Ed 407: Caribbean Eats, fare-free bus service, New Rooftop Bar
Powered by Agecroft Hall & Gardens — this summer is getting eventFULL, featuring live music on Thursday nights, theatrical performances on Friday nights, American Shakespeare for the whole fam on Saturday mornings, and outdoor movies on Saturday nights. Start planning your calendar here!
Image Source: The Richmond Experience
Happy almost long weekend!
Are you as ready for some R&R as I am? I wouldn’t doubt it. This year has been fast and slow at the same time, and I can’t tell if I can believe MDW is here — but I *can* tell I’m primed for an extended stint of pasta salad and pool time. (Please, weather gods? What’s up with these rain clouds??)
FYI, this will be our last edition of the Insider for the month of May. We’re doing a li’l factory reset of sorts during the shorter week next week and finalizing some summer content planning, but we’ll see you with the Insider in your inbox again bright and early on Wednesday, June 3, and by then, we actually won’t believe where the year has gone. Like, even now, it sounds kind of crazy. June?? I guess I can believe MDW is here.
You can still expect your regularly scheduled Weekender and City Guide drops, plus lots to chew on below in the meantime.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including a Timber Pizza brick-and-mortar, a new music hall, local Al Roker sightings, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly sunny; high of 96°, low of 67°
Thursday: Cloudy; high of 71°, low of 56°
Friday: Showers; high of 62°, low of 53°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 5:30 - 10 pm: MUSIC AT MAYMONT
Thursday, 7 - 8 pm: SUNSET YOGA
Friday, 5 - 8 pm: ASHLAND FOURTH FRIDAYS
CITY GUIDES
1. YOUR GUIDE TO MDW 2026 IN RICHMOND
Image Source: The Richmond Experience
RICHMONDER(S) TO KNOW
Our local splash zones: We’re major fans of the Richmond area’s *many* splash pads. They’re the perfect cool-down when you need to get the fam outside, but you want to take things up a notch from just a playground viz — and they’re officially open for the summer season! Check out and check off our list here.
THE LATEST
Image Source: Liddy’s Kitchen
Image Source: Main Line Brewery
Image Source: Richmond Chronicle
Image Source: GRTC
SOCIAL NEWS
Craving homey goodness? New family-run Jamaican restaurant Liddy’s Kitchen is prepping to open soon in Jackson Ward, taking over the longtime home of the now-closed Jamerican Cuisine. Owner Jared “Jay” Brooks says the previous owner wanted to preserve the building’s Jamaican roots, and after helping with the 2nd Street Festival and building a relationship with him, Jared and his family were able to take over the space while maintaining Caribbean roots. Named after Jared’s mother, Lydia, whose recipes shape the menu, the spot will create a full Jamaican dining experience centered on authentic flavors, live music, and Caribbean-inspired drinks. (Richmond magazine)
Things are getting juicy. Summer Supper Somm, is makings its return July 8 through August 23 with 22 events statewide, including nine in our area. In case you need a refresher, the communal-style dinners pair Virginia wines with multi-course menus built around heirloom tomatoes, challenging chefs to incorporate the veggie (fruit?) into every dish — leading to creations like tomato cotton candy, tomato sorbet, and tomato upside-down cake. Participating Richmond restaurants this time around include Lemaire and Pinky’s, while the series also raises money for Greater Richmond SCAN, having donated more than $20,000 to the nonprofit so far. (Style Weekly)
Take the bus. GRTC will continue offering fare-free bus service through at least June 2027, with officials saying the Zero Fare program has become part of the agency’s long-term philosophy rather than a temporary initiative. Originally launched during the pandemic in 2020, the program lost key grant funding and VCU support last year, but GRTC says it was able to cover the gap using surplus funds and its general operating budget. The agency also hopes to grow revenue through advertising and charitable donations. (The Richmonder)
This has a nice ring to it. Sound Hall Studios, a new rehearsal and recording facility opening in Henrico’s West End at the end of June, plans to create accessible space for Central Virginia musicians of all experience levels. The space will feature 10 acoustically treated rehearsal and teaching rooms, a professional recording studio, and a 75-person performance and co-working space called The Hall. Founded by longtime music industry professionals Shannon Loy and Chris Davis, the project was developed over four years with a focus on supporting hobbyists, students, instructors, and working musicians through hourly rentals, memberships, classes, performances, and expanded music education access for underserved youth. (RVA Hub)
We’re all about a rooftop bar situation. Shamin Hotels officially broke ground this week on a 12-story, dual-brand Marriott hotel near Scott’s Addition, marking the neighborhood’s first full-scale hotel development. The more than $100 mil project will include 253 rooms split between Residence Inn and Virginia’s first AC Hotels location, plus a ballroom, rooftop bar, restaurant, terrace, and 253-space parking deck. Set to rise at Arthur Ashe Blvd and Myers St, the hotel is expected to take about two years to build and will also include infrastructure upgrades and a new pocket park at the intersection. (Richmond BizSense)
How to celebrate the long weekend. Daydream Fest returns to Main Line Brewery on Memorial Day, May 25, celebrating its fifth year with a full day of Richmond music, local food trucks, and artisan vendors. This year’s lineup includes Bio Ritmo, Mighty Joshua, Weekend Plans, Erin & the Wildfire, Radio B, and advance tickets are priced around 40 bucks before May 24. (Daydream Fest)
We truly can’t say we’re surprised. OnDeck dubbed Richmond the “capital of #ShopLocal,” with about 159,500 uses of the hashtag and a rate of roughly 68,263 posts per 100,000 residents — slightly higher than Raleigh, NC, and ahead of Kansas City, MO. The strong social media enthusiasm for supporting local small businesses is, as you ofc know, rooted in community connection and intentional purchasing. Plus, rising tides like Shop Made in VA stock Virginia-made goods while supporting and educating independent makers and small business owners. (OnDeck)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
☀️ Part of our local news crew has been rubbing elbows with Al Roker and his team recently. (Instagram, Instagram)
📸 The brains behind Richmond Chronicle is opening a space next month. (Instagram)
🍕 Timber Pizza is bringing a brick-and-mortar to Bellevue this fall. (Instagram)
Image Source: Art Club
Weekly Giveaway
Art Club
Art Club is a community-focused arts project offering guided, low-pressure workshops designed to make creativity accessible to people of all skill levels. Centered on the idea that art doesn’t need to be polished or productive to matter, the project encourages participants to disconnect from screens, experiment creatively, reconnect with others, and spend time making things by hand in a relaxed, social environment. Talk about some thorough self-care, huh?
This week, we’re teaming up with Art Club to give away two tickets to the collage workshop happening on May 30, from 11 am to 2 pm (for ages 18 and up)! It’s about to be a glue-tiful thing.
To enter, tell us: Vincent van Gogh sold how many paintings during his lifetime?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Thasin S, for winning the Txtur giveaway!
Image Source: McCormick Hill Farms
Member Perks
McCormick Hill Farms
Need to stock up for the summer-y good times ahead? McCormick Hill Farms has what you need. Easily order from a wide selection of premium beef cuts, carefully curated and prepared with meticulous care, ensuring freshness and flavor.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 20% off online orders! Use code RVA20 at checkout.
What’s trending from RVAx
👇
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 6 new members this week: Anna C, Stephanie F, Susan O, Sarah B, Taryn L, and Bethany S, 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 407 of The Weekly Insider.
TTYL! 💙
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Agecroft Hall & Gardens for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
