Ed 231: Day of the Dead Celebrations, Lakeside Neighborhood Guide, Ethiopian Coffee Spot
Happy November, folks!👋
It’s officially the holiday season — can you even believe it? We’re ready to go all in, from our cozy pick for our next book club meeting to the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. But if you’re not totally ready to put the spooky stuff behind you (and while we’ve still got book club on the brain), last week, Julia R. recommended this podcast ep, which delves more into Richmond ghost stories, and Kevin H. suggested this haunting read, featuring RVA spirits in Chapter 6. (Thanks, book clubbers!)
If you are ready to move along, though, we’ve got you covered there, too. Don’t forget to vote before we chat here again next week, and keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a local chef appearing on HBO Max, a new way to order takeout, a networking group for women, and more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy; high of 69°, low of 49°
Thursday: Mostly sunny; high of 70°, low of 49°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 74°, low of 52°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 5:45 - 8 pm: Burn and Brew
Thursday, 6:30 - 10 pm: Doug E. Fresh - Alternate Routes: A Night in NYC
Friday, 4 - 9 pm: Hand/Thrown Holiday Market
CITY GUIDES
1. SEASONAL SIPS YOU NEED TO TRY NOW
Image: @nickcapturesva
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Daniel Harthausen: He’s the chef and owner of local pop-up fave Young Mother and a contestant on HBO Max’s The Big Brunch, an “eight-episode cooking competition series giv[ing] ten talented chefs the opportunity to share their stories and business dreams while vying for a life-altering $300,000 cash prize.” Peep Daniel on this ~very cool~ promo, and tune in to catch him on the first three eps streaming next Thursday, November 10.
THE LATEST:
TEQUILA, TACOS & MORE FOOD-AND-DRINK NEWS
Day(s) of the Dead: The Jasper is hosting its Bar Muertos event through the end of the week, November 5. The celebration has been going since last Tuesday, featuring Mexican food, music, and traditions. A portion of the profits will benefit Immigrant Families Together to help reunite and financially support families who have been affected by immigration law and ICE detention centers. Cocodrilo and Lolita’s are also throwing Day of the Dead celebrations. Head to the new Westhampton spot all week for a menu of drool-worthy options, and pick one menu item from each course, all for 35 bucks. And/or stop by 2929 W Cary St on Wednesday, November 2, for vibrant decor, traditional pan de muertos, and mezcal tastings. (Instagram, Instagram, Instagram)
¡Salud!: On Tuesday, November 8, Soul Taco is celebrating the official launch of its dinner service with tequila and fun eats. “Think delicious sips of tequila, interesting cocktails, interactive food stations, takeaway gifts, and just an all-around great time!” Tickets are 60 bucks each and include all food and drinks. Snag your seat here. (Instagram)
App ordering: The operators of five local restaurants (Greek Taverna, Maple Bourbon, Pho Thien Phat 2, Perlas Pizza, and Little Asia) have teamed up to co-own and co-op FoodUp — a new restaurant takeout app. The restaurants are available on the app as well, in addition to about 15 other spots, and the app’s owners plan to eventually offer delivery service through FoodUp, too. “Restaurants pay FoodUp a one-time $500 membership fee to join [and] the company is still tinkering with its fee structure for customers and is planning to introduce a flat 50 cent service fee per pickup order.” (Richmond BizSense)
Where to get your next caffeine fix: Never have we ever had enough coffee spots, and now we get to add Buna Kurs to our must-try list. The Ethiopian coffee shop opened in Jackson Ward at the end of last month, and we can’t wait to warm our hands with a cup of Joe and enjoy the cafe’s delish-sounding food items, too. “The cafe’s offerings are largely vegetarian and include injera fir fir, in which the Ethiopian fermented bread is sauteed in a spicy tomato sauce, as well as sambusa (a pastry stuffed with lentils, jalapenos and onion) and ertib (a potato sandwich).” (Richmond BizSense)
STEEL TOE BOOTS & STEEL MAGNOLIAS
One concrete step for womankind: Professional Women in Building RVA has recently ~laid a foundation~ for Richmond women looking to network within the construction industry. The local chapter of the National Association of Home Builders’ Professional Women in Building Council has registered 260 members and held a couple of sellout networking events so far, with plans to host quarterly happy hours along with other gatherings in the future. (Richmond BizSense)
Wear your T-shirt that says, “I slapped Ouiser Boudreaux”: A live production of Steel Magnolias is running through Sunday, November 13. Secure your seats at Hanover Tavern to enjoy the classic ‘80s flick in play form, featuring a talented cast of characters “whose antics in the salon will have you laughing through the tears. The ladies gossip and spar, but ultimately the strength of their bond is revealed as they stand by one another to face both the good times and bad.” (Virginia Rep)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🚆The Jefferson Hotel and Main Street Station were both mentioned in the Forbes Travel Guide of 8 US Train Trips You Should Take. (Forbes)
🥪New York Deli recently bought the former Lady N’awlins Cajun Café building. (Richmond BizSense)
☃️Holiday Movie Tuesdays kicked off at Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop this week. (Instagram)
Weekly Giveaway
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative
Have you seen Afterglow’s new Mulled Cider? Have you tasted it? We’re lovin’ it, and if you haven’t gotten a sip yet, we want to help with that.
This week, we’re giving away a $15 gift card to RVA’s first worker-owned coffee roaster and cafe. Get toasty — our treat!
To enter, tell us: What’s your favorite track on Taylor Swift’s new Midnights? It’s on repeat for us over here!
Last week: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Caroline V., for winning our Wine & Design giveaway!
Member Perks
L & M Company
Did you catch our founder and CEO’s rave review of L& M leggings in last week’s edition of the Insider? The woman can’t get enough and for good reason. They’re soft af, and they offer shaping and comfort in all the right places. IE: TTYL, Lululemon and Spanx.
Members of The Richmond Experience get 10% off your entire order at L & M Company with code RVAX.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 37 new members this week: Ashley W., Charlie D., Charlotte T., Delaney H., Mercy H., Vr D., Divya K., Lema S., Kristen B., Matthew D., A R., Amanda G., Brian H., Yasmin A., Zach E., Taryn M., Jake R., Hannah S., Linda S., Hannah A., Mackenzie S., Erica W., Shelby W., Sarah F., Michelle D., Kelly J., Krystie O., Hannah T., Madelyn S., Elizabeth M., Alexis R., Megan M., Triet V., Sydney L., Trish G., Scott A., and Noah M., 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 231 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- The Richmond Experience
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