Ed 194: Ways to Help Fox Elementary, Pizza on Wheels, Return of the Red Reeds
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Hey, y’all! 👋
We’ve sort of got a good news/bad news situation this week. Let’s start with the bad and work our way up.
As you probably heard or saw over the weekend, William Fox Elementary School caught fire late last Friday night and suffered severe damage. The school is more than a century old and a beloved landmark to the Fan and families throughout the River City. Richmonders all over are grieving this shocking news, and it’s still unknown what’s next for the school’s teachers and students. For now, the building remains closed, and classes transition to a fully remote schedule this week.
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras gave a press conference on Saturday morning and had this to say: “I'd like to ask everyone to please keep our students—most of all, their families and teachers, our support staff—please keep them in your prayers. Please reach out to them and support them in any way you possibly can.”
Which brings us to the good news: RVA came through and still is. For starters, Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation opened a donation link. FYI: If you’d like to contribute, select “Fox Elementary Fire Response” under “I want my donation to be designated toward.”
And check out these other amazing highlights:
🍦Scoop donated 100% of its Saturday sales to the school’s recovery.
🍻All weekend, Canon & Draw Brewing Company and Steam Bell Beer Works donated $1 per draft to the fire relief response.
🎨SCRAP Creative Reuse is giving away craft supplies for the community to create art for display in front of the school.
☕️Lift Coffee (with the help of Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co.) is offering free drinks to first responders through this Wednesday, February 16.
🍩Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee is collecting school supplies.
WOW, we thought we loved you before, Richmond.
Now, we’re gonna keep this positive vibe going. Read on for some other good things you’ll want to know about these next few days—say, like our February book club meeting? Okay, okay, here we go:
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 61°, low of 49°
Thursday: Mostly cloudy (but warm!); high of 72°, low of 57°
Friday: Cloudy in the morn, sunny in the aft; high of 63°, low of 26°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: Wednesday Trivia Night at Tabol Brewing
Thursday, 6 - 9 pm: Knit + Sip :: Chunky Knit Blankets + Wine
Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm: Richmond’s Twelfth Annual Environmental Film Festival
CITY GUIDES
1. YOUR GUIDE TO RVA HAPPY HOUR, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Hamilton Glass: The River City is covered in beautiful art, and in part, we have this incredible muralist to thank. Hamilton is the talent behind pieces outside of Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and Refuge for Men (among MANY others). He’s also the founder of Mending Walls, “a healing art project” that pairs artists from different backgrounds to collab on murals.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including where to catch happy hour, how to train for Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K, which once-shuttered night club is finally reopening, and more.
THE LATEST:
THINK SPRING
Scott’s Addition continues to grow: Sure, Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but we want more flowers. (And more chocolate, tbh, but this isn’t about that.) Lucky for us, River City Flower Exchange is setting up (a brick-and-mortar) shop in SA, giving us another local spot to pick up petals all year long. The hub for local growers and designers will sell fresh blooms on the store’s ground floor and offer workshops and classes upstairs. (Instagram)
Ready to Riverrock: Dominion Energy Riverrock returns to Brown’s Island just before the official kickoff to summer. From May 20 - 22, you can enjoy everything from yoga classes and trail runs to SUP and scavenger hunts, all while local and national bands play the weekend’s soundtrack. Registration is open now, with early-bird pricing available until this Thursday, February 17. (Dominion Energy Riverrock)
Will run for (and with) pups: It’s that time of year when we start panicking about having signed up for Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K. LOL, JK! We work out every day and are very in shape and are not eating peanut butter M&M’s as we write this rn! But we might add the Richmond SPCA’s Dog Jog and 5K Run to our calendars, too. Just for, like, extra practice. The event happens on March 26 and makes time for a 5K run or walk, a “Little Paws” fun run, and a one-mile “Dog Jog.” All net proceeds support the Richmond SPCA, so get your laces and leashes ready. (RunSignup)
A field of dreams in Jackson Ward: The 2022 MLB season hangs in the balance, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snag some new threads to hang in your closet in the meantime. Charged Up Ent. is a Richmond-based record label that opened its flagship store, Charged Up, this month, selling Richmond Flying Squirrels-adorned snapbacks and other RVA-inspired gear. (Instagram)
COMEBACKS & COMING-SOONS
Getting a reed on the VMFA sculpture garden: The return of the museum’s iconic red reeds has us all heart-eyes over here. Since November, the glass beauties have been in the careful hands of VMFA’s conservation team, who has been wiping away mineral deposits and getting the installation squeaky clean for the warmer weather. Like the Grinch, but in spring and without all the, you know, Grinchiness. (Instagram)
You’ll want a pizza this: Timber Pizza Co. is taking its pie-slinging talents on the road to RVA. The DC-based gem recently announced that the Timber Mobile—its on-the-go oven that bakes up pizza all around the nation’s capital, Maryland, and Virginia—will head south this spring. Starting in April, you can spot the bus at farmers markets, breweries, and more. PS: They’re hiring, too, so if you’re looking for a tasty gig, send them your resume at richmond@timberpizza.com. (Instagram)
It’s coming up roses: Ninja Kombucha’s much-loved “Hidden in the Briar” is back in the taproom and selling fast. The delish drink is brewed with oolong and green teas and with rose buds and petals. We felt pampered just writing that. Pick up a few cans while you still can. (Instagram)
You can find me in the club: Yes, we’ve rewatched the Super Bowl halftime show over and over again, but The Tobacco Company Club has us singing, too. Richmond’s “exclusive night club for over 40 years” closed its doors at the start of the pandemic, but it’s set to reopen this weekend, turning the music back on and up Saturday, February 18. Get ready, party people. (Instagram)
This deserves another mention: Speaking of “coming soon” news, we let you know in Ed 191 that Brun, the Fan’s new cigar and whiskey lounge, would be opening this month. Well, cheers, folks; the drinks are officially flowing! The hot spot kicked things off on Valentine’s Day with its Masquerade Experience event, and from the looks of it, things were lit. (Instagram)
Weekly Giveaway
Salsa Connection Dance Company
Did that taste of springtime weather over the weekend make you want to dance? Us, too. And it looks like there are more nice temps in our future, so get in the mood to bust out some moves again.
This week, we’re giving away TWO Salsa Connection beginner classes—Salsa Level I and Bachata Level I—each four-week sessions and each valued at $55.
To enter to win: Tell us your favorite dance move!
And by the way, members of The Richmond Experience receive a $15 discount on Salsa Level 1 and Bachata Level 1 beginner sessions, so even if you don’t win this giveaway, there’s still something to dance about. To redeem, simply send them an email and let them know you’re a member!
Last week: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Blakely B., for winning our Riverbend Roastery giveaway!
Member Perks
Wine Stork
If you didn’t quite get your wine fill between the Galentine and Valentine celebrations, and you’re looking to stock up for the long weekend ahead, we know just the thing: delivery vino. Wine Stork brings your bottle(s) of choice right to you; all you have to do is place an order, prep the cheese-and-crackers spread, and answer the door.
Members of The Richmond Experience get 10% off your first order. Just enter code “WelcomeRVAX” at checkout!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 30 new members this week: Juan P., Vana C., Sania M., Becky S., Ann B., Erin F., Jackson K., Michaela H., Hillary M., Brittanny D., Haley C., Cynthia P., Susan S., Lauren R., Alyssa N., Tam S., AJ S., Rachel K., Tolly M., Alyssa K., Nathan G., Laura K., JD K., Fausta T., Mike N., Jasmine C., Caitie W., Rebekah W., Annie C., and Alexis H., 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 194 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- The Richmond Experience
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