Ed 129: Fur Ball, S’Mores Beer, Illuminated Art Exhibitions
Image Source: @kevinjkelleyphoto
Hey there! Alicia here 👋
It’s been a stressful year, and this week might just be the pinnacle of 2020 anxiety. I hope you’re all being gentle with yourselves and being kind to one another.
Here are a few of our City Guides that I hope will be helpful as we navigate this worrisome week together:
5 LOCAL SPOTS WHERE YOU CAN FIND YOUR ZEN
SHOPPING FOR SELF CARE: UNWIND WITH LOCAL BEAUTY & WELLNESS OPTIONS
ESCAPE THE HUSTLE OF CITY LIFE WITH RICHMOND'S TRAILS
7 LOCAL FAVORITE RESTAURANTS THAT DELIVER
FIND WELLNESS AT THESE 5 RVA SPOTS
5 SERENE LOCAL PARKS, HIKING TRAILS, AND HIDDEN GEMS OPEN RIGHT NOW
Yet despite the election, the pandemic, and everything else this crazy year has thrown at us, the world spins on. New businesses are still opening, exciting events are still planned as we head into the holiday season, and there are still fun things for you to explore around our beautiful city.
Let’s talk about some of that for a while, shall we?
THE LATEST:
Image: @theveilbrewing
Image: @elyafood
Image: @cotubrew
Image: @bhc_rva
SOCIAL NEWS
The Veil Brewing’s new Forest Hill location finally opens this weekend. Don’t miss the grand opening celebration this Saturday, November 7 starting at 12 pm. The Veil wrote on Instagram, “This two story location will have 2 bars (one on each floor), an indoor/outdoor second floor patio, tons of safely spaced indoor seating, and plenty of outdoor seating. This location offers a 30 tap draft list of weekly rotating beers from The Veil. 20 of those 30 beers on draft will be available at the second floor bar. In addition to those beers we will have a small selection of guest taps, cider, and wine by the bottle. We also have a conveniently located to-go/outdoor service pick-up window if you want to swing by!” In-house restaurant Y Tu Mamá Mexican Food will be serving up tasty bites to pair with your pints, as well.
Healthy food on-demand? Don’t mind if we do. Jack Jacobs at Richmond BizSense reported that ELYA, or Eat Like Your Ancestors, just opened as a contactless cafe at a kitchen space in Manchester last week. The ELYA concept is similar to a vending machine. Breakfast items, lunch bowls, and snacks are available in reach-in refrigerators with glass doors (so you can see your options!). You just swipe your credit card to pay for your selection — lunches will be priced around $13 each, while breakfast and snacks will be between $5 - $7. The menu items won’t be any type of specific cuisine; instead, you can look for dishes inspired by Korean, European, and Southern flavors, among others.
A fan-favorite pizza truck is upgrading to a permanent pizzeria. The fine folks at Zorch Pizza announced on Instagram that they’re opening a brick-and-mortar pizza joint at 2923 W Cary St, just across the street from Mongrel and in between Carytown Sushi and Pho Luca’s. Like we mentioned in last Wednesday’s weekly giveaway (crazy timing!), Zorch Pizza is Richmond's only NY-style, by-the-slice pizza truck. Helmed by Richmond pizza connoisseur Rob Zorch, this one-of-a-kind food truck can be found on the weekends serving up classic slices and inventive new recipes at breweries, festivals, and private events around Central Virginia. But starting in December, you’ll be able to find them consistently at one spot in Carytown whenever your ‘za craving strikes!
Want s’more good news? Robin Schwartzkopf at RVA Magazine reported that Ashland's Center of the Universe Brewing Company has transformed their outdoor beer garden into a socially-distanced campground. They’re calling it Camp COTU, and it boasts 7 different fire pits, camping chairs, lanterns, and a covered stage for live music and story-telling from local groups like the Virginia Storytelling Alliance, The Whistle Stop Theatre Company, and Red Vein Army.
COTU also worked with their sister brewery Origin Beer Lab to craft s’mores-inspired brews, which can be enjoyed by a fire while chowing down on traditional camp food from the Freakin’ Rican food truck like chili, hot dogs, baked beans, trail mix, and more. And then you get to go home to your warm bed instead of sleeping in a cold tent outside. Win-win!
