Ed 223: James River Week, Taco Tuesday, Wine Tastings
Hi, everyone!👋
Did you have a nice-and-refreshing holiday weekend? We hung with friends, enjoyed some wine, and bought our first pumpkin pie of the season!
… All right, that last one was just me, Kelsey, okay? But something’s gotta give with these sweaty temps, and if pumpkin pie isn’t how to will cooler weather our way, I don’t know what is. (It’s def not, by the way. I was just hot and eating pumpkin pie on Saturday.)
But.
Fall is (somewhat) in the air, as we’ve rounded up a whole host of autumn-y things below for you to get excited about. Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including fall farmers markets, seasonal beer releases, Oktoberfest plans, and more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Afternoon showers; high of 82°, low of 65°
Thursday: Mostly cloudy; high of 80°, low of 62°
Friday: Mostly sunny; high of 82°, low of 62°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6:30 - 9 pm: HUMPDAY HA-HA'S: Isley's Open Mic Comedy
Thursday, 6 - 8:30 pm: A Taste of Italy at Home (Online)
Friday, 11:30 am - 9:30 pm: 62nd Armenian Food Festival
CITY GUIDES
1. MUSIC ROUNDUP: CONCERTS & SHOWS HAPPENING IN RICHMOND, NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Brittanny DeRaffele: She’s the brains behind one of our favorite jewelry spots in the city, Sun & Selene, where you can shop her collections of goddess-inspired pieces crafted with recycled metals and consciously sourced gemstones. In the market for some spring baubles, in partic? Oh, no prob — Sun & Selene is making an appearance at *NEW YORK FASHION WEEK* this month, accessorizing the JUNNY spring-summer 2023 collection. That oughta inspire your wardrobe quite nicely, eh? (Same; we’re geeking out over here!)
THE LATEST:
SHOP, DRINK, EAT, REPEAT
To market, to market: RVA Black Farmers Market is gearing up for a series of fall markets on September 18, October 16, and November 20, and they’ve still got openings for vendors to participate. If you or someone you know would be interested, drop a line to rvablackfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Otherwise, just make plans to get your Kathleen Kelly on this fall and visit 17th Street Market to enjoy some local eats, shopping, and more. (Instagram)
Taco Tuesdays all month long: Make Soul Taco your go-to for Taco Tuesday every week in September. The hot spot is hosting another Non-Profit Taco Tuesday every Tuesday in September and donating a portion of their proceeds to Blue Sky Fund. The org promotes youth development in the Richmond area through outdoor education, so you’ll be doing good and eating good all at once. (Soul Taco)
Full of Pride: Safe Space RVA is hosting Lakeside Pride this Friday, September 9. The event, held at the Lakeside Farmers’ Market, will celebrate rainbows, glitter, and all things fabulous with live music, 35+ local LGBTQ+ and ally vendors, food from TBT El Gallo and Sugga Mamas, and entertainment from Dollz Entertainment. And by the by, if you can’t make this one (or even if you can), Safe Space RVA is hosting its Carytown Pride on Sunday, September 25. (Instagram)
The Great (Farmhouse) Pumpkin: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery is celebrating pumpkin szn with their Farmhouse Pumpkin Fest. On Saturday, September 17, make your way to the brewer’s Ownby Ln location for a full day of live music; good eats from their pizza kitchen, Cheesaggedon, La Bête, and Westray’s Finest Ice Cream; and, of course, plenty of their seasonal (and classic) cold ones. They’re releasing Pappy’s Pumpkin Pie for the occasion, so plan to grab a pint of that after our orig autumnal fave, the Farmhouse Pumpkin itself. (Speaking of Hardywood, did you see Richmond Lager spotted in the hands of international K-Pop superstars from South Korea's BTS?!) (Instagram)
Hello, (almost-)autumn!: Benchtop Brewing is bringing the German celebrations to us this month. Make plans to head to their Manchester tasting room on Saturday, September 24, for Oktoberfest. They’ll be throwing down with their LUKR CZ beer tower, special brew releases (on tap and in cans), a themed food menu, Mlíko pours, and a costume competition. They’ll also be featuring their Festbier, which they brewed mid-July and have been tank conditioning ever since. (Instagram)
Lectures and libations: If you’re looking for an opportunity (or two) to learn and sip on something tasty, Triple Crossing Beer - Fulton has you covered. On Tuesday, September 20, Dr. Jack Singal, associate professor of physics at the University of Richmond and former researcher at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Stanford University, will be giving a crash course on “how the James Webb Space Telescope and other technological advances are showing us previously invisible space phenomena” at the brewpub. Then, on Tuesday, September 27, Fred Bohrer, professor of art and archaeology emeritus at Hood College, art historian, and published author is speaking on the effects of “the prominent place of monuments in cities and towns, the nature of historical memory, and how things such as race, gender, sexuality, and cultural identity are inscribed in America’s public landscape.” Tickets are 12 bucks and available in advance of each talk. (Profs and Pints)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🍷Thursday tastings are back at Second Bottle! Keep an eye on Insta for each week’s line-up. (Instagram)
🏆In more wine news, WineEnthusiast named Celladora Wines one of the best wine shops in America! (WineEnthusiast)
🥤But if you’re looking for non-alcoholic bevs, Point 5 is hosting a free wine tasting event this Saturday, September 10, featuring samples of more than 25 NA wines. (Instagram)
💦This weekend kicks off James River Week, “the culmination of many like-minded groups coming together to offer recreational, environmental, and educational activities in, on and around the James River.” (James River Association)
Weekly Giveaway
Whisk
Ready to jump-start fall and get this pumpkin-spice party started? Whisk opened its second location over the weekend, and they’ve already begun whipping up some festive treats.
This week, we’re giving away a $10 gift card to Whisk. Grab something tasty at their orig downtown location or at their new spot on Staples Mill Rd.
To enter, tell us: About how many seeds are in a medium-size pumpkin?
Last week: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Lauren L., for winning our Erma Jean giveaway!
Member Perks
Discover Richmond Tours
We know it doesn’t feel like it quite yet, but cooler weather is coming, so now’s the time to start thinking about how you want to get out and about with the crew when that sun’s not workin’ overtime on getting *your* sweat on. Maybe a Discover Richmond Tours hike is in the cards?
Members of The Richmond Experience get 10% off all public tours and scavenger hunts with code RVAxMEMBER.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 29 new members this week: Aimee F., Shelby K., Subhaan S., Michaela H., Alex S., Alexandra S., Erica M., Kiara R., Rose W., Jacquelin C., Barbra P., Grant F., Avery P., Rachel B., Kelly K., Alexis C., Victoria W., Effie S., Gabriella B., Annie W., Susan R., Luis R., Melissa S., Paula A., Elle L., Amanda D., Brayson N., Jean P., and Lucia S., 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 223 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- The Richmond Experience
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