Ed 374: Twilight Fall, Women's Volleyball, Curated Sips
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I’m back!
As Paige mentioned a couple weeks ago, the latest addition to my li’l fam has officially arrived, and thus I have officially not been consistently showering for a bit now. So, like, I’m backish, I’d say.
It’s otherwise been a rough couple of weeks, news-wise, as I’m sure you’re feeling, and we’ve been trying our best to keep ourselves informed *and* keep our mental states stable over here. One way we’re doing that is researching different nonprofits in the area for our next year of monthly donations — “look for the helpers,” they say. ICYDK, a portion of every annual RVAx membership purchased goes to rotating nonprofits each month, and we’d love to know who you’d like us to consider donating to for 2026. Enter this edition’s Weekly Giveaway and let us know! And in the meantime, make sure you’re being kind to yourself and others out there.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including Welcoming Week, a play cafe, shiitake mushrooms, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Rain; high of 67°, low of 62°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 78°, low of 61°
Friday: Sunny; high of 85°, low of 62°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6:30 - 9:30 pm: PORTLAND HEARTS OF PINE AT RICHMOND KICKERS
Thursday, 5 - 8:30 pm: AUTUMN MARKET AT LAURA LEE’S
Friday, 4 - 11 pm: ST. BENEDICT OKTOBERFEST, DAY 1
CITY GUIDES
1. RVA RESOURCES TO HELP CARE FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Image Source: @prettyfedclub
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Pretty Fed: This newly launched meal-prep service helps women, especially mothers and caregivers, reclaim midday meals as a form of self-care. Founders Alleigh and Becca created the co after noticing how often women, in partic, might skip, rush, or settle for uninspired lunches while prioritizing other people or projects. Instead of snagging leftovers or a quick snack, folks can pick up curated meals three times a week in Powhatan or Short Pump, with menus that focus on balanced plates and beautiful presentation, encouraging a meaningful pause in the day.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: @thebenedictrva
Image Source: @storybarva
Image Source: Agecroft Hall & Gardens
Image Source: @stephenpoore804 via Unsplash
SOCIAL NEWS
We’re still not over it: After 40 years of memories, The Diamond hosted its final ball game on Sunday, marking the end of an era for Richmond and the region. Opened in April 1985 as a “major league park in a minor league town,” the stadium has been home to both the Braves and the Flying Squirrels and a gathering place for generations of fans who came for affordable baseball, hot dogs, and summer nights outdoors. Its opening night, attended by Hank Aaron and marked by unfinished details like unfurnished skyboxes and temporary concessions, still drew more than 12,000 excited spectators. Built quickly through regional and private cooperation, The Diamond became a cultural landmark and constant companion through decades of change. While we’ve got a new stadium to look forward to for next spring and summer, the memories of big plays, family outings, community events, and the simple joy of baseball at The Diamond will always hold a special place in our Dill-Dog-loving hearts. (RVA Mag)
To the next 100 years!: Agecroft Hall & Gardens is preparing to celebrate its hundredth anni next spring with a refreshed brand identity, including a new logo, tagline, and website. The rebranding process drew inspiration from the estate’s Tudor architecture and gardens to create a modern, recognizable logo and tagline: “Made in England. Remade in America.” The new website mirrors the updated branding with intuitive navigation and vibrant imagery from local photographers. Alongside these updates, Agecroft is highlighting its role as a nonprofit reliant on community support, with ongoing preservation needs such as roof repairs and conservation of its collection. As it leads into its centennial year, the museum will host free community events and culminate the celebrations with a 1920s-inspired party, inviting visitors to experience the beauty, history, and cultural significance of the Richmond icon for generations to come. (Press Release)
A warm welcome: Richmond is celebrating Welcoming Week 2025 through September 21, highlighting the theme “Stories We Share,” which emphasizes the common hopes, values, and dreams that connect people across different backgrounds. The city invites residents to celebrate diversity and belonging by sharing their own stories or reflections on what it means to be a welcomer or to feel welcomed; participants are encouraged to tag @rvagov and @welcomingusa to share their stories. From Church Hill to Southside, Richmond’s voices and cultures reflect resilience and joy, and this week serves as a reminder to continue building a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and included. (Instagram)
