Ed 148: Ultimate Restaurant Guide, Dog-Friendly Patios, Free Doughnuts
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(in-studio, virtual, and outdoor flows available —
with even more community classes coming soon)
Image Source: @raise_the_roof_richmond
Hey there! Alicia here 👋
Spring has sprung, my dear friends! We’ve officially made it to what is, in my humble opinion, the best time of year in Richmond. Usually, that’s because spring is a time for festivals and general crowd-gathering merriment, but we’re not quite ready to go back to that just yet.
Even so, the arrival of spring is still a joyous occasion. Flowers and trees are bursting into bloom, temperatures are steadily climbing and staying somewhere between “frigid” and “sweat-inducing” for a while, team sports are slowly and safely returning to regularly scheduled programming… There’s just so much to celebrate!
But before we get ahead of ourselves looking forward to all the awesome events coming soon this season, let’s talk about what’s going on here and now in the latest edition of The Weekly Insider.
P.S. In case you missed it, we also just launched a new weekly email for RVAx members called The Weekender! This Friday lunchbreak newsletter will be sent to inboxes only — it won’t live on our website like The Weekly Insider does — so be sure to use this link to make sure you’re signed up to get our emails.
(Bonus points if you add rvax@therichmondexperience.com to your contact list so your mail provider knows we’re cool!)
THE LATEST:
Image: @krispykreme
Image: @lillypadcafe
Image: @riverrockrva
Image: @richmondkickers
SOCIAL NEWS
Neighborhood news! Carytown’s beloved Sen Organic Small Plate just announced that they’ve opened their own Sen Organic Farmers Market right across the street at 2820 W Cary St, in the space formerly occupied by Cartwheels & Coffee (which shuttered in January).
The goal for this market experience is for Richmonders to be able to find everything they need to make classic Vietnamese dishes like the ones they'd enjoy at Sen Organic Small Plate from home — like housemade sauces, locally-grown produce, free-range meats, fresh rice noodles, and more.
Beyond that, they'll also offer grab-and-go Vietnamese dishes like Phở, Banh Mi, Bún Cha Giò. They even have a sushi bar coming soon, which will offer fresh sushi to-go made with wild-caught seafood!
Nobody puts The Lilly Pad in the corner. Did you see the steamy Dirty Dancing screenshot that they posted last week? Yeah, this riverfront restaurant had Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey help them announce the new weekly (non-dirty) dance lessons they’re kicking off in just a few weeks!
Starting April 8, The Lilly Pad will host RVA Bachata every Thursday at 7 pm for outdoor salsa nights on the water. You can either join in the fun yourself or just come to watch, listen to an amazing salsa DJ, and enjoy food and drink specials designed to “fit the mood,” according to their Instagram.
Shop (local) ‘til you drop. The marvelous makers over at Studio Two Three just announced that their “lil shop” in Scott’s Addition is now open! You can score gift for loved ones (or goodies for yourself) from local artists like this Richmond neighborhood map tee, this James River print, this Made In RVA onesie, and way more all in one big, open, welcoming space.
And yes, you can take a selfie in front of Lucky Signs’ bright and happy wall mural before you finish up your purchase — everyone else is doing it, too.
Oooh, heaven is a place on earth... At least, The Heavenly Cove is! This new Hispanic-Mediterranean fusion ghost kitchen is the result of hard work by owner Franklyn Harris and culinary director K’shara Jarmin, who believe that "every bite should be exciting, unique, and downright heavenly.” So, get ready for some seriously good eats when you place your order online (preferably through Chop Chop — #supportlocal) and don’t skip out on the mini chimis!
Kickers kickoff, coming soon. We’re exactly one month away from the home opener of the Richmond Kickers 2021 season! The team will take the field at City Stadium on Saturday, April 24 against defending league title-winners, Greenville Triumph SC.
Tickets for all 2021 regular season home matches go on sale today (Wednesday, March 24) at 10 am here.