As a wise (fictional) man once said, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.” So, if the fact that it’s getting dark so early now has you feeling down, turn on the light(s) with InLight 2020! InLight is 1708 Gallery’s free annual public exhibition of contemporary light-based artworks — including videos, projections, multimedia projects, sculptures, and more.
This year, RVA TukTuk will be providing group transportation to all of the sites of InLight 2020. Parties of up to 6 people can hop aboard a TukTuk for a private 1.5-hour tour (coolers and adult beverages are welcome along for the ride!), taking in the illuminated works of art along the way. Taking place November 12 - 15, there will only be 3 time slots per night on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (at 6 pm, 8 pm and 10 pm) and only 2 times on Sunday (6 pm and 8 pm), so snag your spot now before they’re all booked!
Not a COVID cough, just a fur ball. The Richmond SPCA’s 22nd Annual Fur Ball, to be specific! While there is unfortunately no in-person ball happening this year, there are plenty of virtual ways you can help support thousands of sick and injured pets in the care of the Richmond SPCA. You can order a delicious meal from Heritage, bid in an online auction, pledge an angel donation, purchase raffle tickets to win prizes valued up to $5,000, or just watch the Parade of Pets from the comfort of your own home. Details here.
HAPPENINGS
What November event gives you the chance to make yourself a tasty Gingerbread structure, raise money for a good cause, and enter to win $1,000 in cash all at once? The 4th Annual Gingerbread House Challenge, brought to you by the Better Housing Coalition!
This year’s challenge is going virtual, encouraging Richmonders to display their holiday spirit and creativity by constructing a gingerbread creation centered around the 2020 theme of ‘Hometown Holidays.’ (Note: entries are not limited to houses, so let those creative juices flow!)
Each team is asked to pursue the goal of raising $250 for their creation throughout the month of November. 100% of proceeds will support the Better Housing Coalition’s mission of changing lives and transforming communities through high-quality affordable housing.
The top fundraising entry will take home the People’s Choice award, aka an amazing prize pack from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (ft. their highly anticipated Gingerbread Stout release, of course). It will also vie for the grand prize of $1,000 cash, to be voted on by an impartial jury!
Sign up to compete here. Good luck, and we can’t wait to see the winning creation!
Weekly Giveaway
Venture X Richmond
Are you looking for a quiet, productive workspace outside your home? Is your business searching for a private office with flexible terms? Or do you have a company in need of occasional conference room space?
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Either way, Venture X Richmond in Scott’s Addition has you covered with a range of workspace solutions with flexible agreements. Join them to work in a beautiful space designed to make you more efficient. And don’t worry, frequent cleaning of the common areas and social distancing considerations ensure that you can focus on your work!
We’re giving away a one-month community membership to Venture X Richmond, valued at $70!
To enter to win: Tell me what your dream job was when you were a kid! I was torn between becoming an author or a pop star. (I’m still deciding).
Last week: Congratulations to Ana D. for winning last week’s Zorch Pizza giveaway!
Member Perks
Pupatella RVA
Did you know? Pupatella offers the ONLY pizza in Richmond that is certified by the Assozione Verace Pizza Napoletana, aka the legal Italian entity that defines what true Neapolitan Pizza is and ensures that each certified pizzeria observes strict traditional Neapolitan pizza making rules.
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All that to say: Pupatella serves Neapolitan pizza in The Fan exactly as it has been prepared for over 150 years in neighborhoods throughout Naples.
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In addition to offering a huge menu of both red and white Neopolitan pizzas, they also serve Friggitoria (fried food of Naples, such as arancini); small plates and salads (including mouthwatering bruschetta); desserts (gelato, anyone?); and a huge selection of wine and craft beer.
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RVAx members get 10% off orders at Pupatella all day, every day — just mention The Richmond Experience when you place your order!
new + trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
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Hey new members!
We'd like to welcome 29 new members this week: Cyndy L., Madison S., Genesis R., Cody S., Paula G., Angel M., Omar J., Diana M., Hope S., Alina Z., Makenzy W., Dillon H., Erin K., Michael P., Gordon G., Cher G., Liz S., Alexis H., Hannah V., Olivia T., Sam S., Jean B., Beth B., Julia H., Nakeina D., Bryant W., Janet S., Deborah I., and Alyse T., 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 129 of the Weekly Insider.
Stay well friends,
Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Vitality Float Spa for powering this edition of the Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
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