Ed 234: Christmas Tree Farms, Cheese Shop, Juice Bar
Hey, folks!👋
So, the factory reset? How did it go? Feeling refreshed, well-fed, and ready for the next round of holiday prep and partying? Yes, yes, and maybe-yes?
Well, we won’t keep you long up top here. We hope you enjoyed some R&R last week and getting back to business as usual this week hasn’t been too brutal for you. If you’ve got shopping on the brain, we've got a bunch of tips and tricks to help you out. If you’re just looking to have a little fun before December’s in full swing, we’ve got you covered there, too. And if you need to catch up on what happened last week and know what happens next, full steam ahead.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including local disc golf courses to check out, a punk-rock way to give back this holiday season, some New Year’s Eve plans, 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 November!
Paige:
Holiday Home Spray from Na Nin: This spray is made with a perfectly cozy, yet fresh, blend of Fraser fir, blue spruce, and forest pine. I’ve been spraying it all around my apartment to refresh my space, making it smell like a real Christmas tree. It's the perfect scent to bring warmth and brightness to your home during the fall and winter.
Sun & Selene Love Letters Coin Necklace: My girlfriend, Holly, gifted me this necklace for my birthday with a little P and H, and I am obsessed. It’s a sweet coin necklace you can have hand-stamped with your astro, alphabet, birth flower (or a combination).
Kelsey:
Café Au Lait from Riverbend Roastery: I’m all about the seasonal flavors this time of year — from pumpkin to peppermint — but I wanted to get back to basics for a bit this month, and my fave coffee spot’s café au lait did just the trick. I ordered it with the Church Hill Blend on a cold morning recently, and it was just de-lish.
The Commonwealth Explorers Exhibition at Virginia Museum of History & Culture: This new exhibit is specifically geared toward the VMHC’s youngest visitors and even has various uniforms your little ones can play pretend in. My kiddo and I spent a solid 90 minutes or so there one rainy aft this month, and we truly couldn’t get enough. It’s all SO cute!
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 64°, low of 30°
Thursday: Sunny; high of 51°, low of 25°
Friday: Sunny; high of 55°, low of 37°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6:30 - 7:30 pm: Taylor Swift Trivia at Buskey Cider
Thursday, 5 - 8 pm: Holiday Shopping Event at 5807
Friday, 5 - 8 pm: First Fridays at VMHC
CITY GUIDES
1. EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE PARK RVA IN THE DIAMOND DISTRICT
Image: @emilywardendesigns
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Emily Warden: JMU alum, metalsmith, trained glass blower, jewelry designer, Forbes 30 Under 30 qualifier? Someone get us a fire extinguisher. We’re major fan-girls of this small biz owner’s work, and between her Black Friday sale and perusing her new space in the Fan, you’ll catch us looking very “Robin Hood’s Prince John” for the foreseeable future.
