Ed 377: Francine Fest, Plant-Based Tacos, African American history
Powered by Cirrus Vodka — not to jump-scare you, but holiday season is right around the corner. Book your festive event(s) here!
Hip, hip, hooray!
You’ve likely heard by now: Francine is back home safely! The fearless feline spent nearly three weeks MIA, but with the tireless efforts of @wheresfrancine, hundreds of other Richmonders, and many helpers throughout the internet and beyond, she’s made it back to her home base at the Lowe’s on Broad St.
Now, naturally, the River City’s throwing a party in her honor. Frolic over to Main Line Brewery this evening, October 8, from 5 to 10 pm for drinks, eats, raffles, live music, and, undoubtedly, lots of high fives as the city celebrates our queen’s homecoming. Ten percent of event proceeds will benefit the Richmond SPCA, and there will also be a donation drive set up for Richmond Animal Care & Control. Like, is Richmond so cute, or is Richmond SO cute??
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a shipping-container event venue, ICA’s first-ever chef residency program, a Sub Rosa update, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Partly cloudy; high of 69°, low of 52°
Thursday: Mostly sunny; high of 65°, low of 50°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 67°, low of 54°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: BINGO AT BINGO
Thursday, 5 - 8 pm: FLOWERS AFTER 5
Friday, 6:30 - 10 pm: RICHMOND FOLK FESTIVAL KICKOFF
CITY GUIDES
1. WHERE TO GET YOUR SCARE ON THIS HALLOWEEN
2. 9 WAYS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN RICHMOND (WITHOUT THE JUMP SCARE)
Image Source: @liamweis.art
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Liam Weis: Also known as Spray Paint Guy, you may or may not spot this VCU student out and about — or on social media — refreshing folks’ wardrobes by way of… well, as his moniker suggests, spray paint. Otherwise, you def will spot him at this year’s Richmond Tattoo & Arts Convention, so bring your best blank canvas (see: T-shirt) and scope him out for a chance to leave with a one-of-a-kind (and wearable!) work of art.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Sub Rosa
Image Source: Nouveau Provisions
Image Source: Black History Museum
Image Source: Conex RVA
SOCIAL NEWS
ICYM ICA’s latest update: This fall, the art museum’s Abby Moore Café will debut its first-ever chef residency program, designed to highlight Richmond’s dynamic food culture and give independent chefs a platform for creativity and community engagement. The inaugural resident is Santana Hem of Hem & Her, which offers Cambodian-inspired provisions. Santana will host a series of Sunday brunches at the café from October through March, featuring menus such as Handheld Delights and Khmer Comfort, and culminating in a Khmer Communal Tasting Menu. (Instagram)
We know lots of folks will be whey happy about this: After much anticipation, longtime vegans Milton and Rachel Rodriguez are opening Taco Vegana, a casual, counter-service, plant-based Mexican-inspired restaurant (and the city’s only vegan restaurant with a bar!) in Church Hill. Drawing inspo from Baja California’s vibe, the intimate space will offer a 10-seat bar with views into an open kitchen, decorated with a Frida Kahlo mural, aqua blue tiles, and rattan fixtures, along with large windows to the sunny outside. Look for a menu of starters like asada fries (with a seitan–mushroom mix), refried beans, cashew-based queso, nachos, and elote loco, plus street-style and specialty tacos (but of course). You’ll also find drinks like Blue Tide on the James (Blanco tequila, pineapple, lime, blue curacao, coconut cream) and Texas Sunset (hibiscus-infused tequila, triple sec, lime, agave, club soda), along with micheladas, local drafts, and wines. Things are officially up and running on Tuesday, October 14. (Richmond magazine)
It’s wine o’clock somewhere: Trevor and Kay Ferguson, owners of Nouveau Farms in Varina, originally planned to open their farm winery before launching a city tasting room, but after delays with Henrico County’s zoning and construction approvals, they first opened Nouveau Provisions on Cary St earlier this year instead. The wine lounge, described as a natural extension of the farm, offers Neapolitan-style pizzas, global desserts, and wines from around the world. Now, plans for the Varina farm winery are expected to come to fruition by next fall, as Trevor and Kay envision the space as a serene destination for wine tastings, yoga retreats, farm dinners, and community workshops. In the meantime, partnering with Virginia’s Common Wealth Crush, the duo will release their first red and white blends this October, available for purchase and in the tasting room. So if you haven’t visited already, stop by the cozy, art-filled space meant for a focus on conversation, connection, and community, and scoop a bottle or so this month. (Style Weekly)
