Ed 159: National Rosé Day, Outdoor Yoga, LGBTQ+ Makers Markets
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Hey there! Alicia here 👋
Taking a peek at the upcoming forecast, it’s looking like we’ve got a few rainy days ahead of us — so be sure to reference our list of 22 NON-LAME WAYS TO SPEND A RAINY DAY IN RICHMOND if you need it!
Otherwise, we’ve researched and gathered all of the social news you need to know in Richmond this week, including…
The Jackson Ward spot that will soon be home to both a gelato café AND a hard seltzery, all under one roof
Can’t-miss Pride Month events happening this weekend, including a VA Pride-supporting beer release and daily LGBTQ+ makers markets to shop Friday through Sunday
A roundup of the absolute best local places to celebrate National Rosé Day this Saturday, June 12 (yes, it’s a real holiday!)
The new just-launched, patent-pending craft beer invention made here in Richmond that’s scientifically proven to keep your preferred cases of canned beverages cooler all summer long
…and more! Let’s do this thing.
THE LATEST:
SOCIAL NEWS
Hard seltzer and a gelato café, all under one roof? We’re there. Our go-to guy Mike Platania at Richmond BizSense reported that local gelato maker Stoplight Gelato Cafe officially got permission from the city to share its Jackson Ward shop with the hard seltzer brewers at Richmond Seltzer Co.! RSC plans to have a tasting counter inside the café itself, then to put their production area in a garage and storage area in the back of the building. We can’t wait to try their blackberry sour seltzer, in particular!
With the addition of the seltzery, Stoplight Gelato owner Mike Wilbert wrote that the café will be able to reopen (after being closed due to the pandemic since spring 2020). We’re looking forward to tasting ‘em both — stay tuned for the official opening date this fall!
After all 2020 threw at them, teachers don’t just deserve apples, they deserve some damn cider. Next Friday, June 18, Buskey Cider will host a teacher appreciation event "School's Out For Cider" from 5 - 8 pm. There will be prizes for teachers in attendance, and $2 from every pint sold at the event will be donated to Building A Better RPS ($1 from Buskey Cider and $1 from Scott Garnett Real Estate).
Can't make the event, but still want to support? Buskey also has a new "Buy A Teacher A Pint" program on their website that allows you to purchase a pint remotely to be awarded to a teacher IRL!
It’s that time again: Pride beer release time! Hardywood Park Craft Brewery is back with another annual edition of "Tropic Like It's Hot," a play on an underrated Snoop Dogg song AND a beer brewed in support of Virginia Pride. This year's version is a purple-hued sour fruited ale made with passionfruit, pineapple, hibiscus, and blueberry, all wrapped up in a rainbow-adorned can.
”Tropic Like It’s Hot” will be released this Friday, June 11 at both Hardywood locations — the Richmond location on Ownby Lane will also have live music from Junior Wilson and food from the Hardywood Pizza Kitchen, while the West Creek location will welcome a food truck on-site and will play "Love, Simon" as a part of their free Cinema By The Creek event series.
Speaking of Pride Month events, you’ve got three chances to support LGBTQ+ makers this weekend! I mean, technically you’ve got unlimited opportunities to support the list of LGBTQ+ owned businesses in Richmond listed here all the time. But this weekend, in particular, you can shop:
(1) Safe Space PRIDE Month Market - Featuring DJ Lez Pop, drag performances, food trucks, and 20+ LGBTQ+ makers, as well as a food drive benefiting RVA Community Fridges. - Friday, 5 - 8 pm @ Lakeside Farmers Market (Lakeside)
(2) Queer Days Pop-Up Market - Shop LGBTQ+ artists and snag something to eat from the Happy Empanada + Bar at this open-air shopping experience. - Saturday, 3 - 9 pm @ Studio Two Three (Scott’s Addition)
(3) Pride Witch Market - Diversity Richmond's first-ever Pride Market ft. tarot readers, dance performances, and a whopping 50+ LGBTQ+ vendors. No, you need not practice witchcraft to attend. - Sunday, 12 - 6 pm @ Diversity Richmond (Northside)
Go with the flow — more specifically, the outdoor yoga flow. This Saturday, June 12 at 9 am, Project Yoga Richmond will host Saturday Salutations, a pay-what-you-can outdoor yoga practice on the Belvedere Deck at the VMFA. This practice will take place twice a month throughout the summer on the following dates (and classes fill up fast, so be sure to set a reminder to sign up):
June 26
July 10
July 24
August 7
August 21
Simply pre-register for the class online here in support of PYR's yoga and mindfulness programs, wear something comfortable that you can move in, and bring your mat, water, a towel, and some sunscreen!
