Ed 204: Speed Dating, New Cooking School, Renovated Patio
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Happy Wednesday, everyone! 👋
Your inbox sure is the place to BE this week, huh? It’s like our very own digital water cooler, where we’re catching up on all the latest hot goss. So, ~did you hear~ we’re hosting an RVAx members happy hour with Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop? We’re in the mood to kick back with a cold one and toast to rooftop season, so come join us after you clock out on Wednesday, May 11 — and feel free to bring a friend! (More deets here.)
Something else we’re talking about this week? Independent Bookstore Day is this Saturday, April 30! We don’t need much of an excuse to add to our TBR piles, but this is a good one. If you haven’t already, pop over to each of Richmond’s participating independent bookstores, and grab a title (or two). You’ll get a stamp in your IBD passport when you do! (BTW, you’ve… like… joined our book club, right? 👁👄👁)
All right, one more juicy scoop up top before we really get going: We pulled together a roundup of things we’re loving this month, and we thought we’d feature this li’l series here at the end of every month. Think of it like a Richmond-y LIKEtoKNOW.it kinda thing. Kicking things off, startiiing now:
THINGS WE’RE *WAY* LOVING THIS MONTH
Sam:
Baking Up a Storm by local author Jessica Parham: April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, and as an honorary auntie of a sweet boy with a limb difference, I love Baking Up a Storm as a fun and whimsical way to learn about and celebrate that. The main character has a lucky fin!
The lavender latte (hot or iced!) from Sefton Coffee Co: Their house-made lavender syrup has the perfect balance of floral notes and sweetness without being overpowering.
2021 Closilo Sandland Colombard at Jardin: I do not love all the springtime pollen, but I am a big fan of this wine by the glass, described as having tasting notes of "fresh-cut grass." I was tempted to steer clear with my out-of-control allergies, but I'm glad I gave it a shot; it was the most refreshing little number to enjoy on the patio in the sunshine.
Paige:
The Jardin patio, in gen: Sam just mentioned it, and Kelsey and I hung there after our book club meeting last week, so it’s worth another shout-out. The openness, the mood lighting, the overall dreamy ambiance? Definitely put it on your spring, summer, and fall bucket lists for a visit.
CHOMP by Nightingale ice cream sammies: These have been my go-to dessert recently. Smaller than Nightingale’s full-size sammies but just as delicious. (Scroll to that Weekly Giveaway section for a chance to get a taste yourself. 😉)
VA Harvest CBD: Highly recommend their peppermint hemp CBD, in particular. My sleep has definitely improved as I’ve used it this month.
Kelsey:
AMR Mobile Detailing: LOOK, I’m willing to put myself on blast, if it means you’re introduced to another amazing local biz, okay?? This was my car before and after I met Antonio Ripley of AMR Mobile Detailing last summer. And he’s on my to-book list again this month, because, well, this pollen just won’t quit. And because my toddler uses fruit pouches and squirt guns interchangeably. (But if you’re looking for less detailing and more washing, we’re all also loving the new Tommy’s Express Car Wash location.)
A pint of Cafe du Valkyrie from Spotty Dog: Coffee ice cream with notes of orange, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. You’ll (hopefully often) catch this flavor at their parlor when it opens this summer, but in the meantime, I got my fix this month with an online order.
The glow-in-the-dark butterfly magnets from Fountain Bookstore: They’re beautiful and festive, and I bought two when I started my IBD passport “travels” at the start of this month. But I may have to go back for more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Sunny; high of 66°, low of 38°
Thursday: Sunny; high of 64°, low of 39°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 67°, low of 42°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6 - 7:30 pm: Special Focus Tour: Dining with Shakespeare
Thursday, 2 - 8 pm: Liza Pruitt Spring Art Show
Friday, 5:30 - 8 pm: Brambly Park Live
CITY GUIDES
2. YOUR GUIDE TO RVA HAPPY HOUR, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
3. A WEEKEND TRIP TO THE NORTHERN NECK: WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, SEE & DO
RICHMONDER(S) TO KNOW
Kennedy George and Ava Holloway: Recently honored in Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40,” Kennedy George and Ava Holloway “were the two ballerinas photographed gracefully standing en pointe in front of the graffiti-covered Robert E. Lee statue on June 5, 2020, while protests still rocked Richmond.” The two impressive, young women are also the co-founders and CEOs of Brown Ballerinas for Change.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including Mother’s Day plans, lesbian trivia night, a new mural in Northside, and more.
