool for book clubs). Um, yes! Who wants to start an RVAx book club?
HAPPENINGS
Shop local and support our Black community at RVA’s Black Farmer’s Market! This new recurring community event series kicks off this Saturday, August 15, from 9 am - 3 pm at 1700 Blair Street — and will take place the third Saturday of each month moving forward (including September 19, October 17, and November 21).
In addition to scoring fresh produce from Black growers, you can also look forward to perusing and purchasing sweet treats, beauty and wellness products, artwork, apparel, home decor, and more! Learn more here.
Weekly Giveaway
Grateful Heart Shop
Sam and I were SO excited to get get our new “Richmond Is My Happy Place” tumblers this week from Grateful Heart Shop, a modern hand lettering and design studio located here in Richmond.
Owner Leigh Anne Miguelez Saunders creates handmade gifts and decor for weddings, events, homes, and every day life — including a variety of Richmond-themed items.
We’re giving away one of these adorable to-go mugs (which are 18 oz. stainless steel vacuum-insulated tumblers, FYI!) to one lucky RVAx member this week.
To enter to win: Tell me what makes Richmond your happy place! For me, it’s gotta be working at The Richmond Experience, but “all the breweries” is a close second on the list.
Last week: Congratulations to Amanda D. for being our giveaway winner of the week! We hope you enjoy your postcards from The Mad Kitchen.
Member Perks
AR Workshop Richmond
Have you checked out AR Workshop yet? It’s a boutique DIY studio that offers hands-on classes for creating custom, charming home decor from raw materials. You can join an instructor-led workshop (in person or from home, whatever you’re comfortable with) to make wall art, cornhole boards, chunky knit blankets, bath trays, and more.
For members of The Richmond Experience only, until the end of August, if you book a private event at AR Workshop for 6 - 12 people, you can get your project FREE. Plus, take advantage of no booking fees for your event — and get the whole workshop to yourselves.
Email richmond@arworkshop.com for available dates, and be sure to mention The Richmond Experience in your message. Once 5 people have registered for your private workshop, a $60 gift card code will be sent to you to use on the project of your choice!
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SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey new members!
We'd like to welcome 41 new members this week: Hannah G., Emily H., Maggie B., Elvia L., Clare P., Elizabeth L., Allison F., Caroline H., Meg G., Lydia C., Mao T., Kate B., Regina V., Elizabeth N., Robin Y., Gabrielle J., Kelsey G., Crystal D., Erin F., Haley L., Jack H., Liz K., Grace G., Jessica B., Laura B., Kia J., Leslie C., Gordon K., Debbie M., Nicole C., Patricia B., Mason M., Christine G., Katelyn H., Sarah H., Kyle M., Alaina S., Ellen H., Rachel Q., David M., David M., Kendra K., Vishal Y., Scott S., and Megan M., we're so glad you're here!
It takes a village so let us know if you have any questions, thoughts, feedback, tips, or recs! Thanks for reading edition 117 of the Weekly Insider.
Stay well friends,
Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
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