Ed 312: Podcast Launch, The Ultimate RVA Restaurant Guide, Francine the Cat
Happy Weekly Insider Wednesday, everyone!
All right, we can’t handle another teaser. Is this thing 🎙 on?? Because we’ve got a *major* announcement that we’re officially letting you — our dear members — know first!
Power on those earbuds: THE RICHMOND EXPERIENCE IS LAUNCHING A PODCAST! 🥳
The Chatter is your dose of weekly ear candy for what to eat, drink, see, and do in Richmond, VA, right damn now! On your commute, while you work out, during your coffee break — whenever! — we're talking into your ear about everything going on in RVA, along with a tangent or five (seriously, what local bar should you visit based on your fave Taylor Swift era, anyway?).
Hosted by the leading women in front of *and* behind the scenes here at RVAx — Social Media Manager Paige Poprocky and Managing Editor Kelsey Heintz — this podcast is another aisle in our one-stop shop for all things trendy, tasty, and River City. Consider each ep a very long audio message from us to you about who or what we saw on the social scene recently when we were out taking a scroll.
And the fun doesn't stop there; to celebrate the kick-off of The Chatter, we’re throwing a launch party! Stay tuned for an invite soon to join us for an evening of eats, drinks, and entertainment (plus, lots of excited hand gestures, probs) as we get going on this new adventure 🤠
Don’t worry, we brought snacks for the trip in the meantime: If you need something to chew on, check out our first TWO episodes of The Chatter here — and anywhere else you listen to podcasts — and look for a new drop this Friday, June 21 (and every Friday after that)! ~Talk~ to you soon 💙
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a Golden State-inspired restaurant and bar, a viral TikTok, a Best of Richmond roundup, and more.
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy; high of 89°, low of 66°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 90°, low of 68°
Friday: Mostly sunny; high of 94°, low of 72°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 10 pm: JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Thursday, 5:30 - 9:30 pm: 4TH ANNUAL COZY OL’ BREWGRASS FESTIVAL
Friday, 6 - 9 pm: MOVIES IN THE OUTFIELD: CARS
CITY GUIDES
1. CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH 2024 AT THESE LOCAL EVENTS
Image Source: Alison Travis Photography
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Alison Travis: She’s the local photog behind the lens at Alison Travis Photography *and* who made us feel v ready for our close-up(s) when she recently snapped our headshots (and photos for The Chatter cover art!). Alison is so down-to-earth and easy to work with, and she was great at taking our ideas on paper and bringing them to life on film. Book a sesh with her here and keep up with her @alisontravis.photography on Insta! (PS: Don’t forget that as a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 10% off Alison Travis Photography services! Just tell her you’re a member when you book.)
THE LATEST:
Image Source: @sidi42apm
Image Source: University of Richmond
Image Source: The Poe Museum
Image Source: Kali Love
SOCIAL NEWS
Lindsey Food Group knows how to party: When you’re in the mood for a California vibe but you don’t want to endure the travel of it all, head to Kali Love. The new spot from Lindsey Food Group (Lillie Pearl, Buttermilk and Honey, and more) opened in Chesterfield Towne Center last week, and its Insta feed has us craving all kinds of beachy things. Check out the drool-worthy menu here and don’t forget to scroll all the way down and peek at the specialty cocktail options, too. Kali Love has a swoon-worthy patio and rooftop to transport you to the Golden State immediately, no matter what you order. (Instagram)
We have THE meats: Sadly, Carytown Cupcakes is closing its doors this month, but more details about what’s coming to its space next have hit the press. The Mayor Meats is moving in! The small-batch sausage co focused on offering seasonal and classic links will set up its new meat counter and restaurant in Carytown later this year. Expect a casual eatery with room for up to 30 diners and a menu of hot dogs, sausages, bratwursts, ham, and bacon. (Richmond BizSense)
There’s no shortage of Taco Tuesday options in RVA (and TG for that): ICYMI, our June edition of The Trendspotter just dropped, and one hot spot we highlighted is Cochiloco. The new taco spot in Scott’s Addition offers the classics, specials, and delish drinks to wash it all down (we’ll take a round of Cochi-Palomas, thx!). It also comes to us from the food-geniuses behind Y Tu Mamá, the restaurant inside The Veil Brewing Co.’s Forest Hill taproom. So, if you weren’t already convinced to pay a visit, that oughta help move the needle. (Richmond magazine)
Bet she’s feline herself: Style Weekly recently published its Best of Richmond roundup, and one winner in partic that caught our eyes is Francine. The Most Unlikely Richmond Icon is the shop cat at Lowe’s on Broad St and has amassed quite a fan club. If you’re a regular r/RVA reader (sleuth you there 😏), you’ve likely seen lots — and lots — of info on Francine’s warehouse whereabouts. Notes Style Weekly, she has her very own Reddit flair, and “[f]ans have shown off tattoos, selfies, and Francine-inspired wares like devotional candles.” (Style Weekly)
University of Richmond is doing its part to treat Mother Earth to some TLC: The local liberal arts college placed first in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition in the GameDay Basketball waste diversion category. The National Wildlife Federation hosts the program, and “[t]he goal of the competition is to minimize and divert waste from landfills through recycling and reduction strategies. At a UR basketball game earlier this year, the Rethink Waste team managed a small group of staff, students, and volunteers who helped sort and dispose of waste during and after the game. This resulted in 98% of the waste generated going to recycling or compost facilities instead of a landfill.” Thirty schools participated altogether, and this is the first time UR has won a category on the national level — so it’s a win in more ways than one. (RVAHub)
Things aren’t quite truckin’ along anymore: Once upon a time (late last year), there were plans in the making for a four-acre food truck lot coming to the former Innsbrook After Hours event venue. The Glades was expected to open in the fall of 2023 and boast around 20 food truck options and covered seating, but it seems those plans have petered out. Phu Nguyen, the local entrepreneur who had proposed The Glades concept, would not comment for Richmond BizSense’s story on the sitch, but Jane DuFrane, Richmond market leader for Highwoods Properties, which owns the Lake Brook site, ultimately confirmed the scrapped project. (Richmond BizSense)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🐈⬛The Poe Museum (and its Gen Z intern) is going viral on TikTok. (TikTok)
🛍PopUp RVA is expanding to Chesterfield Towne Center. (PopUp RVA)
🏞Dock Street Park is officially open for all your warm-weather enjoyment. (WRIC)
Image Source: @kelseyheintzistyping
Weekly Giveaway
Jardin
We’re in celebration mode this week, and considering that Jardin is one of our fave places to go do just that, we’re filling up your cup, too.
This week, we’re giving away a $20 gift card to the wine joint! The only champagne problem you’ll be having is choosing which bottle to start with.
To enter, tell us: What do you want to hear us talk about on The Chatter?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Kate M., for winning the BigWife’s giveaway!
Image Source: Sweet Wynns
Member Perks
Sweet Wynns
It’s going to be hot af this week, so make plans to cool down with an ice-cream-making workshop at Sweet Wynns.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get $10 off all adult workshop tickets with code RVAX!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 15 new members this week: Jessica O., John D., Lydia G., Kiara S., Danielle A., Ally Y., Cindy S., Betsy P., Meg M., Amanda D., Kathryn D., Autumn H., Natalie S., Eleni C., and Nan 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 312 of The Weekly Insider.
Chatter with you Friday, eeek!
- The Richmond Experience
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