Ed 381: Donation Sites, Asian-Mexican Fusion, Neighborhood Bar
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Hey there!
I can’t lie: Most of my household is sick af right now and things are going further downhill, fast. I can practically feel whatever virus this is sneaking up behind me, so I’m going to stay VERY still and make this quick up top, in case that helps this thing side-step me altogether.
Don’t forget to get your Feed More donations over to Birdie’s this afternoon from 4 to 7. And, in the meantime, down some vitamin C for good measure. It’s getting rough out there.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a documentary-style travel web series, something new from the Giavos fam, a New York-style takeout pizza spot, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 72°, low of 48°
Thursday: Sunny; high of 62°, low of 36°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 67°, low of 56°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7:30 - 9:30 pm: KIMBERLY AKIMBO AT ALTRIA THEATER
Thursday, 6:30 - 9 pm: RIVER CITY ROLLER DERBY
Friday, 5 - 8 pm: FIRST FRIDAYS AT VMHC
CITY GUIDES
1. RICHMOND SPOTS THAT WILL HELP YOU WITH THANKSGIVING DIN THIS YEAR
Image Source: A Place of Miracles
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
A Place of Miracles: If you’re looking for a way to make an impact this holiday season, we’ve got plenty of recs to get you started, and this is one of ‘em. A Place of Miracles runs a cafe to feed hot meals to folks each week, and the org provides take-home groceries and clothes to families and individuals, too. Its own Clothes Cottage accepts clothes and other items, which are then provided, for free, to those in need. Learn how to support the cause here.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Main Street Dragon
Image Source: Dinner Party
Image Source: Ebony Walden via Style Weekly
Image Source: Art Corner
SOCIAL NEWS
When you’re craving a delish flavor fusion, look to the team behind Sushi-O in Midlothian and Main Street Dragon in the Fan who are expanding downtown with a new concept, Big Bamboo Asian Kitchen & Teq Bar. Big Bamboo will offer elevated versions of traditional Chinese and Asian dishes, with a small nod to fusion items like tacos, and will feature more than 20 varieties of tequila — along with margarita and tequila flights. The 3,800-square-foot space will include a mezzanine converted into a sports lounge, and the restaurant plans to open in December, serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. (Richmond BizSense)
Here are a few human interest stories to enjoy with your coffee: Firstly, following her sabbatical in Senegal, Richmonder Ebony Walden created Black Beyond Borders, a documentary-style travel web series celebrating Black culture, connection, and cuisine across the African diaspora. Inspired by her visit to the historic Door of No Return on Gorée Island, the series offers a personal, unpolished look at identity and belonging. Across four 15ish-minute episodes set in Dakar, Ebony explores local food, art, and community, emphasizing how cuisine tells stories of migration and resilience. Aimed at inspiring Black travelers to see themselves reflected globally, the series encourages walking, eating, listening, and participating rather than just observing. Catch the project as it launches today, November 5, on YouTube, with Ebony sharing updates at @ebony.aroundtheworld on social media, too.
Secondly, at Art Corner, Ukrainian refugee Tania Rudenskykh and her husband Ibrahim Al Amir have created a haven of creativity and community while rebuilding their lives after fleeing the war in Ukraine. The couple, who arrived in the US with their three sons under a humanitarian parole program, opened the café last spring, blending Tania’s love of art and baking with a mission to provide a welcoming space for families. Their journey has spanned multiple countries before finding stability in Virginia, where local nonprofits helped them settle and start their own space. Despite lingering uncertainty about their immigration status, the family has found hope as their children thrive, particularly their middle son, who recovered from depression after finding friendship and purpose in Richmond. With handmade décor, art therapy classes, and Ukrainian and Arabic dishes, Art Corner reflects their resilience and desire to give back to the community that embraced them.
