Ed 332: Holiday Pop-Ups, Engagement Rings, Padel Plant
Powered by Fall Line Kitchen & Bar — get cozy with your crew over seasonal cocktails in a festive igloo right on Broad St! Reservations are set to open here soon.
Hi there!
Thank you SO much for your feedback last week about giveaways and perks you’d like to see us feature in the coming months. Your input was perfect, and I quite literally could read through that kind of ~suggestion box~ forever. Of course, I’m still me, so I also very much appreciate when you send along ideas that are as inspired as they are kind. The holiday season has me feeling all the feels already!
While we start putting those submissions to work, make sure you refresh your memory about our current perks. I just went through and updated them all, so they’re in tip-top shape for the upcoming weeks of hustling, bustling, and taking breaks for self-caring, too. Otherwise, if you have any other ideas for how we can add value to your membership, send ‘em here. Accompanying GIFs optional but encouraged!
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including Italian dim sum, a new horse at Maymont, best moving companies, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Sunny; high of 54°, low of 33°
Thursday: Rain likely; high of 53°, low of 38°
Friday: Partly sunny; high of 57°, low of 45°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 9 am - 12 pm: VOLUNTEER WITH RICHMOND COMMUNITY TOOLBANK
Thursday, 6 - 8 pm: SPA NIGHT OUT
Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm: FAMILY NIGHT HIKE AT MAYMONT
CITY GUIDES
1. LOCAL EXPERIENCES THAT MAKE AWESOME GIFTS
Image Source: RVA Trial Lawyers
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Sharif Gray: He’s a trial lawyer serving local and veteran-owned firm Broughton Injury Law. When Sharif isn’t, say, making front-page news defending innocent citizens, he’s co-hosting his podcast, RVA Trial Lawyers, which looks to learn from, support, connect, inspire, and preserve the work of fellow trial lawyers. Get to know more about Sharif and his work here.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Birdie’s Bar & Cafe
Image Source: Nine Roses
Image Source: Padel Plant
Image Source: Maymont
SOCIAL NEWS
Subtle foreshadowing — holiday szn is gonna be lit. The city’s holiday pop-ups clearly took the Mariah-Carey-is-defrosting memo seriously, because they’re ready to rock around the Christmas tree and then some. Just-announced Noël at Beaucoup will transform the cozy cocktail and oyster bar into a Parisian winter wonderland with holiday-themed cocktails and specials every night, and in years past, Hotel Greene, Helen’s Restaurant, Island Shrimp Co., Casa del Barco, and Get Tight Lounge have all gotten in the spirit, along with these others, who’ve already officially put themselves on the docket:
Santa’s Cocktail Shop at Cirrus Vodka will feature decor galore and a new cocktail menu.
Fall Line Kitchen & Bar is getting its igloos set up.
The Evergreen at Birdie’s opened its first block of reservations this week and will open a new block every Monday. Monday itself will be totally available for walk-ins, and this year, larger parties can enjoy festive happenings in the fully decorated. Look for a new specialty cocktail menu, too.
Miracle on Cary at The Jasper will be decked out in holiday cheer and serving holiday cheer. Most seats are first come, first seated, but reservations are available, starting today, November 13, for the large-party table that seats up to 12!
Cameo Cakery Cafe is in gingerbread house mode.
The Emerald Lounge is bringing Sippin’ Santa back for its second year of festive dishes and drinks alike.
Bingo Beer Co will have its holiday tent up and decked out again.
The Black Lodge is back for a Christmas bar explosion, starting in December.
Join the club. Earlier this year, Richmond BizSense reported that local developers purchased the former hydroelectric plant at 1201 Haxall Pt, with plans to transform the area into Padel Plant, a new biz featuring a half-dozen padel courts, a few pickleball courts, and a spot for sips and snacks — and it looks like those plans are coming along nicely. Padel Plant has posted a few buzz-worthy things over on its Instagram feed recently, including a call for potential founding members to add their names to the waitlist here; 50 spots are available, and it would appear you def want to join the club. (Instagram)
You dim sum. Oro introduced a new concept, Spasso. The Italian dim sum offering focuses on good vibes and various a la carte dim-sum-style options you can choose from the cart as its wheeled through its host’s dining room. For the inaugural event on Saturday, November 9, Oro teamed up with Encounter wine at Sub Rosa. Keep an eye on the spot’s Insta for upcoming dinners and dates. (Instagram)
If you’re in the (housing) market. Forbes just released its list of best moving companies in Richmond, and in case you’ve got a move on the horizon, here are its top ten selects: Cavalier Moving, Two Men and Truck, College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, A Plus Movers LLC, Stewart Moving & Storage, Estes SureMove, My Guys Moving and Storage, Rent the Help, RVA Movers, and Heroes Moving & Storage. Not that Forbes isn’t a perfectly credible source for all things informative — but, from our personal experiences, we’d have to add Hilldrup and Moxie Movers. (Forbes)
Congrats to this class of 2024! Richmond BizSense put out its list of fastest-growing companies for its RVA 25 class of 2024. According to the pub, “The rankings were based on the highest average annual revenue growth over the past three calendar years — in this case, 2021-2023. Eligible companies must be privately held, have headquarters in the Richmond region and have been in business for at least the past three full calendar years. And companies must have had a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue in 2023.” Sitting in the top spot is AnswersNow, which offers personalized support for families dealing with autism. (Richmond BizSense)
Planning a proposal this holiday season? Our lips are sealed — but FWIW, Nine Roses just moved its place to Scott’s Addition, where it’s got even more space for its gorg showroom of bridal and engagement rings as well as other types of jewelry. Shop owners Nick and Eliza DeRosa offer by-appointment visits to interested customers who are looking to work with their small team on a custom piece or browse the pieces they have on site. (Richmond BizSense)
Image Source: Odd Bird
Weekly Giveaway
Odd Bird
Odd Bird is “all about the little things,” and it’s those little things that pack the biggest punch, especially this time of year. Gift your mom some Pattern Glasses or your kids a Koinobori or yourself something else special! And let us help with the bill.
This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Odd Bird! That just so happens to be the cost of a Poppy Candle and Incense Holder, but we won’t tell you how to spend your winnings.
To enter, tell us: Which character balloon has appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade more than any other character?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Dudley M., for winning the Fingerprint Photo Studio giveaway!
Image Source: Absurd Snacks
Member Perks
Absurd Snacks
Need some ~ridiculously good~ snacks to have in rotation this holiday season? Snag some Absurd Snacks, nut-free snack mixes made with perfectly crunchy chickpeas, fava beans, granola clusters, and dried fruit.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 25% any order at absurdsnacks.com! Use code RVAxSNACKS at checkout.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 21 new members this week: Alyssa M., Veronica H., Lydia B., Leanne F., Bob B., Kevin D., Anna D., Rana H., Kira D., Sasha S., Lauryn E., Melinda J., Taylour E., Kellie M., Jordan C., Kristin T., Alison C., Austin 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 332 of The Weekly Insider.
Have a wonderful week!
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Fall Line Kitchen & Bar for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
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