Ed 270: Cocktails & Oysters, movie Tickets, Kid-Friendly Salon
Powered by Sea Suite — do not let this summer pass you by without a sail on Richmond’s first and only BYOB tiki boat bar, Tiki Club RVA! Get a group of friends together or just grab an indi seat on a cruise for yourself.
Hi again!
I’m not going to lie to you — I’m 30% of the way through Yellowface by RF Kuang and I’m barely able to look away from it long enough to write to you here. We’re going to have to make this quick.
I know what you’re thinking: “Kelsey, aren’t you supposed to be reading the next book club pick, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver?”
And, like… Yes, probably. But I did start reading that one, too, and we’ve got plenty of time before I *actually* need to consider panic-listening to it on 2x speed instead.
The point is: Yellowface is very good, and I must get back to it. So, in the interest of me figuring out what the actual hell this Juniper Song is going to do with herself, let’s get you what you really came for.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including cooling stations, a podcast rec, Richmond on film, and more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy; high of 89°, low of 70°
Thursday: Scattered clouds and isolated thunderstorms; high of 89°, low of 72°
Friday: Mostly sunny; high of 91°, low of 66°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 5:45 - 8:45 pm: HARDYWOOD 804 RUN CLUB WEDNESDAYS
Thursday, 5 - 9 pm: FIDOS AFTER 5
Friday, 6:15 - 10:30 pm: UNDER THE TABOL II
CITY GUIDES
1. THE TRENDSPOTTER: AUGUST 2023
2. YOUR GUIDE TO HAPPY HOUR, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
3. SUMMER FUN: BEACH, LAKE & RIVER DESTINATIONS WITHIN 1.5 HOURS OF RICHMOND
Image: Tiny Textures Salon
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Regina Holden: She’s the owner and stylist behind Tiny Textures Salon, which teaches the how-tos of styling and caring for natural hair to parents who are new to it. Regina’s idea for Tiny Textures came about when she met a family who’d recently adopted two children from Haiti and had a tricky time figuring out how to go about their hair care. She went from doing the kids’ hair to teaching the adoptive parents her tips and tricks to offering her services to families all around town. And now Tiny Textures Salon has a location in Richmond and in Williamsburg!
THE LATEST:
SOCIAL NEWS
We’ll shell out a lot at this neighborhood bar: Grisette owner, Donnie Glass, and the spot’s longtime bar manager, Eli Adams, are breathing new life into the former Commercial Taphouse space. Beaucoup, a spot for cocktails and oysters, doesn’t have a set opening date yet, but it does have a vibe nailed down. Donnie told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “The joint will undeniably remain a neighborhood bar’s bar. It’s not going to be fancy, but we will remain true to the culinary ethos that we do at all of our spots — a radical commitment to local and seasonal cuisine, cooked soulfully, from scratch, by people that care.” Sounds (very) good to us. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Get a pizza this pie: Bottoms Up Pizza has plans to host a Build-Your-Own-Pizza Contest next month. Interested participants can submit their unique and delectable pizza combos, and the top three ideas (per the powers that be at Bottoms Up) will be up for a public vote to name the winner of a coveted spot on the restaurant’s menu for a limited time! A complimentary pizza tasting and profesh photoshoot to showcase the new pie also come with the prize. Keep your eyes on social media for more info in the coming weeks. (Bottoms Up Pizza)
The River City works like a charm: Richmond made the cut for the World Atlas list of the 11 most charming cities in Virginia. The pub cites the James River, proximity to DC, particularly important buildings (Virginia State Capitol, James Monroe Building, Richmond City Hall, and Central National Bank), and stunning museums (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Science Museum of Virginia, Children’s Museum of Richmond, Virginia Holocaust Museum, and Edgar Allan Poe Museum) as reasons why. And, of course, there’s The National, St. John’s Church, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Byrd Park, Monroe Park, and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. According to the Census Bureau, Virginia has 39 independent cities, so consider us flattered! (World Atlas)
Hail to the catfish: Family Secrets Restaurant has officially made its move to Lakeside. After more than 15 years on Chamberlayne Ave, the ~home of the best soul food and most attentive customer service~ opened its (new) doors and has already hosted former Washington Commanders wide receiver Santana Moss for catfish and more deliciousness. Let that be your sign to stop in and check out the new digs ASAP. (Facebook)
Fire up the Podcasts app: Deb Freeman is a finalist for the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ Digital Media Awards! The food anthropologist and writer focusing on Black culinary history (who is always cold and always hungry) created and hosts the podcast Setting the Table, which explores the stories and histories of African American cuisine and foodways. One of the eps she submitted for award consideration was Virginia: The Birthplace of Barbeque. But says Deb, “Perhaps more important than the where is the who, and American cuisine owes a debt to the intellect, ingenuity, and skill that enslaved pitmasters brought to the craft.” (Instagram)
RVA on the big and small screens: Did you know Richmond’s been the backdrop for lots of majorly popular films and TV shows? Neither did we! Dopesick, Homeland, and The Walking Dead are just a few of the big ones shot at famous spots around the city — the VMFA, Burgers and Brew, and the Jefferson Hotel make appearances all over RTD’s roundup of fun-to-know trivia. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🎶Have you heard the scuttlebutt about Rich Men North of Richmond? (NBC News)
☕️Recluse Roasting Project is moving operations to Lakeside. (Instagram)
🥵️FYI: The City of Richmond has been setting up Cooling Stations in these blazing temps, so make sure you’re keeping an eye on social media to stay updated on the latest whereabouts. (X)
🎄Richmond Ballet is now selling tix for its 2023/2024 season, including for The Nutcracker. (RVAHub)
Image: Byrd Theatre
Weekly Giveaway
Byrd Theatre
Sure, Barbenheimer was the talk of the town this summer, but have you seen what’s showing at Byrd Theatre lately? Get into your nostalgia-feels and catch The Notebook, Ice Age, Ocean's Eleven, or something else from the spot’s roundup of classics.
This week, we’re giving away a $15 gift card to the Byrd Theater!
To enter, tell us: What’s been your favorite part of this summer?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Tammy G., for winning the Bar West giveaway!
Image: Whole Heart Space
Member Perks
Whole Heart Space
Whole Heart Space caters to prenatal and postnatal women as well as yogis who are trying to get pregnant and new moms who want to fit a session in with their infants. RVAx founder and CEO, Sam Kanipe, is a big fan of Rachel’s and took her Humble Haven Yoga class — “Magical!” — every Sunday when she was pregnant with her first.
Members of The Richmond Experience can use code RVAxWHS for 10% off class packs, memberships, and workshops.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 8 new members this week: Anna P., Claire N., Ibn N., Sydney S., Keven T., Morgan H., Taryn A., and Zoe 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 270 of The Weekly Insider.
See you next Weds!
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Sea Suite for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
