Ed 157: Memorial Day Weekend, Pool Openings, Hard Seltzer Spots
Hey there! Alicia here 👋
I know we’re all looking ahead to the three-day weekend, so I’ll keep this week’s intro brief!
We’re ready to help you make the most out of MDW in RVA this Friday through Monday, so we’ve rounded up the most relevant and timely social news going on in Richmond, including…
A list of the local pools that will be open this Saturday through the rest of the summer for all of your splish-splashing needs
Three chances to sip on hard seltzer in the sunshine in three different boozy spots in the city this weekend
Where and how to participate in the Commonwealth of Virginia's 65th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony (either online or IRL) on Monday
A pup-centric pool party happening on Monday (Memorial Day!) in Scott’s Addition benefiting the Richmond Animal League, complete with cold beer and snacks for dog parents
…and more. Like, a lot more. Let’s get to it!
THE LATEST:
SOCIAL NEWS
Honor our fallen soldiers. While it’s also considered the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day means much more than that — which is why we truly hope everyone will set aside time for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 65th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony, happening both in-person and online on Monday, May 31 at 11 am. You can expect patriotic music, guest speakers, the addition of four new names to the Shrine of Memory, and the announcement of the winners of both the Armed Forces Day Art Contest and the Marocchi Scholarship.
Pool season has arrived. Richmond Parks & Rec announced that four local pools will officially open to the public starting this Saturday, May 29:
Blackwell Pool - 300 East 15th St (Southside)
Fairmount Pool - 2000 U St (East End)
Hotchkiss Pool - 701 East Brookland Park Blvd (Northside)
Randolph Pool - 1507 Grayland Ave (Randolph)
These pools will be open on weekends from 12 - 5 pm through June 19, when the “official” full summer season begins!
Looking for more options once the official season begins? You can find a full list of more pools (both public and private) and splash pads for kiddos here.
Prefer rooftop pools with adult bev options? Try Common House or The Graduate!
Speaking of pools — how about a pool party for pups? In partnership with the folks at Founder's Brewing, Lunch and Supper is hosting a Supper Pupper Pool Paw-ty on Memorial Day, benefiting the Richmond Animal League! Stop by from 12 - 3 pm on Monday afternoon to let your doggos splash around in puppy pools while you enjoy cold beer and tasty bites in the beer garden.
Seltzer drinkers, rejoice. You’ve got not one, not two, but three different options for hard seltzer in Scott’s Addition this weekend:
Hard Seltzer Saturday at The Diamond - Swing by the Flying Squirrels Stadium for a day of local live music, 50+ local craft and artisan vendors to shop from, and LOTS of hard seltzer to drink from a variety of national brands brought to you by local distributor Brown's Distributing. No cover charge! (3001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd; Saturday, May 29 from 10 am - 6 pm)
Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop - Our pals at Starr Hill Brewery just announced their new Mixed Berry Seltzer, a 5.1% ABV sipper with 100 calories per 12 ounces. It's available for on-site consumption and can be brought home in crowlers. (3406 W Leigh St; Open Thursday - Friday, 4 - 10 pm; Saturday, 1 - 10 pm; Sunday, 12 - 7 pm; and Monday - Wednesday, 4 - 9 pm)
Isley Brewing Company - Isley’s brand new Strawberry Creme Sassy Seltzer is light, refreshing, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. But she’s a sassy one at a higher-than-usual 5.8% ABV, so tread lightly! And maybe try an Ice-sley beer slushie while you’re there, too. (1715 Summit Ave; Open Tuesday - Thursday, 4 - 9 pm; Friday, 4 - 10 pm; Saturday, 12 - 10 pm; and Sunday, 12 - 8 pm)
Who doesn’t love a Friday festival? Experience the charming and historic town of Ashland (just 20 minutes away from downtown Richmond) at their monthly festival, Ashland Fourth Fridays, this Friday, May 28 from 5 - 7 pm! Explore what Ashland has to offer, from live music to unique restaurants to local artists and beyond.
And a quick PSA: Friday, May 28 is also National Burger Day. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with 20 of the best local burger options in RVA.
HAPPENINGS
Concerts are back and we are STOKED to get back to ‘em! We’re off on Monday anyway, so why not spend Sunday evening at Brown’s Island rocking out to Big Something and Too Many Zoos? Sip on a craft beer or canned cocktail and watch the sun set over the skyline at this pod-seating show. Each ticket is good for a single, socially distanced pod that seats four people, and you can get your pod’s tickets here. Happening this Sunday, May 30 — doors open at 5:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm.
(Looking for something else to do instead? Check out our RVA MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENTS ROUND-UP for more ideas!)
Weekly Giveaway
Sprezza Cucina
In case you missed our Instagram post about it, Sprezza Cucina is a fresh concept bringing rustic southern Italian fare to The Broken Tulip with pop-ups on Saturdays, serving lunch from 12 - 3 pm and dinner from 3 - 6:30 pm each weekend.
They strike a delicate balance between perfected classic Italian recipes and innovative takes on traditional Pugliese fare — no two pop-up menus are ever the same, due in part to the seasonal availability of produce and in part due to the chefs’ inspiration week to week.
We’re giving away “Uno di Tutto,” aka “one of everything” on their dinner menu for pick-up on Saturday, June 5! This includes an appetizer, two pastas, Sprezza’s famous lasagna, and a dessert.
To enter to win: Tell me your favorite pasta noodle shape! I’d have to say Farfalle (also known as bow-tie or butterfly pasta) and I know Andrew’s is Spätzle.
Last week: Congratulations to Kati C. for winning our Rest In Pieces self-care prize pack!
Member Perks
RVA Paddlesports
Looking to get out on the water? Makes sense, ‘tis the season!
RVA Paddlesports is the #1 destination for outdoor activities in Richmond — and they offer a wide variety of kayaking, rafting, canoeing, paddleboarding, and climbing options for customers of all skill levels, from total beginner to paddling pro.
They also have rental gear available with delivery and pickup options, if you’d prefer to head out on the water on your own.
So, what do you say, ready to hit the James? Then you’re in luck! Members of The Richmond Experience can get 10% off of any booking, for use Sunday through Friday. Simply use code wonderwoman at checkout! Book here.
new + trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 45 new members this week: Elizabeth D., Clarissa B., Jackie B. Gabrielle C., Kelli W., Genise W., Krisa C., Stephanie M., Fred F., Liz T., Laura R., Jamie O., Nick G., Adrian A., Chloe H., Emily C., Latoyta V., Nikki V., Kim V., Allison D., Mere L., Charles L., Katie N., Jaime L., Amanda F., Darryl D., Justin B., Claire S., Ashley L., Evelyn R., RVA B., Laurie M., Lucas W., Megan C., Sarah M., Caroline H., Erik G., Ria G., Anne F., Aaron S., Jennifer L., Sarah C., Kathryn L., Casey G., and Ryan F., 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 157 of The Weekly Insider.
Adios, amigos.
- Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
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