Ed 371: Squirrels Tix, Local Music Blog, Cards & Comics
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Hey there!
We’re inside a month to the start of fall, and as much as we’re looking forward to that kind of cool-down after a long, full summer, we’re still not quite ready to let go of all things cold beer, hot dogs, baseball, and so on. Luckily, our friends at the Richmond Flying Squirrels feel the same way and invited us to invite you to a game during the final series at The Diamond. So, maybe see you at the ballpark on Wednesday, September 10, and after that, we’ll try to get on board with the apple-picking, leaf-pile-jumping, costume-making of it all?
>> To snag yourself a spot at the game, click the link here <<
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including BagelFest, rum basics, porcupette-naming, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 77°, low of 55°
Thursday: Mostly cloudy; high of 77°, low of 57°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 80°, low of 59°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: BINGO AT BINGO
Thursday, 6 - 9 pm: UNHAPPY HOUR: WIZARD OF OZ
Friday, 6 - 9 pm: FRIDAYS AT THE PAVILION
CITY GUIDES
1. YOUR 2025 FALL FESTIVAL ROUNDUP
Image Source: MEI-KA via Paradoccs Blog
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Paradoccs Blog: This music-focused blog churns out thoughtful reviews, curated playlists, and live event coverage, highlighting emerging talent through (free!) song, EP, and album write-ups while also capturing the energy of live performances. If you’re an artist, feel free to submit music or request an interview, and contribute to this discovery hub for listeners and visibility tool for creators alike. And if you’re just an all-around music fan, don’t miss the signature Great Big Playlist, which pulls together tracks based on mood and vibe, reinforcing the Paradoccs aim to foster community, exploration, and deeper engagement with music culture.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Baltik’s Bagel
Image Source: Gather & Hem
Image Source: LEGO
Image Source: Black Dog Cards & Comics
SOCIAL NEWS
We told you it was top-tier, didn’t we??: Baltik’s Bagel has been invited to represent Virginia at New York BagelFest 2025, the premier international bagel competition held, this year, November 14 through 16 at Citi Field. As one of just 25 invited bagel shops worldwide — and the newest to ever compete — Baltik’s will showcase its signature creations like the “Softie” and Bacon Rosemary Salt & Honey Crunch, along with festival-only surprises. The shop’s rapid rise has been fueled by strong community support and accolades, including winning the Golden Tomato Award for this year’s Hot Tomato Summer and being named Richmond magazine’s Best New Restaurant for 2025. Founder Yero Rudzinskas says the team is honored and excited to share Richmond’s bold, creative bagel culture on one of the world’s biggest bagel stages. (Press Release)
This is bound to be good: Online-only shop By Any Beans Necessary is opening a new storefront bookstore and café this fall! Built with reclaimed materials, the space will feature coffee, teas, and light food alongside a mix of new and used books, with a strong focus on queer lit, Richmond history, radical politics, and DIY titles. The spot will also showcase goods from local artists through a partnership with the Richmond Makers Market, with hopes to expand into selling unique, locally made household items under an “Unhinged Housewares” concept. Owner Mo Karnage envisions the store as both a marketplace and a community hub, hosting book clubs, open mics, craft nights, and other gatherings in its colorful, cozy space. (Style Weekly)
FYI: The Working Families Party (WFP) launched its Virginia chapter, the Virginia Wolf Pack, with a kickoff gathering last Saturday in our neck of the woods. The Wolf Pack aims to build grassroots political power by uniting labor leaders, community groups, and everyday Virginians to elect working-class candidates and push for policies centered on workers rather than corporate interests. Founded in New York in 1998, WFP has since expanded nationally, helping elect progressive candidates and influence policy in major cities. In Virginia, the new chapter plans to endorse and support a diverse slate of candidates who reflect the state’s multicultural working class; address urgent issues like school funding, healthcare cuts, housing affordability, and utility monopolies; and grow into a statewide party infrastructure over the next five years. (RVA Mag)
Short Pump’s moving pieces: LEGO is building its first Richmond-area store at Short Pump Town Center, taking over the former Fink’s Jewelers and Everything But Water spaces for a combined 3,700 square feet near Build-A-Bear and Victoria’s Secret. While an opening date hasn’t been announced, the store will be Virginia’s sixth Lego Store, joining locations in Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia. The expansion comes as part of the co’s larger investment in the region, which includes a 1.7-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Chesterfield and a 2-million-square-foot distribution center in Prince George. (Richmond BizSense)
Perhaps you remember Richmond magazine’s May write-up about Black Dog Cards & Comics, a new hub for comics, trading cards, and memorabilia, founded by longtime collector and Home Team Grill owner Mark Overby; the shop grew out of his massive personal collection of more than 300,000 comics. Rather than operate as a traditional storefront, Mark launched the store with a pop-up-style model, opening one weekend a month for big sales where customers can browse, buy, and even bring in their own collections, and the next one happens September 26 through 28, 11 am to 5 pm. “This month we are featuring a new comic collection, record collection, and more of the toy collection we picked up last month. Large stock of trades, comics, retired legos, and vintage baseball cards.” Save the date here! (Richmond magazine)
