Ed 361: LEGO Factory, Cocktail Classes, Pickle Fest
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Hello there!
I’ve changed up my scenery for the week and am writing this edition of the Insider to you from Carolina Beach. Have you been? It’s about a four(ish) hour drive from the city and offers quite a bit to do, from the boardwalk to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher to a quick viz to Wilmington.
Unfortunately, I’m off oysters for this (pregnant) season of my life, but I *have* enjoyed some fish tacos at Nollie’s Taco Joint so far and very well may go back for seconds if the craving strikes again. In the meantime, we’ve got some things below that you’ll be craving while I decide between another order of the Method Mahis or the Shuv-It Shrimps. (Where should I go for fish tacos when I’m back in town, BTW?)
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including Detroit-style pizza, a 12-story building in Shockoe Bottom, a nonprofit chess club, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Sunny; high of 90°, low of 74°
Thursday: Sunny; high of 92°, low of 74°
Friday: Sunny; high of 86°, low of 69°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6 - 8 pm: RICHMOND TOOLBANK PLUMBING 101
Thursday, 12 - 6 pm: JUNETEENTH IN THE PARK
Friday, 8 - 10 pm: CITY STADIUM MOVIE NIGHTS: HAPPY GILMORE
CITY GUIDES
1. CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH 2025 AT THESE LOCAL EVENTS
Image Source: New Agenda Coaching
RICHMONDER(S) TO KNOW
Amie Davies and Maria DelCorso: They’re the founders of New Agenda Coaching, an org on a mission to empower individuals with executive function challenges. Amie and Maria met in Richmond through their overlapping careers in pediatric therapy and coaching and speech pathology before deciding to start this biz together. They opened their first practice here in Richmond and have since expanded their reach to offer in-person and virtual coaching in South Carolina and California! The incredible duo works to bridge the gap between therapy and academic and career readiness for the neurodivergent and ADHD communities, ages 9 to 99.
THE LATEST:
SOCIAL NEWS
Check this out: Richmond mag recently published a write-up about RVA Pieces, a nonprofit chess club in Richmond, dedicated to growing an inclusive, citywide chess community. Led by president Spenser Kearns, the group hosts free meetups three times a week across locations like GWARbar, Home Sweet Home, and Monroe Park, depending on the season. It also holds beginner events at local breweries and monthly game nights at Gallery5 featuring other games like Settlers of Catan and Mario Kart. In the name of chess for all, RVA Pieces offers $5 biweekly tournaments at the Carytown Publix and is working to launch larger competitions. But the ultimate goal?: Make Richmond a top destination for chess players of all ages and skill levels. (Richmond magazine)
Where to score your next slice: Emmy Squared Pizza just opened a Richmond-area location in Short Pump, bringing its signature crispy-bottomed Detroit-style pizzas and award-winning Le Big Matt burger to Virginia. To celebrate, it’s hosting a grand opening party this Saturday, June 21, featuring live music, cocktail and mocktail tastings from Spirits of Alchemy, free food samples, and giveaways and raffles. Plus, the first 25 folks in line will win free pizza every month for a year. (Press Release, Instagram)
Mix and mingle: Gather & Hem is launching its Summer Cocktail Class Series, a four-part event running from June to September. Each monthly class features a themed tasting and mixology demo, where attendees sample three cocktails, enjoy one full-size drink, and receive a printed recipe card to take home. Tickets are limited to 16 guests per sesh to ensure an intimate experience, and the series kicks off on June 26 with Barrels & Bottles: Bourbon vs. Whiskey, followed by Agave & Ice: Tequila 101 on July 31, Rum Basics: Taste of the Tropics on August 28, and Herbs & Spirits, in collab with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, on September 25. Classes are held from 6 to 8:00 pm, and you can sign up for June’s (and for more info on the others) here. Plan to stay afterward to explore Gather & Hem’s new summer food menu, too! (Press Release)
