Ed 402: The Correspondent, COCKTAIL BAR, YOUTH BOXING GYM
Powered by Nouveau Provisions — when it comes to the Italy vs Spain Wine Tasting Event, where you’re sampling eight different wines and getting the lowdown from experienced sommeliers, *everyone’s* a winner. Snag a ticket to the showdown here and see for yourself this Friday.
Hiii!
Between this Lisa Frank teaser, last weekend’s Coachella recaps, and the Laguna Beach reunion, I’m kind of… loving being on the internet lately. I can’t remember the last time I felt that way, and I can’t imagine it’ll last long, but when your job largely entails scrolling and clicking and saving and scrolling some more, it’s nice when the blue light feels more like sunshine and less like whatever the hell everyone was looking at in Bird Box, you know? So while we’re riding this high, let me move things along to some more good vibes I wanted to send your way this week.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including the music of Downton Abbey, the area’s biggest fitness celebration, updates for Allianz Amphitheater’s second season, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 94°, low of 67°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 93°, low of 67°
Friday:Partly cloudy; high of 87°, low of 59°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 10 am - 6 pm: LEDBURY WAREHOUSE SALE
Thursday, 5 - 7 pm: EATS & SWEETS BY LIBBIE LAKE
Friday, 9:30 am - 5 pm: THE POWER OF POISON
CITY GUIDES
1. 10+ WAYS TO PAMPER YOUR PET IN RICHMOND
Image Source: @historicrva
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Historic Richmond: We love some comfort content on social media, and this nonprofit org does a lot of that in addition to preserving and protecting Richmond’s historic buildings and supporting thoughtful growth and revitalization. Framing Richmond’s past as the foundation of an ongoing story, Historic Richmond promotes awareness of the city’s cultural, aesthetic, and economic value through education, events, tours, and ongoing public engagement, with the goal of ensuring the city’s unique character is carried forward into the future. And when there’s coverage of gorgeous Church Hill involved, you know our eyes are peeled. BTW, get tix for next week’s Church Hill Spring Lecture here!
THE LATEST
Image Source: Curry’s Caribbean Restaurant & Bar
Image Source: Fuss & Feathers
Image Source: Art 180
Image Source: Allianz Amphitheater
SOCIAL NEWS
Looking for a catering option for your spring-summer parties? Curry’s Caribbean Restaurant & Bar, founded by Sylvia Alecia Coppin-Smith and Gabriel Smith, started as a food truck in 2019 before expanding into a Jackson Ward brick-and-mortar, where they’ve spent two years serving authentic Caribbean cuisine inspired by their roots in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Sylvia prepares every dish herself using imported spices and unwritten recipes, while the couple built their restaurant after unexpectedly discovering and bidding on the space. Known for its traditional dishes and community ties, Curry’s has seen growing demand, with catering booked months in advance and plans for expanded outdoor dining, as the owners work toward their three-year milestone as a measure of lasting success. (Richmond magazine)
Punching things up a bit. A long-vacant former bank building on Brookland Park Blvd is being redeveloped into a youth boxing gym and community hub by local group Cherry Pick’d Boxing. The project will transform the century-old space into a space for boxing training alongside mentoring, after-school programs, and job readiness services, with renos including structural repairs, new systems, and updated amenities. Led by Tony Cherry, the effort aims to create a more accessible, neighborhood-based space for youth while contributing to broader revitalization along the corridor, with plans to open as early as this summer. (Richmond BizSense)
Sad news out of Jackson Ward. Art 180 plans to close on August 28. After 27 years of empowering youth through arts programming, the local nonprofit is feeling the effects of years of financial strain, declining donations, lost corporate and public funding, rising costs, and internal challenges including leadership transition expenses and lack of strategic planning. Despite efforts to stabilize finances, leaders say the org could not recover, with nearly $1 million needed to remain sustainable. The nonprofit will spend its final months completing current programs, hosting summer events, and holding a final exhibition, while community members and supporters reflect on its lasting impact as a creative and supportive space for Richmond’s youth. (Style Weekly)
Music to your ears. The Richmond Choral Society will perform The Music of Downton Abbey II at St Mark’s Episcopal Church this Sunday at 4 pm, featuring works by composers including Edward Elgar, Charles Hubert Parry, and Gilbert & Sullivan, along with a jazz interlude by members of Jay Brown’s Grace Street Seven. (VPM)
Fit to print. RVA Fit Day returns for its third year (at Conex this time around!) on April 25, bringing together local and international fitness brands, professionals, and enthusiasts for a day of networking, challenges, and community-building. Head to the new and huge outdoor venue in Carver for fitness competitions, meet-and-greets, live music, and a free bodybuilding posing seminar led by top International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation profesh athletes, highlighting its focus on education, engagement, and growing the local fitness scene. (Eventbrite)
Did you know the author of viral sensation The Correspondent is a local university alum? We didn’t until recently! Virginia Evans earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from James Madison University in 2008. Go Dukes! ICYDK, too, The Correspondent follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a 73-year-old retired lawyer, mother, and grandmother who makes sense of her world through writing letters — to friends, institutions, and even authors she admires. Then, Sybil begins receiving unexpected letters from someone in her past that force her to confront a painful chapter she has long avoided. The novel blends humor, warmth, and reflection to explore themes of memory, regret, and the power of written words in a life fully lived — and it’s our book club’s pick for May. *wink* (Virginia Evans)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🆒 Allianz Amphitheater now has air conditioning in its restrooms and lower lawn capacity (see: more elbow room) for its second season, which kicks off this Thursday. (Instagram)
🪽 Fuss & Feathers — an extension of Slack Tide Fish Co — is coming soon to Ballast in Scott’s Addition, and it looks like it’ll be a swanky spot for us to snag a cocktail. (Instagram)
🧵 Sew Snip has plans to open a fabric shop in Midlo in the coming weeks. (Instagram)
Image Source: Henrico CASA
Weekly Giveaway
Henrico CASA: Home for Good
Henrico CASA’s 6th Annual Home for Good event is here! Now through April 26, see seven custom-designed playhouses on display at Short Pump Town Center and Libbie Mill Library. These creative builds help raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, reminding us that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood.
Want to take one home? Every $10 donation HERE enters you to win a playhouse, while supporting CASA’s advocacy for local kids. And hey, while you’re at it, send us a pic of your donation receipt HERE, and that’ll enter you to win a $25 gift card to The Veil Brewing Co on us!
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Madeline L, for winning the Quinn giveaway!
Image Source: Richlands Dairy & Creamery
Member Perks
Richlands Dairy & Creamery
It’s HOT out there this week, and what better way to cool down than with a sweet treat from a third-generation, family-owned dairy? Richlands Dairy & Creamery specializes in bottled milk, premium ice cream, and scheduled farm tours. Take a little trip to Dinwiddie and snag a scoop or more.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get a free waffle cone with your purchase! Just tell them at checkout you’re a member.
What’s trending from RVAx
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SAVE THE DATE
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Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 11 new members this week: Abigail C, M D, Ashley C, Ryan H, Sarah C, Sara V, Molly B, Taylor A, John Y, Brad P, and Rachel D, 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 402 of The Weekly Insider.
Stay cool! 🥵
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Nouveau Provisions for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
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