Riverrock returns! That's right, the nation's premier outdoor sports and music festival is back for 2021 from May 14 - 16. From yoga classes to trail runs, group art installations to bike exhibitions, sustainability projects to music, scavenger hunts and more, this year’s Dominion Energy RiverRock theme is #RockTheOutdoors.
We’ve got our eyes peeled for the official lineup of pop-up events, video contests, fishing tournaments, musical performances, and more — but for now, just be sure to block this weekend off on your calendar.
(Worth noting: Sports Backers is a new partner of ours! We tend to only partner with folks whose missions we believe in, but just a heads up for transparency.)
Oh yeah, and FREE DOUGHNUTS. Get ‘em from Krispy Kreme after you’re vaccinated — starting this week, anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card will receive a free Original Glazed doughnut. Full details here, and directions to our local Krispy Kreme here.
Image: @perlysrichmond
PASSOVER PICK-UP
Local take-out options for Seder this year. Passover begins at sundown this Saturday, March 27 and ends at sundown next Sunday, April 4.
Whether you’re celebrating solo or with family and friends this year, Richmond Magazine put together a full list of menu items available for pickup locally, including:
Matzo ball soup from Perly’s
A la carte brisket, roasted chicken, chopped liver, and whitefish from Dinamo
Full spreads for groups of 2, 4, or 6 from Jewfro
A complete feast from Susie & Esther
And more!
Their article also includes recipes from local chefs that you can cook yourself; details here.
Image: @highlandpartners
Weekly Giveaway
Tamale Tuesday: Virtual Cooking Class
Local nonprofit Highland Support Project supports Indigenous people to live on their land, in their community, and with their culture. That’s why HSP is hosting their second-ever Guatemalan Cooking Class with Guadalupe, where you’ll learn to cook tamales alongside the nonprofit’s founder Guadalupe Ramirez.
This event is inspired by Guadalupe’s cookbook, which includes not just delicious recipes, but an insightful glimpse into Guatemalan tradition, Indigenous culture, and Guadalupe's own life journey.
If you live in the Richmond, VA area, you can get your very own prep box with all of the ingredients needed to cook at home — delivered right to your door!
We’re giving away a registration including the prep box and a special Guadalupe keepsake (valued at $50!) for this May 4 event to one lucky RVAx member.
To enter to win: Tell me your favorite home-cooked meal! My mom’s pot pie always tastes like home in a bowl.
Last week: Congratulations to Siddharth K., Nikkia J., Laura S., Carsten D., Deanna B., Jasmine M., MaryClaire G., and Chantel R. for winning our Splatter RVA giveaway!
Image: @alstonthompsonphotography
Member Perks
Common House
In case you haven’t heard: Common House is a social club that cultivates community through inspirational design, programming, and dining.
While Common House does offer coworking space, what this new addition has to offer to Richmonders goes way beyond that. It’s also a community gathering space featuring a library, podcast room, restaurant and bar, film screening room, wine cellar, event space, rooftop bar and pool, and more.
Think of Common House as the third space we’ve been craving since long before this pandemic (but especially since then). The place that isn’t home, isn’t work, but is somewhere you feel comfortable and like a part of something tangible.
RVAx members receive a reduced monthly individual membership rate (from $150 to $99) or couple’s membership rate (from $225 to $175) to Common House. Use referral code Sean Kanipe when you sign up. We’ll see you there.
new + trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 34 new members this week: Kati C., Shannon M., Allyson C., Katherine L., Jennifer C., Kyle H., Christopher B., Kelsey B., Connor B., Lindsey P., Molly C., Blake S., Jake M., Brandi S., Annie H., Ellie W., Hirsh S., Val B., Pete B., Rod D., Wendy M., Whitney M., Taylor C., Jenny C., John K., Stephanie S., Addison H., Bridget W., Amy N., Sarah P., Lauren R., Q A., Becca S., Shannon S., 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 148 of The Weekly Insider.
Stay well friends,
Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
Thank you to YogaSix for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider!
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