Ed 272: Spooky Bakery, Rose Garden Concert, Indie Plant Shop
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Hey there, Sam checking in!
Last week, while Paige was soaking up the sun on a beach getaway, I held down the fort on Instagram. Now that Kelsey is out living her West Coast dream, I’m dropping in your Inbox to keep you up-to-date with all the week’s happenings!
Before we dive into the juicy details, I’m embracing my zen (and sober!) vibes these days, so I wanted to share a little gem with you: "9 Questions to Help You Identify Your Core Values." I found this exercise super insightful and a great way to get clear on what matters most to me right now. I first came across it on a sober-curious podcast, but whether or not that’s your thing, knowing your values can be pretty enlightening. Hope you find it as useful as I did!
Scroll down to catch up on RVA’s latest social happenings, including a new food truck park, a concert in the rose garden, a fabulous new winery, the city’s best crab rangoons, and so much more.
(Oh, and a special shoutout to my dad—thanks for being our number one fan and reading the newsletter every week!)
Wednesday: Sun and clouds; high of 87°, low of 64°
Thursday: Mostly cloudy; high of 78°, low of 60°
Friday: Sunshine; high of 83°, low of 58°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 5:45 - 8:45 pm: HARDYWOOD 804 RUN CLUB WEDNESDAYS
Thursday, 5 - 7 pm: EATS & SWEETS AT LIBBIE LAKE
Friday, 6 - 8 pm: DJ GHOTZ AT HOFHEIMER BUILDING
CITY GUIDES
1. WHERE TO CATCH LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEK
2. 4 ROMANTIC, NEARBY GETAWAYS TO TAKE WITH YOUR S/O
3. YOUR GUIDE TO RVA HAPPY HOUR, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
THE LATEST:
SOCIAL NEWS
South’s Best New Restaurants of 2023: Southern Living Magazine just dropped their list of the South’s 25 Best New Restaurants highlighted for their “food, service, hospitality, and how the restaurant supports and treats its staff and the wider community.” And guess what? Kismet Modern Indian topped the list! With rave reviews highlighting their D.C. classics and a dash of artistic flair in their new dishes, it’s no wonder they’re turning heads. If you’re into delicious food and stellar service, this spot’s definitely worth a visit. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Calling All Plant Nerds: If your love for plants is stronger than your knack for keeping them alive, you’ll want to check out Shades of Moss. This new black-owned gem at the corner of Shields and Cary (where Blossom used to be) doubles as a plant paradise and indie record store. They’ve got everything from vibrant potted designs to handcrafted teas and candles. So, if you’ve managed to kill a few plants in your time, don’t fret—Shades of Moss is the perfect place to start fresh and finally become that plant parent you’ve always dreamed of. (Axios Richmond)
Sweet News for Halloween Fans: Heartbroken over Anthony’s On The Hill closing? We’ve got something to lift your spirits: Honey Baked Bee is opening this Saturday, September 2! This delightful bakery brings together Virginia honey with a sprinkle of Halloween magic for a sweet treat that’s sure to charm. (Richmond Mag)
Making a (Potential) Comeback: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is reviving its legendary concert series, Groovin’ in the Garden, and it's going to be a floral fantasia. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 12, when the indie-rock maestro Gregory Alan Isakov will serenade you in the Cochrane Rose Garden. And because this is Richmond, Broadberry Entertainment Group—those magic makers behind The Broadberry, Richmond Music Hall, and Brown’s Island—is curating the event. Tickets start at just $47.99. Picture this: the smell of roses, the sound of indie tunes, and you, in pure bliss. Sounds dreamy, right?
Sip, Sip, Hooray!: Wine lovers, rejoice! When a prime spot opened up next to Outpost Richmond, the trio behind Gramophone saw an opportunity to blend their passions for wine and music into one harmonious venture. This new winery and wine bar, dreamt up by a local bartender, an attorney, and a wine enthusiast, is set to pour happiness by the glass or bottle. According to Richmond Mag’s Eileen Mellon, they’re blending, bottling, and branding on-site, with plans to add live music soon. Swing by for a glass, catch some local food pop-ups, and toast to new beginnings. Cheers to good times and even better wine! (Richmond Mag)
West Enders, Get Ready to Feast: Grab those stretchy pants and prepare for a delicious autumn! If you’re near Innsbrook, mark your calendar for mid-September when “The Glades,” a sprawling 4-acre food truck park, rolls into town. With around 20 food trucks serving up everything from savory to sweet, you’ll want to come hungry. And the hours? They’re practically made for food lovers—opening as early as 8 a.m. on weekdays and staying open until 10 p.m. daily. So whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or late-night cravings, The Glades has got you covered. (BizSense)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🥠 Richmond Rangoon Rampage is a real thing, and you can read all about the incredible rangoons that brought one local Richmonder to (happy) tears right here. (Good Morning RVA)
🌳 The 12th Annual Hike For Kids fundraiser for Blue Sky Fund is happening on Saturday, October 21! Register now to choose from a three, eight, or 14-mile hike and make a difference for a great cause.
Weekly Giveaway
Virginia Spirits Expo
At the Virginia Spirits Expo, you can see, taste, and smell more than 150 of Virginia's best award-winning spirits all in one place! At entry, you'll receive a sampling glass along with the full list of participating distilleries and the locally crafted spirits available to sample. All-access sampling is included in your ticket price! Custom cocktails and bottles to bring home are also available for purchase.
Date: Saturday, September 9
Time: 11 am - 5 pm
Location: The Park RVA (Outdoors)
Tickets: $65 general admission (non-drinkers and VIP tix also available) Save $10 when you buy your tickets in advance!
This week, we’re giving away two tickets to the expo! To enter, tell us: Would you rather sip gin with Ryan Reynolds or shoot tequila with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Kelsey H., for winning the Holy Chic + Co. giveaway!
Member Perks
RVAX Monthly Book Club
For the bookish members of The Richmond Experience, we invite you to join our members-only book club! Our group meets monthly, usually on a Wednesday or Thursday evening. The venue rotates, and we try to enjoy a patio whenever the weather allows! At the end of each meeting, we ask members to make a few book recommendations. We also peek at a few well-known book clubs to see what’s trending. Then, we send out a poll, and the book with the most votes is the book we read for the following month.
This month, we're reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Our meeting will be at Cirrus Vodka on Wednesday, September 13. Drinks will be available for purchase. Join here!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 20 new members this week: Claire H., Karly H., Steve V., Shavonne H., Matthew K., Courtney O., Wade D., Alero O., Mette S., Maureen H., Bayan G., Tyler S., Mary D., Hayley M., Travis W., Felicia O., Riley C., Ashley L., Scott G., and Heriberto 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 272 of The Weekly Insider.
Stay cool,
- The Richmond Experience
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