Ed 375: Vote Equality, Free Uber Rides, Monthly Reading Event
Happy fall!
Thank you SO much for all of last week’s recs for nonprofits! We’ll work on finalizing a list for who to donate to for 2026, but in the meantime, I figured I may as well round up everyone’s suggestions here, in case you’re looking for more local orgs to support yourself. That’s what you’re here for every week, you know?? Take a look:
Atlantic Outreach Group: A community-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering individuals and families through food security, recovery support, and sober living
Beagles & Bentleys: 100% volunteer-based, dedicated to helping dogs in need find loving homes, primarily rescuing pups in Virginia and surrounding states
CARITAS: Offers individuals struggling with addiction, housing insecurity, and/or unemployment an opportunity to heal and rebuild
Comfort Zone Camp: A n501(c)(3) nonprofit bereavement organization that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver, or significant person
CultureWorks: Strengthens artists and arts and culture organizations to increase their impact in our region
Feed More: Collects, prepares, and distributes food to neighbors in need throughout Central Virginia, with comprehensive programs and a network of 380+ distribution partners dedicated to providing nourishment and hope to our neighbors facing hunger
Henrico Education Foundation: Equips students with critical thinking, problem-solving skills, resilience, and adaptability to ensure they are “LifeReady” for an ever-changing society
Little Hands Virginia: The only organization in Central Virginia solely dedicated to providing essentials to economically disadvantaged young children in the first years of their lives
Northstar: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit school for autism, other health impairments (ohi), specific learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, emotional disabilities, developmental delays and speech/language impairments
Postpartum Support Virginia: Educates families, healthcare providers, and communities about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and provides resources to help new and expectant mothers and their families overcome anxiety, depression, and other PMADs
Richmond Animal Care & Control: Serves as the only open-admission public animal shelter in the City of Richmond, providing humane care for more than 3,000 stray, sick, injured, and relinquished pets per year
Richmond Ed Fund: Powering innovation within Richmond Public Schools — funding bold, scalable ideas that ignite upward mobility
Richmond Philharmonic: Central Virginia’s premier community orchestra, committed to offering free, high-quality orchestral performances to the Greater Richmond community
Richmond SPCA: Provides education and resources to achieve and sustain a no-kill animal community
Sportable: Creates opportunities by making sports, recreation, health, and wellness accessible and inclusive for individuals with physical disabilities, visual impairments, and those requiring physical accommodations
The Well Collective: Transforms our shared well-being by creating opportunities for individuals to thrive, including healing-centered education, restorative leadership development, and community-driven engagement
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including an Italo-Balkan focacceria, good-cause cocktails, VMFA’s extended hours, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy; high of 85°, low of 69°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 82°, low of 69°
Friday: Scattered thunderstorms; high of 81°, low of 67°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: BINGO AT BINGO
Thursday, 5 - 7:30 pm: APPLES & ALES
Friday, 10 am - 9 pm: STATE FAIR OF VIRGINIA KICK-OFF
CITY GUIDES
1. THINGS WE’RE WAY LOVING RIGHT NOW: SEPTEMBER 2025
Image Source: Liza Mickens
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Liza Mickens: As the great-great-granddaughter of civil rights leader Maggie Walker, this JMU alum has embraced her family’s legacy while forging her own path. Among many accomplishments, she co-founded Vote Equality US, a nonpartisan, grassroots effort promoting equal rights for all Americans — which seems like as good a cue as any to remind you that Election Day falls on November 4 this year, and early in-person voting has begun. Get those ballots in!