THE LATEST:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Pop some confetti for Mother’s Day: V adorable Carytown gift shop Pop of Confetti is hosting a free Mother’s Day event on Sunday, May 8. Grab Mom and enjoy a day of cupcakes, champagne, shopping, and more. Can't make it? Use code POPMOM for $10 off orders of $100 or more online. (Instagram)
In need of a date night?: 50 First Dates is back in May to host you single-and-ready-to-mingle Richmonders for some speed dating. The event is age-specific, catered toward folks in the 23-to-30 demo, and it happens on Tuesday, May 24. Tickets went live earlier this week, but if you’re still undecided, you can grab one at the door for $15. (Instagram)
NOW we’re cookin’: Kitchen Classroom, a hands-on cooking school on Broad St, is set to debut early next month. “I really like the hands-on approach; I want people to learn how to cook and to offer more than an entertainment experience. Cooking is also great for your health and mental well-being, and there’s some loss in those passed-on cooking skills from my grandparents' generation to this generation,” said Warren Haskell, the concept’s creator. (Richmond magazine)
She drives me quizzy: Dyke Hang RVA – planning fun events and casual hangs for the lesbian community in Richmond – is hosting a lesbian trivia night this Saturday, April 30. And The Richmond Experience’s very own Alex Smith-Scales is emcee-ing! Whether you’re celebrating Lesbian Visibility Week or just looking for a fun night out, this is the way to go. (Instagram)
TACOS & TABLEAUS
Taco ‘bout good news: The Fan’s TBT El Gallo has plans for a second location in Willow Lawn. The spot will take over the former Pie Five Pizza Co. setup in the shopping center. “The menu will include items for which the restaurant gets the TBT part of its name: tacos, burritos, and tortas. El gallo means ‘the rooster’ in Spanish and is a reference to a nickname [Carlos] Ordaz-Nunez got as a kid after a bad haircut.” (Richmond BizSense)
Allow us to paint a picture for you: Sheppard Street Gallery is set to open soon. Owner Justin Ingram – a talented, Richmond-based abstract portrait artist himself – plans to showcase his own art in addition to providing a space for other artists and creatives to feature their work. As he told us, “I know how expensive it can be for artists to have their pieces in galleries [and] because I have the privilege of other sources of income, I would like to allow other artists, especially those in BIPOC communities, to use the space for small shows or just a table in a reputable gallery to sell their art.” Justin has also leased the gallery’s basement, which has been set up with a small recording studio and which he hopes to use to host local musicians or podcasters. Sheppard Street Gallery currently plans to feature visual artists Julian Greene, Coury Jamal, and Jenni Sexton, as well as Gritty City Records. (Instagram)
We love to see it: Artist Nico Cathcart recently put the finishing touches on a new mural in Northside, featuring Aurora Higgs – a Black, transgender activist and speaker in Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community. “[T]he colorful, vibrant piece focuses on the connections between humans and nature, as well as highlighting the beauty and strength in our differences.” (RVA Mag)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🥃The Jasper’s very own Dom Giannelli recently scored the grand prize at the regional Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience. (Instagram)
🍪Whisk debuted its newly renovated patio. (Instagram)
🐰This beautifully done film featuring Fat Rabbit has us even more excited for the bakery to open in Union Hill later this year. (Instagram)
Weekly Giveaway
CHOMP Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches
CHOMP Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches are now available at Walmart and The Fresh Market! And while we normally wouldn't promote shopping at national retailers, we felt this was a very Shark Tank-esque success story for this local husband-and-wife duo behind these insanely delicious ice cream sammies. (Take that, Mark!) CHOMP bars are your favorite Nightingale ice cream treats but smaller (so, pay us no mind when you see we've got one in each hand).
To celebrate their success, we’re giving away a CHOMP 4-Pack Coupon Book, which includes 6 coupons — and each coupon is good for a free box of CHOMP 4-packs at Walmart!
To enter to win: Tell us your favorite ~ice~breaker question!
Last week: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Sarah W., for winning our RVA Coffee Stain giveaway! (And pssst, Ashley W: You won the Less Than giveaway from Ed 202, but we haven’t heard from you. 👀Send us an email here today to snag your prize, or we gotta share the love with another member, girl!)
Member Perks
Scents of Serenity Organic Spa
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so consider this your reminder to get that gift-shopping done, if you haven’t already. We just featured Scents of Serenity Organic Spa in our Mother’s Day Gift Guide and for good reason. The spot has been voted one of the best day spas in Richmond, VA, eight years in a row by Virginia Living readers.
Members of The Richmond Experience receive the following perks:
First-time clients receive a complimentary aromatherapy enhancement with any massage (a $20 value). Use code TREAROMA.
Receive a free skincare gift when booking your first hydrafacial (a $30 value). Use code TRESCG.
Receive a free gift bag with Eminence Organic apricot body oil when signing up for Scents of Serenity’s Exclusive Organic Experience membership (a $55 value). Use code TREEOE.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 28 new members this week: Linda S., Alexis C., Spencer Z., Mike B., Sarah H., Consuelo A., Zhue A., Erin I., Mary S., Seward P., Kathy F., Heba E., Ellen R., Ronnie Y., Angela M., Jenna B., Rachel M., Victoria A., Molly S., Kendall W., Donald P., Carley H., Alyssa C., Elizabeth B., Charlotte O., Ellen C., Melissa M., and Stephanie O., 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 204 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- The Richmond Experience
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