Don’t forget to cast your votes. Voting ends this Tuesday, June 15 for the Style Weekly 2021 Best of Richmond awards, so if you haven't already voted for all of your favorite local spots, go go go!
HAPPENINGS
Rosé all (Satur)day. This Saturday, June 12 is National Rosé Day, and at their nearby farm in Maidens, Courthouse Creek Cider is celebrating with Rosé Flights! These flights will feature four different natural and delicious rosé wines — and they’ll pair perfectly with chef-driven small bites from the in-house Culterra Farmhouse Kitchen.
This event will take place from 11 am - 9 pm on Saturday, but aim to swing by between 5 - 8 pm if you want to catch live music from Bryan Holt along with your flights and food!
(Looking for some other ways to enjoy the holiday? Check out our City Guide 6 LOCAL WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL ROSÉ DAY THIS SATURDAY for more ideas!)
Weekly Giveaway
Bon Air Soap Company
Exciting news: Locally known and loved business Bon Air Naturals has rebranded to Bon Air Soap Company and opened a brick-and-mortar storefront next door to Perk Bon Air and Joe’s Inn Bon Air!
We got the chance to check out the beautiful (and incredibly scented) store last week and couldn’t resist buying ourselves and our RVAx members a little something — which is why this week we are giving away a little smell-good prize pack including handcrafted self-care products like…
…All packaged up in a handmade gift bag from local artist Laurie Parfitt!
To enter to win: Tell me one of your favorite spots to shop local in RVA! My answer sort of feels like cheating — I like to use the Lokii app to shop a bunch of stores at once with just one delivery fee.
Last week: Congratulations to Alison G. for winning our Discover Richmond Tours Fathers Day Gift Box giveaway!
Member Perks
Cazie Cooler
It always blows my mind how many cool products in the market have gotten their start here in Richmond — and Cazie is no exception!
Cazie is a brand new line of coolers with cool designs (proudly printed, cut, and sewn right here in Richmond!) that fit over both 12- and 24-can packs — and have been found to keep cans five degrees cooler than their non-Cazie-cooled counterparts after one hour.
The full line-up of Cazie coolers, aka insulation sleeves padded with 4-millimeter scuba foam fabric in all kinds of different patterns, includes:
The Original Cazie (fits a standard 12-pack): $14.99
The Big Boy Cazie (fits a 24-pack): $19.99
The Slim Pack Cazie (fits a standard seltzer 12-packs): $14.99
The Can Cazie: $4.99 to fit a 12 oz. can/bottle, or $5.99 to fit a 16 oz. can
The Slim Can Cazie (fits 12 oz. Seltzer cans): $4.99
And great news: Members of The Richmond Experience can use code RVAx for 15% off of their Cazie cooler order now through next Wednesday, June 16 — shop now!
new + trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 28 new members this week: Jess C., Corrin M., Haley M., Landon H., Molly P., Rene S., Nyssa T., Noah T., Michelle H., Ashley H., Amanda A., Chanel C., Harper S., Prudence J., Dee D., Hannah A., Lindsey A., Megan B., Deborah L., Jessica D., Catherine P., Kacie C., Dzelila H., Kate M., Craig R., Stephen R., Robert R., and Elisabeth Z., 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 159 of The Weekly Insider.
Catch you on the flippity flip!
- Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Triangle Rock Club for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider!
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