Ed 146: rooftops, farmers market, Ice Cream Bracket
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Image Source: @probablymaybe
Hey there! Alicia here 👋
Has anyone else found that their mood is exponentially better (and their energy levels exponentially higher) when the weather is nice in Richmond?
These past two weeks of brighter days have been glorious, and it looks like the sunshine and higher temperatures are going to stick around through this weekend!
A few city guides to help you take advantage of the beautiful weather:
Now, moving on to what’s new and exciting this week — like where you can find pie and wine pairing flights on Sunday, how to cast your votes in a March Madness-style flavor bracket from a local ice cream shop, the highly anticipated return of a beloved local farmers’ market, the Detroit-style pizza pop-up coming to Carytown this week, and more. Let’s dish!
THE LATEST:
Image: @blanchardscoffee
Image: @scoop.rva
Image: @roam_rva
Image: @peoplespieva
SOCIAL NEWS
And anotha one. AKA, what we assume Blanchard’s Coffee is jamming out to as they celebrate the opening of their latest cafe, located in The Fan at 26 N Morris St.
Known on Instagram as @blanchardsmorrisstreet, this is now the third Blanchard’s Coffee cafe in town (the first two being their flagship @blanchardsbroadstreet at 3121 W Broad St and @blanchardsforesthill at 3940 Forest Hill Ave).
The difference, as Blanchard’s explains it, is that the new Morris Street location will be a place for their staff to experiment with new drinks, offer more food, and to work with farmers to tell a broader coffee story. Check it out for yourself anytime Wednesday - Sunday, from 8 am - 2 pm.
Ice cream madness. If you’ve ever wished that Scoop offered a particular flavor of ice cream that they’ve never carried before, good news: They want to hear your ideas! They’re asking Richmonders to comment on this Instagram post with flavor idea submissions before the end of the day on Wednesday, March 10 (psssttt, that’s today).
From there, the Scoop team will select their favorite flavor ideas submitted — ones that sound delicious, that they've never made, and that inspire them — and they will put them in a March Madness-style bracket for folks to vote on throughout the month!
Flavors will go head to head, tournament-style, until a winner is determined. Not only will Scoop develop a recipe for the winning flavor (which will make its debut in late spring), but whoever submitted the winning flavor will also receive a special prize. So, go submit your flavor ideas now!
Get your ordering fingers ready. Sorry, didn’t mean for that to sound creepy. But you’re gonna want to be prepared to place your order with Common Eats by 9 pm on Wednesday, March 10 (today!) in order to get it via free delivery or pick-up this Saturday, March 13!
Quick reminder: Common Eats is Richmond's online local food market featuring 100% local items, custom ordered directly from RVA chefs and bakers. You can order from all kinds of different vendors all in one place, and your order will be delivered for free right to your doorstep.
Guess who’s back, back again. Yes, that’s my second rap reference in the same email and no, I’m not sorry. I’ve been missing People’s Pie since the pandemic led them to close the doors at their Scott’s Addition pizza joint early last month. So, I was thrilled to learn that they’ll be popping up in Carytown this Monday, March 15 at The Jasper, serving up their mouthwatering signature Detroit-style pizza. I can almost taste the water ranch already…
SOTJ is headed back south of the James. It was announced this week on Facebook that the South of the James Farmers Market will be hosted Thursday evenings in Forest Hill Park from 4 - 7 pm starting May 6, 2021 and running through October!
Additionally, GrowRVA confirmed that their weekly market (the one that stepped in for SOTJ for the 2020 season) will continue to take place at Bryan Park on Saturday mornings from 8 am - 12 pm each week.
So, the only real change from last season is that we’ve got even more weekly opportunities to support local growers and vendors! How lucky are we?
Collectors’ Night is coming up! For background: Collectors’ Night, launched in 1987, is the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s most significant annual fundraising event. The 350-person gala is held in every March and includes a cocktail reception, a silent auction and a seated live auction.
For safety purposes, the gala has gone virtual for 2021 — which just means we get to celebrate from home this year!
VisArts (and its contingent of guest curators) works with some of Richmond’s most beloved artists, and the result is an art auction that’s full of local artwork.
For $10, you can get a ticket that offers you access to bid online for more than 50 items, including art and experience packages. For $80, you can get bidding access as well as dinner for one from MOSAIC Restaurant. And for $150, you can get bidding access plus dinner for two from MOSAIC Restaurant. (You can find the three-course dinner menu here).
Whichever option you choose to go with, just know that proceeds from the event support VisArts’ outreach programs!
Image: @jamesriverwine
HAPPENINGS
3.14159265358979… That’s my nerdy way of reminding you that one of the tastiest holidays of all is coming up this weekend!
Here are two of our top picks for local Pi(e) Day celebrations:
A Night of Pi with Mise En Place - ($25; Saturday, March 13 from 5 - 7 pm) - A virtual pie-baking class led by Mise En Place wherein you’ll make apple hand pies, shepherd’s pie, a simple spring quiche, and a fresh berry galette so that you’ll be ready for a full day of pie-eating the following morning.
Pi(e) & Wine Pairing with James River Cellars Winery - ($16; Sunday, March 14 from 11 am - 5 pm) - This interactive event will feature 4 different flavors of pie, paired with 4 different wines in a flight. They’re calling it “Pie Wars” with hopes of deeming one pairing the true Pi(e) Day winner.
Weekly Giveaway
Mad Kitchen Co.
I saw these adorable stickers from local maker Madison Pollard on Instagram and immediately slid into her DMs to see if she’d be interested in doing a Weekly Insider giveaway. How cute are they?!
This coated, die-cut sticker is a reproduction of Madison’s own original watercolor and pen design featuring actual rowhouses from the block of South Laurel Street and Idlewood Avenue in Richmond’s Oregon Hill neighborhood.
It would fit perfectly on a laptop, cell phone case, water bottle, or anywhere else you’d like a bright little reminder of the city you love!
To enter to win: Tell me one of your favorite views in Richmond. As a Northsider, I love the view of Brookland Park Blvd. as seen from Ninja Kombucha (I’d buy that sticker in a second!).
Last week: Congratulations to Ryan C. for winning our Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop gift card giveaway!
Member Perks
Gratisfied
A tasty and convenient grab-and-go snack option that’s made locally? Yep, that’s Gratisfied for you!
Owner Sara McGlothlin is a holistic nutritionist, food writer, and yoga teacher based in Richmond, VA. She originally created the Empower Bar just for friends, family, and clients — but after hearing how much people loved them, she knew she wanted to share them with the world.
In addition to the original Empower Bar, Gratisfied now also offers a V Bar (which is vegan) and a Cacao Bar (which is deliciously chocolatey while still nourishing your body).
Use code RVAX15 for 15% off of your purchase! Visit gratisfied.com to shop now.
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SAVE THE DATE
Click the blue button below to find out what’s going on in Richmond, this week and beyond!
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 26 new members this week: Erica P., Rebecca M., Leslie E., Abby O., Shana S., Amanda W., Lucy M., Rachel F., Emma W., Kerri G., Jessica N., Leilani B., Taylor G., Ariana P., Lauren W., Amanda S., Amber J., Analise A., Brian N., Isabel L., Brittany H., Katey E., Jamie Y., Adelyn B., Caroline F., and Tyler O., 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 146 of the Weekly Insider.
Stay well friends,
Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Sweetest Stitch for powering this edition of the Weekly Insider!
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