THE LATEST:
WHAT TO DO
Parade plans: The Dominion Energy Christmas Parade heads down Broad St for its 39th year this Saturday, December 3, starting at the Science Museum of Virginia and heading east. Catch a full line-up of floats, balloons, and marching bands, along with appearances from the Richmond Flying Squirrels, VCU Peppas, and, of course, Santa. The parade’s endpoint is at 7th St, but if you’re looking for a particularly fun spot to peep all the festive fun, Little Nomad is back with its Parade Party, featuring a cocoa and cider bar, popcorn machine, giveaways, and perhaps even an opp for you to check some items off your gift list for friends and fam. (Richmond Parade, Instagram)
Rockin’ [for] the Christmas tree: Punks for Presents tickets are on sale now, and the series kicks off with its first show of the giving season on Friday, December 9. The recurring holiday tradition features punk rock parody bands who put on shows all December long with ticket proceeds going toward gifts for little ones in need. (RVAHub)
What are you doing New Year’s Eve?: If you’re still trying to decide, we noticed The HofGarden and Brambly Park each started pumping up their party plans for the EOY holiday. The Hof is throwing a Masquerade Ball to ring in 2023, and your ticket to the shindig gets you two drinks, a champagne toast at midnight, a masquerade mask, photo booth opps, and hors d’oeurves. Plus, the spot will have a DJ spinning some tunes until 2 am. If you go the Brambly Park route, you’re in for a live band, à la carte food available throughout the party, and a variety of other good-time perks, depending on which ticket option you choose. (Eventbrite, Resy)
WHERE TO GO
Say, “Cheese!”: ICYMI, Truckle Cheesemongers officially opened its very own cheese shop doors earlier this month. Head to the new spot at 714 N Sheppard in Devil’s Triangle to enjoy some adult beverages, cheese boards, grilled cheeses, charcuterie, and more! “And more” as in, “Join their butter club or cheese clubs ASAP.” (Instagram)
See the light in Afton this season: About an hour(ish) up(ish) the road, Veritas Vineyards and Winery has begun a new holiday-season event, Veritas Illuminated. Through January 8, the lights show and wine tasting experience treats visitors to a GardenFest vibe paired with a variety of vino options to enjoy along with a soundtrack of Christmas music. You can also indulge in a little hot cocoa or mulled wine while you’re visiting. (Style Weekly)
Congrats are in order: Community arts space Studio Two Three recently bought the Dogtown Dance Theatre in Manchester. With plans to move into the new digs this spring, the spot’s executive director, Ashley Hawkins, is psyched for this next step in the org’s journey, as she guest wrote for Style Weekly this month. “We are so excited for a long future of providing Richmond with a space for creative experimentation, generative failing, risk taking, and building toward a dream beyond our doors.” (Style Weekly)
The juice ain’t worth the squeeze if the juice don’t look like this: As the first location in Virginia, New York-based juice bar Pure Green has plans to set up (a) shop at Carytown Exchange during the first half of next year. True to brand form, the spot will sell cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and acai and oatmeal bowls, as it rubs storefront elbows with other soon-to-open spots in the same vicinity, Torchy’s Tacos and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. In other words, we’ll take a Tropical Breeze, a Brushfire, and some White Chocolate Peppermint, plz and TY. (Richmond BizSense)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🗓Did you see this piece about the Richmond region’s new floating holidays? Don’t mind if we do! (Visit Richmond, VA)
🎳Highllly anticipated play place, The Park RVA, opens this Wednesday, November 30. (Richmond BizSense)
🎄The Bizarre Bazaar happens at the Richmond Raceway Complex this Thursday through Sunday, December 1 through December 4. (The Bizarre Bazaar)
Weekly Giveaway
The National: December Line-Up
Already knee-deep in holiday music and think you’ll need to break things up next month between rounds of A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio? Allow us to assist.
This week, we're teaming up with The National again to give away two pairs of tickets to each of these December shows:
To enter, tell us: What show would you like to see, AND when was the first New Year’s Eve ball drop?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Tucker P., for winning our Richmond Ballet giveaway!
Member Perks
Na Nin
If you’re still thinking about Paige’s mention of the Na Nin Holiday Home Spray up top and are one click away from Add[ing] to Cart, don’t forget your RVAx perk!
Members of The Richmond Experience can use code RVAX20 for 20% off online orders or mention The Richmond Experience in-store and receive 20% off purchases PLUS a free travel-size candle when you spend more than $75.
Note: Discounts cannot be applied to previously placed orders, and only one discount code can be applied per purchase.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We'd like to welcome 42 new members this week: Kwabena A., Mindy M., Kathryn S., Colleen K., Alyssa T., Maura L., Emma S., Brittany D., Emily O., Dawn K., Dominique L., Darby A., Hannah K., Julia D., Charlies L., Anar P., Michael W., Janessa V., Jenna C., Mary B., Alyssa G., Bryan V., Rebecca K., Taylor R., Maggie B., Christina L., Lisa M., Anna M., Christy M., Noah G., Paris A., Elizabeth M., Molly S., Alison C., Rich C., Decon B., Luis V., Sara K., Emily F., Alex H., Peggy L., and Leyna 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 234 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a great week!
- The Richmond Experience
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