ICYDK, vintage clothing and streetwear shop Dames RVA has expanded into the former Carytown Burgers & Fries space next door. Owner Damien Chew reopened the renovated 1,500-square-foot restaurant space this spring, transforming it into a streetwear-focused section that connects with his original shop, which now totals nearly 3,000 square feet. The expansion allows for more inventory, additional staff, and new offerings, including older vintage clothing from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Rather than setting his sights on a new space altogether, Damien said he wanted to stay in Lakeside, which he views as an up-and-coming neighborhood; he’s excited to grow the biz there with continued community support. (Richmond BizSense)
Our friends at Music Orchard Richmond let us know they’re running a back-to-school giveaway, and we thought you might want to know, too. Here are the deets they passed along:
Win a one-of-a-kind polymer clay clown sculpture by Richmond’s own Big Top Clown Shop! This handcrafted piece (valued at $54) was custom-made to celebrate Music Orchard Richmond’s mission of bringing high-quality music education to local students. To enter, follow Music Orchard Richmond and Big Top Clown Shop on Instagram, and tag a friend who always has the best playlist. The giveaway runs through September 6, and the winner will be announced on Instagram. And the clown’s a cutie, if we do say so ourselves.
BTW, Music Orchard was founded in 2013 at William Fox Elementary by Jake Zaslav and principal Daniela Jacobs, beginning as a mentorship program pairing high school musicians with elementary students. Following early success, it expanded to Linwood Holton Elementary in 2014, doubled in size, and won a Spark RVA Award that supported mentor training and supplies. A 2015 partnership with the Richmond Symphony opened new opportunities, and by 2017 the program grew to Westover Hills Elementary, later gaining nonprofit status. Over the years, Music Orchard has provided free private lessons to more than 200 students. In 2023, under new leadership, the program rebranded as Music Orchard Richmond (MOR), expanding to include in-school instruction and after-school tuition-free lessons, while maintaining its mentorship focus through a practice partner system. (Music Orchard Richmond)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🍹Gather & Hem is pulling out the rum for the next class in its Summer Cocktail Class Series. Happening this Thursday, August 28, from 6 to 8 pm, an expert mixologist will take attendees through a curated rum tasting featuring both white and dark rums while exploring the spirit’s history, production methods, and diverse flavor profiles. (Gather & Hem)
🔠Maymont needs our help naming one of its two new porcupettes. One was already named Sandy by a generous Maymont donor, and, of the 110+ suggestions that came through for the other, Maymont has narrowed it down to five contenders. Personally, we say Barb is the clear winner. Get to voting ASAP; the polls close August 27! (Maymont)
Image Source: Capital City Painting & Powerwashing
Weekly Giveaway
Capital City Painting & Powerwashing
Don’t start setting up that 12-foot Giant Sized Skelly in the yard before you give your house a once-over. Capital City Painting & Power Washing is a top-rated painting and exterior cleaning co, with more than 30 years of experience, serving Richmond and its surrounding communities. The biz specializes in both residential and commercial services, including power washing, house washing, residential and commercial painting, deck and fence cleaning/staining, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning and guard installation, window cleaning, concrete washing and sealing, and hardscape restoration.
This week, we’re teaming up with Capital City Painting & Powerwashing to give away a professional gutter cleaning for up to 2500 square feet! Just in time for fall to do its leafy thing.
To enter, tell us: On average, how many leaves does a mature oak tree have?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winners for scoring the free REV36O intro rides!
Member Perks
RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq The World Tour 2025
The nominees are in, and the competition is fierce. This year, RuPaul's Drag Race Werq the World is taking you behind the velvet ropes of the most exclusive awards show in herstory. Get ready to walk the red carpet hosted by Jimbo as Joan Rivers. Plus sickening performances by Daya Betty as Lady Gaga, Jaida Essence Hall as Beyoncé, Jorgeous as Ariana Grande, Kim Chi as Celine Dion, and Vanessa Vanjie as Rihanna on the most important night of the year for the art of Drag.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get $40 tickets to the show, happening Tuesday, September 2, at Altria Theater! Use this link to snag yours.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 12 new members this week: Chang M., Sylvia Q., Jessica C., Elizabeth J., Brittany A., Clarissa O., Esha S., Julieta P., Erin R., Jessie P., Brett H., and Madeline L., 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 371 of The Weekly Insider.
Until next time!
- The Richmond Experience
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