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Richmond VegFest
Image Source: Negroni Week
Image Source: State Fair of Virginia
Image Source: VMFA
SOCIAL NEWS
Starting with a knead-to-know update: Morty’s Market & Deli is now open in Northside. The neighborhood spot playfully calls itself an Italo-Balkan focacceria, market, and bar, blending Italian and Balkan culinary traditions while fostering a sense of community. Inspired by the multicultural nature of the Balkans, the owners aim to create a welcoming space where neighbors can connect over food and drink, with a guiding principle of honoring shared humanity despite differences. Peep a menu of daily-made focaccia sandwiches, ranging from classic Italian to adventurous Balkan varieties, alongside meze-style small plates that mix both cuisines. Weekdays feature counter service, while evenings and weekends shift to full service, complemented by a market stocked with prepared foods, wine, beer, and pantry goods. To boot, the beverage menu offers Mediterranean spritzes, vermouth, and amari, paired with approachable wines and beers. (Instagram)
Final Frida days: ICYMI, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is extending its hours through this Sunday, September 28, for the final days of Frida: Beyond the Myth. The exhibition, VMFA Shop, Best Café, and Amuse Restaurant will all remain open until 9 pm — but the museum’s perm collection will keep regular hours. (Press Release)
Clink, clink!: Negroni Week is a yearly global celebration of the Negroni cocktail that also serves as a fundraising effort, and it’s happening again right now. Participating bars and restaurants feature classic Negronis or their own variations, helping raise awareness and funds to support Slow Food’s mission (focused on sustainable, equitable food and drink), so check out the local list here and round up the happy hour crew ASAP. (Negroni Week)
Richmond VegFest is back this weekend. ICYDK, the annual festival is dedicated to promoting plant-based and vegan lifestyles, connecting folks with local resources and businesses that support conscious choices aimed at reducing animal suffering, improving human health, and protecting the environment. Over the past 20 years, the event has grown into a major Richmond tradition, empowering the community to embrace more sustainable and compassionate living. (Richmond VegFest)
The State Fair of Virginia *also* returns this weekend, happening at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell from September 26 through October 5 and offering a mix of classic fair attractions like rides, farm animals, food, and giant vegetable competitions, along with concerts and contests in equine, horticulture, and the arts. This year’s theme is “Real Fun, Real Virginia” and highlights expanded entertainment and attractions included with admission, while also supporting the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Fund, which has awarded over $1 million to youth since 2013. (State Fair of Virginia)
Where to?: Richmonders can score free Uber rides to and from Richmond International Airport between 4 and 6 am as part of GRTC’s Zero Fare policy. Designed to make pre-dawn travel easier, jet-setters can request the service (limited to one trip per day) via the Uber app after reaching a GRTC bus stop. For those not using Uber or traveling during regular hours, free airport rides are also available on GRTC’s 7A and 7B bus routes or through the LINK microtransit service in Sandston. Originally launched in 2021 to address pandemic-related labor shortages, the on-demand Uber program once covered late-night and early-morning hours but was under-used before being refined to focus on airport trips. (Axios)
It’s not just for the winter; Flying South: A Literary Series is a free monthly reading event hosted by English teacher Ty Phelps and psychologist Jaclyn “Jack” Sadicario, who met in Church Hill and launched the series two years ago. Now held in the front room of Nest Realty’s Fan office, it adds to Richmond’s growing literary scene alongside other series and publications. Both VCU graduates, Ty and Jack bring personal creative pursuits (his recent novel, her editorial work with bedfellows) to their collab, which began at Patrick Henry’s Pub one Halloween. Their easy rapport and shared passion fuel the series, which Jack describes as both community-building and personally inspiring during her own writing lulls. (Style Weekly)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🍝Oro shared an update on the progress on its soon-to-open-in-Church-Hill restaurant space, featuring “design [that’s] rooted in natural, warm elements featuring terracotta, travertine, quartzite, red oak, natural textured walls and exposed conduit.” (Instagram)
🥤7 Brew has plans for drive-thrus in Willow Lawn and Ashland, each expected to open next year. (Richmond BizSense)
Image Source: @ciabattespugnose via Unsplash
Weekly Giveaway
EFM Waxing
Summer’s *technically* over, but the forecast isn’t quite giving fall temps, so don’t box up your lighter outfit options just yet. And if you want to keep your hair as scarce as your cozy sweaters rn, we can help.
This week, we’re teaming up with EFM Waxing to give away a free wax of your choice! (Note: This excludes a full leg wax.)
To enter, tell us: What local biz (besiiides ours 😇) have you supported recently?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Tara C., for winning the Perk! giveaway!
Image Source: EFM Waxing
Member Perks
EFM Waxing
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 50% off your first wax (excluding a full leg wax) when you mention The Richmond Experience at booking!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 9 new members this week: Dima E., Ross B., Tori P., Maryanne A., Larissa T., Amy J., Kayla K., Ellen P., and Kyra F., 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 375 of The Weekly Insider.
Cheers!
- The Richmond Experience
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