When you’re looking for a new incredible exhibit to take in, the Black History Museum & Cultural Center has it for you. Bodies of Labor: Hands That Built a Nation is now on view through December 16 and explores the connection between labor and African American history through diverse media including drawings, sculptures, paintings, and photographs. Featured artists such as Helen Butler, Pedro Ledesma III, Jay Sharpe, Maurice Wilson, and Vashti Woods reflect on how personal experience and cultural heritage inform their work. For example, Pedro’s striking chiaroscuro portrait of historian Julian Greene Jr honors everyday laborers with reverence, while Helen’s quilt The Alchemist portrays a free Black washerwoman, embodying devotion and endurance. The presentation balances themes of struggle with hope, emphasizing creativity, history, and the enduring spirit of labor, highlighting yet another reason we’re so lucky to have access to such gorgeous and educational spaces in our area. (Richmond magazine)
We can’t wait to Conex: A new restaurant, beer garden, and art-centered event venue built largely from shipping containers is prepping to open at 900 Axtell St in Carver later this fall. Conex RVA’s nearly one-acre property, located alongside I-95, is a collab between Brandon Garner, owner of RVA Iron Gym, and Chris Farag of Southern Railway Taphouse. Originally envisioned by Chris in 2021, the project was revived when Brandon joined as a partner earlier this year. Designed as a family-friendly, art-driven space, Conex will host concerts, festivals, and seasonal attractions such as a winter ice rink inspired by New York’s Bryant Park. The venue will also feature an in-house restaurant, River City Smash Burger, food trucks, two bars, an outdoor music stage, and murals by local artists. Brandon emphasizes that Conex will reflect Richmond’s creative culture rather than a corporate aesthetic. (Richmond Bizsense)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🥐As you may remember, Sub Rosa was devastated by a fire just before Thanksgiving last year, but things are looking up for the beloved East End bakery; three part-time roles are available in anticipation of an happening-soon reopening. (Instagram)
🎉Here’s just one more reminder that Richmond Folk Festival is back in town this weekend on Brown’s Island, hosting three full days of live music and lots more. (Richmond Folk Festival)
Image Source: Rest in Pieces
Weekly Giveaway
Rest in Pieces
Whether you’re in the market for a starling chick wet specimen, goat jaw bone, or anything else of the like, Richmond’s oddity shop has you covered. Rest in Pieces offers all kinds of interesting finds to enjoy during spooky season — and beyond — to have yourself a ghostly shopping spree.
This week, we’re giving away a $25 digital gift card to Rest in Pieces! For use online only.
To enter, tell us: In colonial times, what were apples called?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winners, Lauren T. and Bridgit O., for winning the King Princess giveaway!
Image Source: Ruff Canine Club
Member Perks
Ruff Canine Club
Ruff Canine Club is truly one of our favorite spots in town — we’d go even if we didn’t have pups. The social club is part bar, part dog park, and a whole lot of fluffy fun, and there are local brews and snacks for you to enjoy while your doggo and all his or her new friends run a muck.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get a one-month, one-dog free membership with Ruff Canine Club! Just email hello@ruffcanineclub.com and tell them you’re an RVAx member.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 15 new members this week: Josh W., Kristian C., Alicia L., Chloe B., Denzel B., Kristy C., Haley S., Robert R., Amy M., Katelyn B., Hannah N., Shanice R., Bailey F., Tara G., and Eric G., 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 377 of The Weekly Insider.
~Creep~ it real!
- The Richmond Experience
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