Ed 279: Speakeasy, Breakfast Sandwiches, Home-Delivered Produce
Powered by James River Cellars Winery — celebrate Virginia Wine Month with their new vintage Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewürztraminer!
Hi, hello, hey!
As you know, we’ve been working with The West End Mom for a year(ish) now to help bring you all the things to do with kids in RVA. But make no mistake: My fangirl status didn’t disappear once I started reviewing her guides to publish on our site. In fact, every time I send her a work-related email, I have to keep myself from signing off with, “ALSO, I TRIED THIS OTHER AMAZING THING YOU RECOMMENDED!”
Like, I need to play it cool, you know? (Think she’s reading this right now?)
One of the more recent recs of hers I’ve been ~checking out~ is our area’s beautiful local libraries. Of course, my family has its regulars in rotation, but until a few weeks ago, I had never been to Fairfield Area Library (pictured up there 👆), and let me tell you WHAT: It’s as pretty as The West End Mom says it is. Complete with an Everbright, kitchen playset, cubicles with attached playpens, and many other gorgeous features, you have to add this branch to your must-visit list, if you haven’t already.
Okay, BRB; going to look more into this North Pole Express situation she just posted about. The woman never misses!
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including oysters and bowling, a Richmond Airport update, banned book nooks, and more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy; high of 73°, low of 49°
Thursday: Mostly sunny; high of 79°, low of 53°
Friday: Mostly cloudy; high of 78°, low of 58°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: BUSKEY CIDER TRIVIA
Thursday, 6 - 8 pm: GROWN-UP FIELD TRIP
Friday, Sunset - Close: GARDEN GLOW
CITY GUIDES
1. LOCAL SEASONAL SIPS YOU NEED TO TRY NOW
2. PUMPKIN SPICE, APPLE, CINNAMON & MORE — THE BEST FALL-FLAVORED FOOD IN RVA THIS YEAR
Image Source: Leafy Lanes Urban Farms
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Leafy Lanes Urban Farms: If you (like us!) are always looking for new ways to get your veggies in, Leafy Lanes might be your next big thing. Richmond mag’s recent write-up about the local food system caught our eyes, and now we’re eying those subscription options. There are no terms or upfront bulk payments due at CSA sign-up, and you can choose weekly or biweekly deliveries through the org’s online portal, which also features other local food items. Look for the Leafy Lanes line of “farm-raised” frozen pizzas at Stella’s Grocery, too!
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Rappahannock Oyster Co.
Image Source: @harrysrva
Image Source: @fatrabbitcakes
Image Source: Rosiee Thor
SOCIAL NEWS
New in town: The Hofheimer is now home to a speakeasy-inspired restaurant that opens this week — Wednesday, October 19! Harry's at Hofheimer focuses on spirited cocktails and American eats, and from the looks of it, the atmosphere is a ~vibe~. (Instagram)
Book talk: A Hanover Girl Scout of 12 years has joined the fight against banned books. Coordinating with her troop leaders, local librarians and educators, and members of Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors, her Gold Award project (the highest award a Girl Scout can earn) is Free to Read, “an effort to give access to banned books via in-person free libraries, called banned book nooks.”
Also in book news, Rosiee Thor discovered their book was challenged in a Virginia public library, and the author is frustrated — and confused. The book in question, Fire Becomes Her, is YA fiction featuring “a politically savvy teen [who] must weigh her desire to climb the social ladder against her heart in a world where magic buys votes,” says its publisher, Scholastic Press. This trend of book challenges is frustrating local librarians, too. Given tighter criteria passed down from the Virginia Department of Education (after a related bill passed last April), librarians are now combing “sometimes tens of thousands of books” to decide whether they’re within the new state standards. (WTVF, RVAHub)
Attn, jetsetters: By way of the Capital Region Airport Commission, Richmond International Airport recently received $1M in federal funds to support air service ops and expand travel to the Pacific Northwest. According to WYDaily, the grant info notes that “funding will be used for a revenue guarantee and marketing to initiate and support new service to Seattle, WA,” which, in turn, will also offer connections to Alaska, Hawaii, and western Canada.” (WYDaily)
Oyster matters to attend to: This Saturday, October 21, River City Roll is hosting its River City Shuck & Roll, “a day filled with delicious oysters, toe-tapping music, and great vibes,” all to help raise money for Chesapeake Oyster Alliance.
And while we’re on the topic, Rapphannock Oyster Co. is working on a “six-month bounce back” from a recent fire at its processing plant, which scorched the building itself, some of its dock, and a boat in the org’s fleet. The beloved oyster co is also working on a restaurant outpost at Dulles International, aiming for an April opening. (River City Roll, Richmond magazine)
Feeling Nabor-ly: Have you heard of Naborforce? The local service connects seniors with able folks in the Richmond community to assist with day-to-day tasks, like grocery shopping, getting to appointments, or house projects. Richmond magazine published a story about the company, introducing its founder and CEO and how she was inspired to offer the service after she became the primary caregiver for her mother and wanted to “restore JOY in the aging process.” (Richmond magazine)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🥓FYI, Fat Rabbit serves breakfast sandwiches on the reg now. Buttermilk biscuit, fluffy egg frittata, cheddar cheese, and bacon (if you want). (Instagram)
🦈Bombas donates a pair of socks for ever pair you buy, and Richmond Public Schools recently received 10K pairs for students in need. (X)
Image Source: Discover Richmond Tours
Weekly Giveaway
Discover Richmond Tours: 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar
We know: You’re still enjoying all the spookiness of October. But! The holidays are just around the corner, and we want to help you start checking off your gift list(s). Treat your loved one (or yourself!) to RVA this year! The 12 Days of Richmond Advent Calendar features some of Richmond’s most delish small biz-nesses — AR’s Hot Southern Honey, Café Warshafsky, and way more.
This week, we’re teaming up with Discover Richmond Tours to give away one 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar! Sleigh it ain’t so.
To enter, tell us: What’s your favorite pumpkin (or other fall seasonal) beer?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Ashley E., for winning the Richmond Symphony giveaway!
Image Source: VA Harvest
Member Perks
VA Harvest
If you’re looking for a way to boost your energy and focus in the morning, you may want to consider combining your Blanchard’s/Riverbend/local-Joe-of-choice and CBD. VA Harvest has you covered on the latter — click here for all the ways the combo can enhance your AM routine, and click here to get to shoppin’.
Members of The Richmond Experience get 15% off VA Harvest products with code RVAX15.
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SAVE THE DATE
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Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 8 new members this week: Carrie P., Rich G., Britain P., Dragan S., Casey S., Andrew C., Toni C., and Kayla J., 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 279 of The Weekly Insider.
TTFN!
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to James River Cellars Winery for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
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