Ed 222: Brunch, Surfing, Tapas
Happy almost-September, Insiders!👋
It’s hard for us to think about anything other than Taylor Swift’s new album announcement, too, but we’re gonna try, okay?
A long holiday weekend is near, and we’re excited for all the fun happenings ahead. And speaking of fun happenings, did you see our new City Guide covering the dozens of things you can do through the Richmond Public Library? We still can’t get over it; the Libby app, the Master Gardener help desk, the Innovation & Memory Labs? Who knew?!
By the by, you’re joining us for our book club meeting tonight, right? Like, you’ve joined our book club to begin with, right?? Evelyn Hugo is a QUEEN; come gab with us about her!
… All right, that’s the best we can do. Midnights is out in 51 days, people — it’s almost all we can think about rn.
Almost.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a very exciting Sprezza update, an end-of-summer block party to attend, where to get your first pumpkin beer of the fall season, and more.
THINGS WE’RE *WAY* LOVING THIS MONTH
It’s the end of another month, so here’s the low-down on a few of our favorite things for August!
Paige:
Shopping at K|LA: Earlier this month, I visited K|LA Boutique to shop for an upcoming trip, and I can’t stop gushing over their stunning selection of clothing but also the personalized shopping experience! Next time you’re shopping for an event, check out K|LA for some stylish finds and excellent customer service.
Juan’s Rooftop & Cantina: I recently checked out Juan’s for dinner, and I’m still thinking about their Skinny Marg and Guac Kart. I might have to make a reservation to head back this week.
Kelsey:
LittleGhosttCo: Last weekend, Pizza Bones and Together Vintage hosted a night market, where I found LittleGhosttCo — a local artist who illustrates vintage Halloween girls and more. I scooped up this piece, and my eyes have been little cartoon hearts ever since.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Sunny; high of 89°, low of 63°
Thursday: Sunny; high of 89°, low of 64°
Friday: Mostly sunny; high of 90°, low of 66°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6 - 7 pm: RVAx Book Club: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Thursday, 6:30 - 7:30 pm: Yoga in the Park
Friday, 5 - 9 pm: RVA First Fridays
CITY GUIDES
1. YOUR GUIDE TO LABOR DAY WEEKEND IN RICHMOND
2. THE ULTIMATE RVA RESTAURANT GUIDE
3. DOZENS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO THROUGH THE RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Susan Robertson: She’s a Board Member and the Chair of the Projects Committee at Capital Trees, a non-profit org that works to create “environmentally responsible and pleasing places for others to engage with our natural environment as outdoor classrooms, meeting places, and play spaces.” Susan helped found the group, having been with it since its beginnings as “a joint project of the four Richmond Garden Club of Virginia clubs.”
THE LATEST:
COMING UP
When’s brunch?: Sometime in the next few weeks, if you’re going to The Nest Brunch Café! The new spot from the owner of El Pope Latin American Cuisine plans to open in the Fan soon, serving a menu of American classic brunch favorites. Think along the lines of chicken and waffles, French toast, and burgers. (Richmond BizSense)
Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card: And if you haven’t already, you may as well get one for the Library of Virginia. The beloved home to stacks and stacks of fine print is joining forces with another beloved spot — Can Can Brasserie. “The Library of Virginia recently announced a partnership with popular Carytown restaurant Can Can Brasserie to open a Parisian-style bistro and bakery in the lobby of the Library on Monday, September 19.” By the way, if you’re looking for other ways to enjoy our local book havens, we’ve got a new City Guide for that. (Style Weekly)
Putting down some roots in Carytown: Bontanya, a European-inspired restaurant, plans to open as early as next month. The new eatery “promises an upscale vision of tapas; decor punctuated with leafy plants and vivid shades of green; and an intimate, moody setting.” The official menu is yet to be determined, but the owners say we can expect “pasta and paella, draft cocktails, and a focus on simplicity.” (Richmond magazine)
Pumpkin beer is on the horizon: Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop is ringing in the autumnal vibes with its Fall Fest from Thursday, September 15, through Sunday, September 18. Stop by the Scott’s Addition brewery for new fall beer releases (and take-home, limited edition steins while supplies last), fresh merch, food-truck eats, fun fall activities, and live music. (Starr Hill Brewery)
COMING SOON
Block party szn continues: Summer isn’t technically over until September 22, so until then, we’ve still got outdoor parties to attend. Lucky for us, the Soul Vegan Block Party falls on Saturday, September 10, rounding out the season with an afternoon of food, speakers, cooking demos, music, and dancing. The event aims to “introduce and promote a healthy and ethically conscious plant-based lifestyle in a positive environment to all people regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation with a focus on uplifting communities of color.” That’s as good a reason as any to celebrate, we’d say. (Soul Vegan Block Party)
*Al bacio*: This news made our week; Sprezza is opening a storefront this fall! The Richmond favorite, famous for its drool-worthy Italian cuisine, announced on Monday that it has plans to go full brick-and-mortar in the coming months. Look for the spot in Shockoe Slip later this year, and in the meantime, continue to enjoy its pop-ups, and probably definitely order the lasagna when you do. (Instagram)
We lake the sound of this: Chesterfield County is set to get a mixed-use development, The Lake. The project plans include a 6-acre surf pool; a 13-acre recreational lake; 1,190 residential units; 150,000 square feet of retail space; and 100,000 square feet of office space. To boot, “the development’s entertainment component is planned to include an amphitheater that would hold 40-plus free concerts a year.” (Richmond BizSense)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
❤️️The Meredith Haga Foundation is hosting an event at The Grill tomorrow, September 1. Meredith Haga was a kidney recipient who went on to work in the organ donation world. After her passing in 2018, this foundation was created in her memory to help those who are going through the living organ donation process to offset the expenses for the living donor and the recipient, to offer academic assistance to a student who has a direct connection with organ donation, and to aid in community outreach projects that educate on the importance of signing up to be an organ donor. (The Meredith Haga Foundation)
🎄Hardywood Park Craft Brewery has released the line-up for their 2022 Gingerbread Stout Complete Set, and online pre-purchase sales start Monday, September 12. (Hardywood)
Weekly Giveaway
Erma Jean
Sure, we’ll be sad to see summertime in the rear-view mirror, but something that’s keeping our spirits high is a seasonal closet refresh. And we’ve been swooning over Erma Jean’s new styles for fall (hello, this Cara Shacket in sage green!).
This week, we’re giving away a $50 gift card to Erma Jean.
To enter, tell us: What was the first music video played on MTV?
Last week: Congratulations to last week’s winners, Elizabeth O., Elizabeth P., and Laura L., for winning our Kathleen Reid giveaway!
Member Perks
Erma Jean
Don’t want to wait for the giveaway winner reveal? We’ve got a perk for that.
Members of The Richmond Experience get 10% off your entire order with code RVAX.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 34 new members this week: Kristen F., John D., Annabelle S., Catherine K., Hannah H., Amy D., Nagisa M., Crystal W., Jessica C., Amina H., Katie Y., Matthew T., Tracey T., Beth S., Lexie H., Helen H., Jamie A., Lauren L., Hannah H., Kellie M., Suzanne T., Lara L., Matthew D., Anita H., Kelli W., Peter S., Michele M., Olivia F., Brittany B., Patrick W., Angela S., Elizabeth M., Jessica G., and Alex C., 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 222 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- The Richmond Experience
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