Ed 389: National Day of Service, Boomer Magazine, New Brewery
Hi!
If you heard me chit-chatting with Paige on The Chatter last week about my NY resolutions, you heard that I’ve been (loosely) working these last 13ish days to stay on top of my water intake. And you know what has paired nicely with that this week? These sweet potato quesadillas from I Heart Vegetables.
I *love* that recipe. It’s so simple yet so delish and also so salsa-y?? If you’re looking for something quick and filling to get you through the rest of this week, that’s the move. And if you’re looking for even more to get you through the rest of this week, 👇
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including non-violent protests, indoor golf simulator, a decades-long love story, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy; high of 57°, low of 32°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 35°, low of 20°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 37°, low of 29°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6 - 8 pm: VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS RHODE ISLAND
Thursday, 5 - 7 pm: SOBER HAPPY HOUR
Friday, 6 - 9 pm: UNDENIABLE VIP COCKTAIL PARTY
CITY GUIDES
1. THE TRENDSPOTTER: JANUARY 2026
Image Source: Boomer Magazine
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Boomer Magazine: As informed, thirty-something locals, we’re up on all the classic publications around town, but a new-to-us one is Boomer Magazine. The site’s landing page is exactly perfect with its on-brand header, but it’s got the news and updates to back it up, too. If you or someone you know is looking for more info for the sixty-something crowd, you’re fully covered here — though you can now expect us to include boomermagazine.com in our weekly research efforts, too.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Shyndigz
Image Source:The Park
Image Source: Do Portugal Circus
Image Source: Community Foundation
SOCIAL NEWS
National Day(s) of Service incoming. As you know, MLK Day is around the corner, and there’s a slate of Richmond-area events to honor the holiday and the National Day of Service, focusing on community, civil rights, and volunteerism. Just to name a few:
On January 16, Virginia Union University will hold its 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Celebration, a ticketed breakfast honoring individuals and organizations advancing civil rights, educational equity, and economic justice, with proceeds supporting VUU scholarships and academic programs.
On Januaey 19, Chesterfield County, Virginia State University, and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond will host Day On, Not a Day Off events encouraging residents and students to volunteer in King’s honor.
From January 19 through 23, Virginia Commonwealth University will present a week of events culminating in an MLK Keynote Celebration on January 22 built around King’s “fierce urgency of now” quote.
Then, the month wraps up on January 31 with a free screening at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia of the award-winning short film “Echoes of a Dream,” which explores King’s local impact and includes a panel discussion and Q&A. (Richmond magazine)
Cheers to the new year and new beer! SetBreak Brewing Co — operating out of Black Heath Meadery in Scott’s Addition — will debut during the spot’s Festival of Wood & Fire this Saturday, January 17. Inspired by the idea of a set break in music, the brewery is a collab between Black Heath Meadery owner Bill Cavender and longtime brewer Rob Quicke, formerly of Anytime Beer Company, Ardent Craft Ales, and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. The duo aims to bring “classic, thoughtfully made” beers to the Richmond beer scene, with an early public preview at the free weekend shindig. A full brewery rollout is planned for February, with more beer releases and expanded offerings TBA in the coming weeks. (WRIC)
Good times ahead as par as the eye can see. Back Nine, a national franchise of self-serve indoor golf simulator venues, plans to open its first two Richmond-area locations this year — one in Chesterfield and one in Henrico. The Chesterfield site will offer three simulator bays, golf lessons from a local pro, and club fittings, while the Henrico location will have three hitting bays. Folks can book sessions and access bays through an app and bring their own food and alcohol. Back Nine has dozens of sites open or in development nationwide, with additional Virginia locations planned, and you can look for those Richmond-area set-ups this spring. (Richmond BizSense)
A moment for some puppy love. Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a national nonprofit that trains and provides guide dogs to people experiencing vision loss in order to increase their independence and confidence. Its Central Virginia network includes 27 active volunteer puppy raisers and 25 puppy sitters who care for and socialize dogs for about a year to 18 months before they move on to formal training in New York. While volunteers are up against the emotional challenge of returning dogs for training, that’s balanced by the pride of knowing they will go on to change someone’s life — plus, puppy raisers stay connected through updates and graduations. Guiding Eyes is further growing its local involvement with a Guiding Eyes club at VCU raising puppies. (Style Weekly)
Oh, okay, we’re just one big puddle now. Harold Pugh, 91, and his 90-year-old wife Frances just celebrated their 70th wedding anni by finally having the *formal* wedding they never had at Cawson Street Church of Christ in Hopewell. The couple first met at a skating rink in the ‘50s and eloped in their twenties, but, now decades later, their crew of friends and family organized a vow-renewal ceremony so they could walk down the aisle and exchange promises in front of loved ones for the first time. During the service, the officiant and guests reflected on their many years of shared memories, including traveling, riding roller coasters in their 90s, hosting Bible studies, and giving generously to others in their community. Despite having faced health scares, Harold and Frances stood strong together reaffirming their love and commitment to each other once again. (WTVR)
The current news cycle has been something else, and if you’re feeling stunned, we feel you. More than 100 demonstrators gathered last Friday in front of the Arch Village Shopping Plaza in Chesterfield to protest ICE after Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in the week. Organizers said the pop-up rally was meant to show solidarity, raise awareness in a more conservative area, and speak out against the Trump administration and its funding of ICE. One organizer, in particular, said the goal was to reach moderates who are becoming disillusioned with the president and his policies. Local grassroots group 50501 Virginia also held an ICE Out of Virginia protest at Maggie Lena Walker Memorial Plaza last Saturday. If you’re interested in other non-violent movements like those, 50501 Virginia has its first march of the new year planned for Tuesday, January 20. (WTVR, Instagram)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🇺🇸 Ahead of her inauguration happening this Saturday, January 17, governor-elect Abigail Spanberger appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to start the week. (Instagram, Spanberger Inauguration)
🎪 Do Portugal Circus is on the road again for 2026 and heading to Richmond at the start of next month. (Do Portugal Circus)
💧 We’re big Lunch $pecial fans, and the comedian/musician/creator is getting his well-deserved flowers these days. (Instagram)
🍰 Shyndigz is prepping to offer a 24/7 vending machine nearby the bakery. (RVA Hub)
Image Source: Carytown Teas
Weekly Giveaway
Carytown Teas
Mother Nature really can’t seem to make up her mind with these temps recently. Like, 55° today but 33° next week, Mom?! With that, you might be feeling more vulnerable to a case of the sniffles — or worse. So, here’s to keeping your ~wellness~ vibes high.
This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Carytown Teas! Get yourself some Immunity Booster and stay strong out there.
To enter, tell us: Richmond was home to the world's first successful electric streetcar system, the Richmond Union Passenger Railway, which began operation in February of what year?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Maddie C., for winning the Hotel Greene giveaway!
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Member Perks
AMR Detailing
If you finally managed to get your Christmas tree to a nearby recycling center but now your car’s decorated in pine needles, AMR will bring professional-grade detailing straight to your driveway this post-holiday season.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 15% off the Platinum Package and 10% off all other services! Use code RVAX10 when you book.
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Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 6 new members this week: Ed K., Amy D., Emily C., Katie M., Amanda S., and Haley C., 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 389 of The Weekly Insider.
Be kind!
-The Richmond Experience
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