On the rise: The Bakery is a newly opened 12-story luxury apartment building in Shockoe Bottom and now the tallest in the neighborhood. The project honors the site’s former occupant, Weiman’s Bakery, paying tribute to the bakery’s legacy through themed apartment floor plans (like Brioche and Macaron), a façade resembling the original storefront, and restored vintage Weiman’s Bakery signs, including an uncovered 1940s neon display glowing in the lobby. It also showcases a massive mural by local artists Ed Trask and Matt Lively, visible from 95, and Underground Railroad quilt patterns honoring the neighborhood’s past role in the slave trade. (Style Weekly)
We’d call this jarring — like, in a good way: Just a day trip north, Great Country Farms is hosting its first-ever Pickle Fest on July 6 and 7, from 10 am to 4 pm, celebrating all things pickled. The family-friendly event will feature a pickling class, pickle parade, and costume contest; farm attractions like wagon rides, a 15-acre play area, goat visits, and the Farm Ninja obstacle course; pickle toss and water balloon challenges; a blind pickle tasting competition; and more. Tickets start at 10 bucks. (Great Country Farms)
Join the (v flexible) club: The Porchlight Hours is a low-cost, community-driven gathering getting set to take place every Sunday afternoon. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own creative projects, like crocheting, sketching, journaling, mending, beading, reading, and more, and occasionally, the format might shift to include activities like book or clothing swaps or skill-sharing. There’s no sign-up fee, no weekly commitment, and no pressure to be productive; you’re just encouraged to bring whatever feels good, or simply show up empty-handed, and meet other Richmonders. Stay tuned — things appear to be happening for starters on July 6. (Instagram)
Block off some time to watch this development: LEGO recently announced a $366 mil investment to build a 2,000,000-square-foot regional distribution center in Prince George, set to open in 2027. The facility will support the company’s upcoming factory in Greater Richmond and is part of a broader strategy to locate production closer to key markets. Operated by a third-party logistics provider, the center will create 305 jobs, and the factory, also opening in 2027, will create over 1,700 jobs. (LEGO, Instagram)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🍞Petit Four and Julio’s Bagel Shop each added more hours to their schedules. (Instagram, Instagram)
🍸Cirrus Vodka now offers your favorite tasting room cocktails to go. (Instagram)
🇮🇹ICYMI, Giorno is officially open in the former Tiny Space in Church Hill, supplying day-to-day Italian goods (almost) all week long. (Instagram)
Image Source: Gelati Celesti
Weekly Giveaway
Gelati Celesti
Had a chance to read about our fave spots to cool off with a scoop? Let’s catch you up here for starters: If it’s ~heavenly handmade ice cream~ you’re craving, Gelati is a must. They’ve got the cult classics, like Just Ask (white chocolate ice cream mixed with a magical combination of frozen peanut butter and chunks of Oreos), but we’re also major fans of their seasonal offerings, like summertime scoop Jawsome (red velvet ice cream, brownie chunks, shark gummy on top).
This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Gelati Celesti! BTW: Jawsome usually comes to the surface around Shark Week, which starts July 20 this year. Just saying (and hoping for its return).
To enter, tell us: Which country consumes more ice cream per capita than any other country, with an average of 7.5 gallons per person per year?
Image Source: Richlands Dairy & Creamery
Member Perks
Richlands Dairy & Creamery
Want even more sweetness in your life? Richlands Dairy & Creamery is a third-generation, family-owned dairy located in nearby Dinwiddie and specializing in bottled milk, premium ice cream, and scheduled farm tours. To boot, for every 10 gallons of milk sold, they donate one gallon of milk to a family in need or local food bank.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get a free waffle cone with any purchase! Just tell them at checkout you’re a member.
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SAVE THE DATE
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Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 15 new members this week: Madeline H., Louis A., Carolyn F., Saipranay T., Sydney B., Taylor S., Allison M., Amber E., Sky N., Sarah P., Tyler L., Lindsay A., Cameryn M., Briana D., and Jennifer D., 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 361 of The Weekly Insider.
TTFN!
- The Richmond Experience
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