Ed 263: Best Burgers, Dolly Parton, Jamwiches
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Featured Insta Image of the Week by: @kelseyheintzistyping | Muralist: @grandbuffetstudios | Mural: 1117 W Leigh St
Hi!
How cutie is that mural above?! I drive by it all the time, and on the way back from a recent grocery (see: Nate’s Bagels) run, my littlest little one fell asleep in the backseat, so I decided to take the long way home and snap a few up-close pics. The celestialness, the pops of color — it’s just so perfect.
And while we’re on the topic of things I love, we’ve got another roundup of the RVAx team’s favorite things for the month, along with a whole bunch of news you need to know. There may have been a pink paint shortage in recent weeks, but there’s absolutely no shortage of things to see and do in the River City.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including some sad shuffleboard news, free books for kids, a highly-anticipated taco spot coming to town, and more.
THINGS WE’RE *WAY* LOVING THIS MONTH
Paige:
Disco Ball Earrings from Pop of Confetti: I swung by Pop of Confetti to grab a pair of disco ball earrings to round out my outfit for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. If you need super-cute and festive earrings, colorful gifts, or whimsical accessories for your own summer plans, definitely stop by this cute shop!
Piña Colada from The Emerald Lounge: This tropical destination on Church Hill is your ticket to paradise, and the piña colada (Virago white rum, pineapple, coconut, hint of lime) is smooth, creamy, and strong — a win-win-win!
Kelsey:
Glen Allen Greenhouse: Lavender is one of my favorite flowers, and it’s in season from early June to mid-July. I popped over to nearby Glen Allen Greenhouse (formerly Lavender Fields Herb Farm!) this month and was not disappointed by its sweet-smells selections. They’ve got a little bit of everything — lavender and then some!
BellaDay Brownie Bites: My sister-in-law recently moved to the area and introduced me to BellaDay Brownie Bites. Think: a box of chocolates but brownie-style.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 86°, low of 64°
Thursday: Mostly sunny; high of 87°, low of 67°
Friday: Scattered thunderstorms; high of 86°, low of 69°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6 - 7 pm: BEATS & BREWS: TURN + STARR HILL
Thursday, 5 - 7 pm: EATS & SWEETS AT LIBBIE LAKE
Friday, 7:30 - 9:30 pm: MOVIES IN THE OUTFIELD SUMMER SERIES: WALL-E
CITY GUIDES
1. YOUR GUIDE TO FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND IN RICHMOND
2. WHERE TO CATCH FIREWORKS ON JULY 4TH
3. EXPLORE RVA WITH YOUR PARTNER & THESE 3 OUTDOORSY DAY-DATE IDEAS
Image: The READ Center
RICHMONDER(S) TO KNOW
The READ Center: This local non-profit org helps adults with low-level literacy develop basic reading, communication, math, and digital skills, so they can further thrive in society, their workplaces, and their families. By providing classroom instruction, one-to-one tutoring, and educational resources to support its students, The READ Center makes a positive impact on the health, education, job market, and more in RVA. Volunteer for or donate to the cause today!
THE LATEST:
SOCIAL NEWS
Peanut butter, mayo, applewood-smoked bacon, and American cheese, please: According to a recent report from Clever, Richmond is the best burger city in America. And to that, we say: OH, WE KNOW, BUDDY! The pub noted Beauvine Burger Concept and Boulevard Burger & Brew as the best of the best, per Clever’s scoring data, but we gotta say, Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, Cobra Burger, and Smashed RVA are our top picks for “def not to be slept on.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Make lemonade: This summer, you can host a lemonade stand at the location of your choosing to support kids fighting cancer at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Here’s some important info Anthem LemonAid passed along to us about the event:
The 23rd annual Anthem LemonAid will take place over the weekend of July 21 - 23. During the weekend event, hundreds of lemonade stands will pop up throughout the Richmond region to benefit hematology and oncology services at CHoR.
Each year, an Anthem LemonAid ambassador is selected to help promote the event, and this year’s ambassador is Kyleigh Beasley – a seven-year-old patient at CHoR who was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in the soft tissue, in June 2022.
Anyone who is interested in hosting a lemonade stand is encouraged to register now to secure a kit. Registration is free, and the kit includes lemonade mix, cups, a pitcher, and Anthem LemonAid signage. Registrants will receive an online fundraising page that can be personalized with their story and sent to friends and family to boost participation.