Inclusive play for every day: Wild Ones Cafe is now open in Henrico, inspired by the founder’s education, professional experience, and parenting to create the biz. With a background in psychology, early childhood education, and an MBA in business, as well as years of success in sales, she combined her skills in child development, customer relations, and business growth to bring the concept to life. As a parent of twins, she created a sensory-rich, welcoming space where children under 10 can safely learn, grow, and play, while parents connect with one another and enjoy a coffee break, meeting both children’s developmental needs and parents’ desire for community. (Wild Ones Cafe)
ICYMI, there’s a new breakfast spot for you to check out. The Benedict just opened in Carytown and offers service Tuesday through Sunday from about 8 am to 3 pm, including menu items like corn waffles, traditional eggs, lobster grits, and French toast. So far, it’s getting rave reviews for its food quality and friendly service, and with a bright and welcoming atmosphere to boot, many folks seem to love the spot’s vibe and think it’s a strong addition to Richmond’s brunch scene. (Instagram)
Pepperoni and percussion: Hot For Pizza has become the home base for the 80404 Club, a collective of local producers and beatmakers who center their music around the Roland SP-404 sampler. Founded by friends from the city’s music scene, including rapper and drummer CJ the Profit, the group began casually taking over the bar’s sound system before turning it into a biweekly showcase that now draws lively, welcoming crowds. The events feature rotating 20(ish)-minute beat sets, often mixed with spontaneous effects and heavy bass drops that spark energetic reactions from the audience. What started as an unofficial hangout has grown into a hub for Richmond’s young, hip-hop adjacent community, complete with birthday cake celebrations, pre-show listening parties, and album previews. The 80404 Club has since become part of Hot For Pizza’s culture, even soundtracking the bar’s fifth anniversary, cementing itself as a joyful and communal space for creative expression. (Style Weekly)
What to look for at your next farmers market outing: Justin and Dima Easterday, along with Justin’s brother Steffen, turned a shared passion for fungi into The Easterday Mushroom Company, officially founded in April 2024 after relocating to Richmond. What began with shiitake mushrooms in a closet has grown into a backyard operation in Sandston, where the trio cultivates more than a dozen exotic, organically grown mushroom varieties using sustainable, wood-based methods. Their crops, grown in humidified tents and prepared through a careful inoculation process, are harvested within about a month and supplied to local restaurants such as The Roosevelt and Sweet P’s. Known for specialty varieties like lion’s mane and chestnut mushrooms, the Easterdays’ products are also available to the community at Dorey Park and Birdhouse farmers markets, as well as online through the Birdhouse Farmers Market website. (Richmond magazine)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🥃StoryBar creates and serves balanced, complex drink menus that reflect what you love, celebrate the moment, and connect to who you are, and it jus soft-launched last week. (Instagram)
🏆James Madison University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech are in the running for the Barstool Sports Best College Town contest, and the winner gets massive party. (Instagram)
Image Source: @perkbonair
Weekly Giveaway
Perk! Coffee & Lunchbox
We’re all about the start of fall-flavor season, and our local cafes are already putting out their pumpkin spice and everything nice for their coffees and baked goods. Perk is going a step further and channeling Forks, Washington, with its sips like the Twilight apple spice latte, and we’re here for it.
This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Perk! Where the hell ELSE would you be, loca??
To enter, tell us: What local nonprofit do you want to see us add to our monthly donation rotation?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Brandi L., for winning the RIFF giveaway!
Image Source: VCU Tickets
Member Perks
VCU Women’s Volleyball Home Opener
You know our perks are always here to ~set~ you up with something good, and this week, we’re helping you score tix to a game at Stuart C. Siegel Center.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get two tickets for the price of one to the VCU vs. NC State women’s volleyball match happening this Saturday, September, 20! Use the link here to get yours.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 22 new members this week: Erik L., Oliver B., Catherine P., Will R., Elise B., Allison J., Maria T., Santosh V., Christie D., Amanda S., John G., Sam L., Kennedy F., Bryson S., Alixander L., Sarah R., Shannon T., Natasha P., Hallie P., Dorothy W., Carmen C., and Ashley H., 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 374 of The Weekly Insider.
See ya!
- The Richmond Experience
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