Ed 364: Hanover Tomatoes, Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Light Therapy
Hello, hello!
Well, heat advisory szn just can’t seem to quit, but this week’s rainier forecast looks like it’ll bring the temps down a bit. And, ICYMI, two of our fave ways to keep cool during the summer just dropped:
🍅The Country Greek Salad is available at Joe’s Inn again.
🦈Jawsome is back at Gelati Celesti.
Plus, there are lots of other happenings going on around town, making it plenty worth it to refill your water bottle(s) and get out there.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a store-within-a-store, added green space, pickle appreciation, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, scattered storms; high of 91°, low of 73°
Thursday: Partly cloudy, more scattered storms; high of 91°, low of 72°
Friday: Mostly cloudy, even more scattered storms; high of 88°, low of 71°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: BINGO AT BINGO
Thursday, 7:30 - 9:30 pm: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Friday, 5 - 9 pm: HANOVER TOMATO FESTIVAL, DAY 1
CITY GUIDES
1. THE TRENDSPOTTER: JULY 2025
Image Source: ABC
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Elise Canup: She’s a senior content producer at The Martin Agency and now a veteran contestant on Jeopardy! Elise played on Tuesday night’s ep, but ICYMI, you can catch up here.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Hangry Pickle
Image Source: Ninja Kombucha
Image Source: Science Museum of Virginia
Image Source: Library of Virginia
SOCIAL NEWS
This pickles our fancy. July is National Pickle Appreciation Month, and Richmond has a rich connection to pickle history thanks to Pin Money Pickles, a nationally renowned brand founded by Ellen Kidd in the late 1800s. Ellen began making pickles as a teenager using a family recipe and, lucky for everyone everywhere, turned her passion into a global biz. Her pickles, known for their quality and variety, were sold internationally and served in hotels, restaurants, and even aboard ships and trains. After her death in 1932, the brand changed hands and eventually faded from shelves, but Ellen’s legacy lives on today as RVA continues to celebrate its pickle pride with local selects from makers like Hangry Pickles, Dayum This Is My Jam, and Wild Earth Fermentation. (Richmond magazine)
Watch out: Barrel Thief Wine & Provisions has added a new feature to its store — Booth’s Esoterica, a curated section offering vintage watches and retro wine-themed apparel. The concept was inspired by owner Booth Hardy’s passion for vintage timepieces, which began when he inherited a 1940s pilot’s watch from his grandpa. During the pandemic, his hobby evolved into a collection of mostly Seiko and Citizen watches from the 1970s and ’80s. Booth sees a natural crossover between wine and watch enthusiasts, seeing both as niche interests rooted in appreciation, history, and passion. (Richmond BizSense)
On a local icon: Fifty years after Richmond native Arthur Ashe made history as the first Black man to win Wimbledon, his legacy continues to inspire us here in his hometown. As his nephew, David Harris Jr., put it, while Arthur’s athletic achievements were historic, his greater legacy lies in his advocacy for equality and expanding access to tennis, especially for youth. That mission lives on through programs like the Richmond Tennis Association’s Rising Stars Tennis Academy, which offers free lessons to kids, including at Byrd Park. In honor of the tennis star, David continues to organize community events, like the upcoming Tennis Under the Lights series happening this month and next. (WTVR)
We’re not sour about this update: Mitchell’s Gut is a new vinegar-based line from Ninja Kombucha. Named after a section of rapids on the James River, the project focuses on Virginia apples and locally sourced ingredients, with its first product, Bertha’s Country Lane Harvest Apple Cider Vinegar now available, and more flavors planned. Made from fresh Virginia apple cider and fermented with kombucha culture for over 40 days, the drinking vinegars are produced and bottled at Ninja Kombucha’s spot in Northside and available to shop at Soul N’ Vinegar, Boketto Wellness, and online. (Richmond magazine)
Hooray for more green! The Science Museum of Virginia is moving forward with phase three of its green space initiative, with plans to transform a five-acre area along DMV Dr into an immersive public park featuring walking paths, gardens, water features, interactive art, and educational signage highlighting native Virginian plants. The East Green, as they’ll call it, is intended to feel more intimate than previous phases, incorporating existing mature trees, a children’s splash area, a vernal pool for observing rainwater runoff, and various gathering spaces. The museum has budgeted $10 mil for the project and has currently raised about half through private fundraising. (Richmond BizSense)
Here’s what the next chapter(s) at Library of Virginia hold: The renowned information station has introduced a new five-year strategic framework aiming to enhance its statewide impact and highlighting four main objectives: becoming the leading source for information on Virginia’s history and government, delivering exceptional on-site and online user experiences, strengthening civic education and engagement, and supporting Virginians through a top-tier public library network. Staff, board members, and stakeholders alike have collab’d on the framework, ensuring it aligns with LOV’s mission to preserve and provide access to Virginia’s historical and cultural records while advancing library services across the state. (WRIC)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🛒Good Foods Grocery is now open seven days a week, offering customers even more opps to access fresh produce, locally-sourced meat, dairy, and eggs, bulk goods, prepared meals, supplements, and much more. (Press Release)
🧂Gather & Hem is hosting its next installment of its Summer Cocktail Class Series — Agave & Ice: Tequila 101 — on Thursday, July 31, from 6 to 8 pm. Learn more and sign up here! (Press Release)
📖The inaugural Petersburg Book Fest, hosted by Resist Booksellers, happens Saturday, September 13. (Instagram)
Image Source: Purify
Weekly Giveaway
Purify
Add some “me” time to the cal this summer to detox, relax, and restore. With spots in Short Pump and Westhampton, Purify offers fully private infrared saunas to provide a more comfortable experience, and relieve a wider range of health concerns, than traditional saunas. As the local self-care space celebrates 10 years in biz, Purify is *also* gearing up to offer medical grade red light therapy with all sauna sessions and stand-alone red light therapy — along with its cold plunge and contrast therapy options, too.
This week, we’re teaming up with Purify to give away an infrared sauna session with red light therapy! That’s a hot deal.
To enter, tell us: When was Vogue magazine founded?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Lindsey P., for winning the Three Notch’d giveaway!
Image Source: Purify
Member Perks
Purify
Too excited to wait for the giveaway winner reveal? We’ve got a perk for that!
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 15% off all services (including memberships and packages) for infrared sauna services and cold plunge or contrast therapy. Use code PURIFYRVAX when you book!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 25 new members this week: Jhazmin T., Alicia C., Wade D., Laura S., Sydney C., Dalton S., Madden M., Gabriella M., Gina S., Czarny J., Oladebi W., Kelsea S., Monique A., Jinga K., Alisa S., Melissa H., Mazin H., Dotted Line Agency, Trent G., Christy B., Jacob B., Ian H., Jackie N., Jessica C., and Jackie N., 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 364 of The Weekly Insider.
Catch you in The Weekender!
- The Richmond Experience
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