Ed 331: Lingerie Shop, Holiday Din Ideas, Gingerbread House Workshops
Powered by Coco + Hazel — the event cal is ~sweet~ and stacked. Start making plans here for Santa and Grinch visits, cookie-making sessions, gingerbread house workshops, merry market happenings, and much more.
Hello!
While voting is still top of mind (have you taken a deep breath recently, BTW?), we thought we’d shift the focus to your input on ~more fun~ topics. As you know, we love hearing what small and local businesses you want to see us highlight. SO:
What kind of Weekly Giveaways do you want to see in the Insider next?
What kind of Perk Partners are you hoping we’ll work with in the coming months?
And while we’re on the topic of treating YOU to some TLC (seriously, the deep breath thing — take another one for good measure), Emily Healy of Ina•Ida Studio reached out with another giveaway to kick off your own holiday gift roundup. This week, she’s giving one lucky winner a custom pet portrait!
>> To enter, give us your Weekly Giveaway or Perk Partner idea(s) here! <<
And in the meantime, if you’re looking to snag *multiple* pet portraits this holiday season, Emily is giving you 20% off 8” x 8” custom pet portraits, now through December 15! Just tell her when you check out you’re an RVAx member.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including golfing for a good cause, where to buy crystals and incense, who started brunch service, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly sunny; high of 80°, low of 58°
Thursday: Cloudy; high of 76°, low of 61°
Friday: Partly sunny; high of 72°, low of 54°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm: FEAST FOR THE EYES: TABLE DRESSING & HERBAL CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP
Thursday, 6 - 8 pm: BOURBON & BLOOMS WITH THE FRECKLED FLOWER FARM
Friday, 7 - 9 pm: CHURCH HILL CHILLERS TOURS
CITY GUIDES
1. LOCAL SPOTS THAT WILL HELP YOU WITH THANKSGIVING DIN THIS YEAR
Image Source: @dinnerpartyrva
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Annie Barrow: We love a cute biz name over here, and Dinner Party is our latest fave. The soon-to-open wine shop in Carytown is brought to us by Annie, a certified sommelier, who plans to sell pantry items like olive oil, tinned fish, cocktail napkins, and more, along with a variety of wines at this pink-y perfect place.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Hotel Petersburg
Image Source: Richmond ToolBank
Image Source: The Dominion Club
Image Source: Neighbor
SOCIAL NEWS
We’re letting Thanksgiving have her time to shine. But we can’t lie, we’re *also* excited for other holiday happenings on the horizon. Mark your cals for the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade, happening Saturday, December 7. Richmonder Charlie Swanson, awarded a gold and a silver medal in swimming relay events during this summer’s Olympic Games, will lead the parade as grand marshal, and spectators will be able to see spirited performers, high-flying character balloons, and Santa, too. (Richmond magazine)
The perfect gift for that someone special. Black Widow Lingerie is opening in Shockoe Bottom next month. The spot will move in near to its owner’s other shop, Magdalena’s Botanica, which sells crystals and incense. Make like Buddy the Elf (lol — or, you know, whoever) and stop by to stock up on lingerie (ofc), shoes, jewelry, and adult novelty items. (Richmond BizSense)
There’s a new bookstore on the block. Abi’s Books & Brews has a (new) opening date. After drumming up excitement over the summer and quietly opening its doors here and there since then, the spot for lit, snacks, and sips will be up and running, officially, just in time for Small Business Saturday. Get excited for the space’s 2,500 titles, Bugle Call Coffee, Up All Night Bakery baked goods, a case with rotating flavors from DeLuca Gelato, and, down the road, a breakfast menu and sandwiches. (Instagram, Richmond magazine)
A little commotion for some of our Richmond friends and fans. Our inbox was on fire recently with tid-bits hot off the press. Some folks reached out to let us know about new and exciting things happening for them, and we wanted to spread the word(s) to you:
Richmond ToolBank’s ToolBOX program equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to maintain their homes, reduce energy costs, and build wealth, and it was recently awarded a $100,000 grant to do more of its amazing work for the River City community! The grant will empower 2,500 homeowners in the next two years with home maintenance education and resources, launch a mobile training center to bring workshops directly to neighborhoods, and offer a wider range of affordable workshops through a "pay-what-you-can" fee structure. (Press Release)
United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg is raising awareness, with The ALICE Experience, about local families who are asset limited, income constrained, and employed. From November 10 to 16, if you want to participate, the org encourages you to share about your experience with one or more of these experiences for a day or so that many of our neighbors experience on a regular basis — spend only $15.37 per family member on food, sleep on a couch or air mattress, cut the lights out, use public transit, and limit your access to technology. (Press Release)
The Dominion Club is hosting its annual Heritage Cares Classic on Monday, November 11. Participate in a round of golf, the pickleball mixer, or the social, or get in on a sponsorship opp — proceeds from all options support Communities in Schools Richmond and the Heritage Cares Foundation. (Press Release)
Hotel Petersburg officially opens on Thursday, December 5, and excited-to-stay guests can book their visits now. The boutique hotel features 64 guest rooms, a rooftop, The Boiler Room, and a speakeasy-esque spirits bar. The ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked things off last week. (Press Release)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🍓In Richmond, Plenty Unlimited opened the world’s first farm to grow indoor, vertically farmed berries at scale. (Plenty)
🥓Neighbor started serving brunch last weekend. (Instagram)
🇹🇭The family behind Moms Siam, My Noodle & Bar, and what once was Pik Nik is bringing Thai Boat to town early next year. (Richmond BizSense)
Image Source: Firever Pines
Weekly Giveaway
Fingerprint Photo Studio
Fingerprint Photo Studio is a wedding and portrait photography service owned and operated by Kieran Segaloff, a queer woman passionate about celebrating joy and love of all kinds and creating timeless images that capture the essence of each moment — and she’s snapping Evergreen Tree mini sessions this weekend!
This week, we’re teaming up with Fingerprint Photo Studio to give away an Evergreen Tree mini session at Firever Pines this Sunday, November 10, at 4 or 4:30 pm! Need some pics for your holiday card? This oughta do the trick.
To enter, tell us: What’re you looking forward to as the year wraps up?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Dana M., for winning the PAINT Nail Bar giveaway!
Image Source: Fingerprint Photo Studio
Member Perks
Fingerprint Photo Studio
Too excited to wait for the giveaway winner reveal? We’ve got a (new 🥳) perk for that.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 15% off any full-price service!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 14 new members this week: Mark L., Brooks B., Rebecca D., Camilla C., Mariah B., Cherie B., Allie L., Kaitlyn W., Andrea M., Whitney F., Kieran S., Rachel K., Kasie M., and Casey S., 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 331 of The Weekly Insider.
Another deep breath! Shoulders relaxed! Unclench your jaw!
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Coco + Hazel for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