And lastly, Richmond-based Kinis.ai, founded in 2018 by Vincent Vu as minimalist footwear brand Kinis Barefoot, has evolved into a health tech company focused on balance and fall prevention. After rebranding in 2022, the company shifted from shoes to developing AI-powered tools like the BalancePro Exam, which uses an iPad camera and proprietary AI to assess a person’s risk of falling through short balance tests. The tool, currently in pilot programs at PartnerMD and The Gait Center in Richmond and in Vietnam, provides users with a “balance health” score and personalized exercises. Kinis plans to launch the BalancePro in March next year under a $125-per-test model, with a subscription option and an at-home version in development. Its second product, the KinisStep, is a wearable ankle device that measures gait metrics and provides a “gait score,” with pilots expected to begin later this year. Backed by a $75,000 VIPC grant and additional fundraising, Kinis.ai is now fully focused on these health tech innovations, having wound down its footwear biz to prioritize clinical validation and global scalability. (Style Weekly, Style Weekly, Richmond BizSense)
They are SO back. After a seven-year pause from launching new ventures, Richmond’s Giavos family — known, ofc, for beloved spots like Stella’s and Little Nickel — is debuting Lafayette Tavern, a classic American chophouse opening in January in Malvern Gardens. Designed to evoke the golden age of dining with leather banquettes, vintage fixtures, and a black quartzite bar, the restaurant aims for timeless simplicity and neighborhood warmth. Chef Bobo Catoe Jr., formerly of Alewife, Heritage, and Southbound, will lead the kitchen with a menu of perfected American staples such as shrimp cocktail, wedge salads, burgers, steaks, and ice cream sundaes. Partnering with creative director Constantine Giavos, Bobo is helping craft a concept rooted in detail that honors old-school hospitality while remaining approachable. Opening four days a week initially, Lafayette Tavern seeks to become a lasting neighborhood institution where, as Constantine puts it, “nothing will be cold there, except for the drinks.” (Richmond magazine)
FYI, Dinner Party is making the holiday szn effortless this year with opts for both festive gatherings and thoughtful gifts. Folks can host private celebrations — from intimate wine classes for up to 12 people to larger events for up to 55 — complete with wine, small bites, and holiday décor. For gifting, the wine shop has everything from single bottles to custom-curated boxes tailored to any theme, whether you’re shopping for foodies, pasta lovers, or party hosts. Each gift is hand-wrapped, and wine can be shipped to 45 states, making it easy to share that holiday cheer nationwide. (Dinner Party)
Image Source: Kelsey Heintz
Weekly Giveaway
Molly Reeder: 2026 Illustrated Calendar
We love local artist Molly Reeder’s food and botanical illustrations, and her 2026 Illustrated Calendar already has us excited for January. The art work for each month can be trimmed into 6” x 8” frame-worthy prints, so it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving. *Highly* recommend adding this to your own wish list, or your shopping list for someone else, this year — or entering to win one from us.
This week, we’re giving away a copy of Molly’s 2026 Illustrated Calendar! Hooray for a calendar *and* 12 art pieces in one package.
To enter, tell us: What is the best holiday movie?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Mandi C., for winning the Sugar & Twine giveaway!
Image Source: Seasonal Roots
Member Perks
Seasonal Roots
Between bites of juicy turkey legs and pumpkin pie this time of year, make sure your bod’s staying stocked on veggies, too. Seasonal Roots is the largest digital local food delivery service in the Mid-Atlantic. Founded in 2011, it connects local farmers and food artisans with households across Richmond, Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Montgomery County, Maryland, and DC. Guided by principles of sustainability, community, and freshness, Seasonal Roots makes it easy to eat well and support the future of local agriculture.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get a discounted annual membership! Use the sign-up link here and apply code RICHMONDFALL.
BTW: An annual membership gets you access to the digital marketplace, where you can enjoy a weekly custom box of fresh local produce, unique artisan goods, and more. It also gets you access to an annual online cooking class, information about seasonal produce, and recipes.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 14 new members this week: Amy Q., Whitney M., Jennifer D., Andre C., Emily W., Lillian D., Katie H., Rhona L., Haley P., Steph B., Kelsey W., Amy S., Aastha S., and Morgan M., 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 381 of The Weekly Insider.
Stay well!
- The Richmond Experience
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