And by the way, if you can’t host a stand, you can always donate here! (Anthem LemonAid)
Get ready to shell out some lettuce and cabbage: We were pretty stoked when Torchy’s Tacos brought their ~damn good tacos~ (and queso!) to our neck of the woods, but there’s even more mouth-watering news giving folks something to taco ‘bout recently — Taco Bamba Taqueria is headed to Willow Lawn at the beginning of 2024! The spot has an expansive menu, including bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and Not Tacos, and according to an inside source (see: our friend from Taco-Bamba-blessed Northern Virginia), this development is a “monumental event” and “is going to be ‘virus,’ as the kids say.” We didn’t even know the kids say that! Count us in. (Instagram)
We’ll be jammed: Dayum This is My Jam announced a new endeavor last week. Haute Dayum is the “ONLY queer and trans mobile food operation” in RVA, and it hit the streets for a soft launch at Starr Hill Beer Hall & Roof Top on Saturday, June 17. The new concept on wheels serves a menu of haute dogs (plus “jups,” or jam ketchups – YUM!) and grilled jamwiches, and yes, we’re drooling already. Keep up with them on Instagram to catch their upcoming whereabouts. (Instagram)
The more you know: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has checked in to RVA. From the program’s site, “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners.” Read to Them is the City of Richmond affiliate, and the org will help provide, by mail, kid lit to participants every month, “gifting an experience that makes books exciting.” (Imagination Library RVA)
Giver City: The Richmond Experience donates a portion of each annual membership purchased to rotating non-profits every month, and we recently finalized our 2023-2024 list and wanted to share with you! Check out these awesome orgs, and learn more about how you might be able to support their causes, too. And THANK YOU for supporting us and helping us do this and do what we do.
June 2023: Beyond Boundaries
July 2023: UMFS
August 2023: Birth In Color RVA
September 2023: Equality Virginia
October 2023: VALHEN
November 2023: Tablespoon Bakery
December 2023: Safe Harbor Shelter
January 2024: Legal Aid Justice Center
February 2024: Shalom Farms
March 2024: Brown Ballerinas For Change
April 2024: Sportable
May 2024: Fetch-A-Cure
June 2024: The Doorways
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
💅Love-love this piece on Black women in business — Business Barriers: Despite challenges, Black women are breaking through. (Richmond magazine)
🍺Commercial Taphouse recently announced its imminent closure. (ABC8 News)
😭Also devastating: Tang & Biscuit closed its doors last week. (Richmond BizSense)
🍸But in *good* news, Smoke & Barrel: Kitchen & Bar is setting up shop in the former Lady N’awlins spot. (Instagram)
Image: The Valentine
Weekly Giveaway
The Valentine
Next week is America’s 247th birthday, and what better way to celebrate than delving into some history? “Located in the heart of historic downtown, The Valentine uses the complicated and nuanced history of this important region to challenge and inspire a diverse audience.”
This week, we’re giving away two tickets to the museum! BTW, this includes validated parking for the MCV Visitor Parking Deck, one-day admission to exhibition galleries, and a self-guided visit to the first floor of the historic Wickham House.
To enter, tell us: What’s your go-to order from your favorite Richmond restaurant?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Brittany O., for winning the VA Harvest giveaway!
Image: Erma Jean
Member Perks
Erma Jean
It’s impossible to pick a favorite season to shop Erma Jean — so we just shop them all 😉 This summer, the Audra Tank and Laura Shorts combo (pictured!) is making *all* our cook out/campfire/pool party visions come to life. Like, how could you not snag that? With some fun earrings? And extremely cute sandals? Don’t forget to snap a pic with your girls at the soirée!
Members of The Richmond Experience get 15% off their order with code RVAX20.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 32 new members this week: Mary Webb B., Jenna M., Ryan K., Karlyn W., Crystal H., Sarah A., Yvan D., Angela P., Emma E., Ciara L., Bridgit K., Meghan G., Madison B., Stephanie K., Megan H., Amanda C., Hartwell D., Chris E., Max P., Matt H., April P., Leslie S., Ryan B., Paige W., Thomas B., Lesley L., Haley M., Dana B., Craig P., Erica M., Kyndra B., and Jacquelyn W. 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 263 of The Weekly Insider.
Just own the night — like the Fourth of July!
- The Richmond Experience
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