Ed 185: Festive Cocktails, Holiday Villages, New Year’s Eve Plans
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have you visited the VMFA’s new Man Ray: The Paris Years exhibition yet?
Hey, y’all! 👋
‘Tis the season for giving! Did you know The Richmond Experience donates a portion of each annual membership purchased to rotating nonprofits each month?
So, a huge THANK YOU to all RVAx members who joined and/or renewed their memberships last month—because of your annual membership purchase in November, we were able to make an $85 donation to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, specifically designated to their Northside Family YMCA location.
Heads up, a portion of all memberships purchased in December (including gift memberships!) will be donated to the Richmond Symphony. You can check out our About page to learn more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy; high of 60°, low of 41°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 67°, low of 52°
Friday: Mostly cloudy; high of 70°, low of 57°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 pm: Trivia with Trivia Kings at Canon & Draw
Thursday, 6 pm: 5th Annual Reindeer Run at Final Gravity
Friday, 5 - 9 pm: Cocktails for a Cause at How The Grinch Stole Switch
CITY GUIDES
1. Holiday Pop-Up Bars & Festive Cocktails to Get You Into the Spirit
2. Ring In the New Year at These Parties & Events in RVA
3. Cheers to 2022: Your NYE Dining Guide
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Chrissy Harrison: Founder of Elsie Frieda, a jewelry company based here in Richmond offering bold, colorful, handcrafted beaded jewelry—you’ve seen her pieces on celebs like Lizzo and Charli XCX (to name a few).
Elsie Frieda just opened a beautiful new showroom just outside of Carytown that is definitely worth adding to your holiday shopping plans this year. Bonus: Follow them on Instagram and mention that you heard about them from The Richmond Experience and you’ll get a free glass of champagne to sip while you shop. Cheers!
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a can’t-miss holiday bake sale happening this Saturday in Scott’s Addition, two beloved former pop-up concepts officially opening brick-and-mortar restaurants in the New Year, your last chance to visit Richmond’s own Holiday Villages this weekend, and more!
THE LATEST:
Image: @nobsbrass
Image: @richmondbakersagainstracism
Image: @richmondnightmarketva
Image: @lakesidemarketrva
THIS WEEK
Baked goods for good: Richmond Bakers Against Racism will host a Holiday Bake Sale this Saturday at the Veil Brewing Co. in Scott’s Addition from 12 - 4 pm. Free admission. (Instagram)
Speaking of festive holiday events benefiting the community: Safe Space is back with not one, but two Winter Markets this weekend—one on Friday in Lakeside from 5 - 8 pm and one on Saturday in Carytown from 10 am - 2 pm. Free admission. (Facebook)
A neighborhood celebration: RVA Black Farmers Market is hosting A Black Christmas in Jackson Ward this Saturday from 12 - 7 pm, a free event featuring live music, a vendor market, and more. Free admission. (Venture Richmond)
A food drive and a concert, all in one: The Broadberry will play host to the NO BS! Brass Band annual canned food drive with Colin Phils this Saturday. Doors open at 8 pm, show starts at 9 pm. $15. (The Broadberry)
Wine and unwind: Women in Wine RVA will host a Sips & Self Care event this Sunday at Gallery5 from 2 - 4 pm featuring a selection of four wines, a mindful breathing workshop, and a space to clarify your vision of wellness for 2022. Sliding scale pricing; $35 - $55. (Eventbrite)
Last chance to join in on the fun: The Richmond Night Market will host their final Holiday Villages of the season this Saturday and Sunday from 1 - 6 pm at the 17th Street Market. (Richmond Night Market)
COMING SOON
Curiously curated experiences: Reveler is a new “theatrical, immersive adventure” concept opening in Carytown in mid-January with champagne toasts and “eight unique and curious activities”—perhaps not unlike an escape room, since it comes from an established parent company that already runs five of them in Richmond. (Reveler)
Also kicking off in January: V72x2, aka Richmond’s 5th annual Vegan Restaurant Challenge, will take place January 25 - 30 for six days of delicious plant-based recipes and menu specials from restaurants all over Richmond. (Instagram)
Drive-through coffee shop: Ironclad Coffee Roasters will open a second location in the West End this February featuring grab-and-go options along with drive-through service. (Richmond Magazine)
Two new restaurant openings we’re looking forward to: After seeing their success as pop-up concepts, we can’t wait to try Slurp! Ramen from the same people behind The Jasper, anticipated to open in spring 2022 (Richmond BizSense) and BigWife’s Mac n’ Cheese from the folks behind Bookbinder’s Seafood & Steakhouse, expected to open by summer (Richmond BizSense).
Weekly Giveaway
“Happy Hours of Richmond” Print
We’re majorly crushing on this collaboration between two women-led brands here in RVA! RVA Happy Hours and Sunday Table Co. came together to craft this “Happy Hours of Richmond” print featuring some of the city’s tried-and-true happy hour legends like mojitos at Havana 59, sushi rolls at Fighting Fish, and more, all of which can be found here.
We’re giving away one of these 11 x 14 prints, valued at $25, to a lucky member of The Richmond Experience!
To enter to win: Tell us your go-to happy hour spot in Richmond! You can find us ordering half-off select cocktails and appetizers at Fall Line (their happy hour is every Tuesday through Friday from 5 - 7 pm).
Last week: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Adam H., for winning a Holiday Gift Bag from Tempered Coffee!
Member Perks
Maslo Jewelry
You’re going to want to add a few Maslo Jewelry items to your wish list this year. This unique jewelry company searches for chains, findings, and parts from the past to repurpose into gorgeous future pieces. They handle the digging, searching, and sifting through past pieces, then repurpose them to start new lives with their customers!
From delicate flowing necklaces to sculptural yet bold, classic statement pieces Maslo plays on texture and weight while maintaining a minimal and attainable aesthetic.
Members of The Richmond Experience can use code RVAX20 for 20% off of any order—shop now!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 43 new members this week: Brittney W., Tyler L., Sam L., Alec V., Serenity B., Stephanie C., Kayle D., Shannon C., Delaney M., Lalin B., Claudia S., Parker B., Raven D., Mericyn D., Emily C., Emma J., Ashley B., Chloe S., Mian B., Tucker B., Corri S., Julia B., Lindsay G., Sommer C., Tabitha B., Sarah K., Juliannah V., Anna H., Kelsey G., Hillary P., Kionna G., Rebekah D., Emily R., Justin W., Anshu P., Tara R., Kelly R., Leyna G., Patrick W., Nell M., Deidre M., Adam P., Fionnuala B., and Auguste R., 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 185 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- Alicia @ The Richmond Experience
Thank you to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
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