Ed 409: WORLD CUP WATCH PARTIES, SAILFEST, CREATURES OF A DREAM WORLD
Powered by River City Roll — what better way to cheer on THE team this Friday than at Red, White & Roll: USA World Cup Kickoff Party? Kick your plans into high gear here!
Image Source: Nathaniel Villaire via Unsplash
Happy Wednesday!
As you probs know, Father’s Day is just around the corner, and our friends at Virginia Spirits passed along some info that might help you in your gifting journey for Dad this month. The VA250 Trio Pack is a limited-edition collection featuring gin, whiskey, and rum crafted by local distillers and designed to celebrate Virginia’s history through its spirits. You get a London Dry-style gin made with Virginia botanicals, along with blended whiskey and rum created from select barrels, all packaged in artwork by Norfolk artist Mark Todd that highlights the James River's connection to Virginia's gorg-y mountains, heartland, and coast. Plus, the pack has historical tidbits to pair with each spirit, so if the father figure(s) in your life are history buffs, this gift idea is checking all kinds of boxes. We’re not gonna tell you what to do or anything, but… come on, kid, you know what to do.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including community-focused nightlife, local live music, standout dining destinations, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Cloudy; high of 89°, low of 71°
Thursday: Isolated thunderstorms; high of 96°, low of 74°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 99°, low of 70°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm: BINGO AT BINGO
Thursday, 7 - 8 pm: SUNSET YOGA
Friday, 5 - 9 pm: DREAM ASIA FESTIVAL
CITY GUIDES
1. 11 FITNESS STUDIOS WORTH TRYING INSTEAD OF THE SAME OL’ GYM
2. THE TRENDSPOTTER: JUNE 2026
3. PRIDE MONTH HAPPENINGS IN RVA THIS JUNE (& MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY)
Image Source: Christine Winder
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Christine Winder: Noticed some new names in the bylines over here recently? Let’s get you up to speed. A born and bred Richmonder, Christine’s love of RVA runs deep. So does her love of words. She’s wanted to be a writer since she was 8 years old, leading her to earn a degree in Communication Studies from Roanoke College. Since then she’s edited and contributed to a handful of local and national publications. When she’s not working on her next article, you can find her taking walks throughout the city with her fiancé and their adorable rescue pitty Rosie. You can also find her on Instagram @christinewinder where she posts way too many photos of her cats.
THE LATEST
Image Source: DreamHaus
Image Source: House of Futbol
Image Source: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Image Source: VMHC
SOCIAL NEWS
Come sail away with me. This weekend, Richmond SailFest will bring three historic tall ships to Dock Street Park and Intermediate Terminal as part of the nation’s 250th anni celebration. Visitors can tour the Dutch schooner Oosterschelde, the Pride of Baltimore II, and the schooner Virginia while enjoying history and art exhibits, cultural performances, live music, and re-enactors. The festival will also feature a fireworks and drone show on June 13. Admission is free, but FYI, timed tickets are required for ship tours, and on-site parking will not be available. (Richmond magazine)
The best(s) in the biz. Style Weekly’s Best of Richmond highlights the results of its annual readers’ poll, recognizing local favorites across more than 100 categories spanning arts and culture, food and drink, people and places, and goods and services — and its 2026 edition has dropped! The issue celebrates a mix of longtime Richmond institutions and newer businesses that readers selected as standouts over the past year. You can plan to continue hyping up your faves at the annual Best Fest party on August 20 at VPM’s headquarters in Monroe Ward. (Style Weekly)
But wait, there’s more. Eat It, Virginia shared its personal list of Richmond’s 15 best restaurants, offering an alternative to the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s recent annual RTD 100 rankings. The pod — hosted by food writer Robey Martin and producer/broadcaster Scott Wise — included several restaurants that did not make the newspaper’s top tier, highlightiing the variety and depth of the River City’s food scene. (WTVR)
Have a ball. Quite a few spots in town are revved up for the World Cup’s kickoff this Friday, including bars, breweries, restaurants, and other venues. Head to River City Roll, Scotty’s Taphouse, House of Futbol, and lots of other spaces and places to root for the USA. Many venues are featuring food and drink specials or themes to get in on, so you know it’ll be a good time wherever you go. (The Richmonder)
I see your true colors and that’s why I love you. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will host ALEBRIJES: Creatures of a Dream World from June 13 through September 27, featuring colorful larger-than-life sculptures inspired by Mexican folk art. The exhibit marks the first time the alebrijes have been displayed in a botanical garden and their first appearance on the East Coast, giving visitors the chance to explore these imaginative creatures among the garden’s landscapes. (Instagram)
Call up your party people. ICYMI, DreamHaus recently announced that it received unanimous City Council approval for nightclub use, allowing the space to stay open later, establish a dedicated dance floor, and expand its nightlife programming. The biz has faced significant financial challenges since opening but remains committed to creating a safer, community-focused nightlife place for artists, performers, and creatives in Richmond. Make plans to get over there ASAP. (Instagram)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🌮 We love this take about catching local live music — and Northside Grille has you covered this weekend. (Instagram)
👠 This is a summer blockbuster, if you ask us: The (Henrico) Librarian Wears Prada. (Instagram)
🥦 RVA Community Fridges and Studio Two Three set up a new, fully stocked ice box. (Instagram)
Image Source: Gold Lion Community Cafe
Weekly Giveaway
Gold Lion Community Cafe
Gold Lion Community Cafe is exactly what it sounds like: a cafe dedicated to serving the community with an inviting space and delish menu items. The spot offers drip coffee, plus other specialty drinks and vegetarian meals — i.e., lots of things that could give you a boost for the summer.
This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Gold Lion Community Cafe! Sit, sip, shoot the sh*t — it’s what it’s there for.
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Allison F, for winning the Tri-City Chilly Peppers giveaway!
Image Source: Triangle Rock Club
Member Perks
Triangle Rock Club
If you’ve hit a workout wall this season, hit a rock wall instead. Triangle Rock Club has more than 27,000 square feet of climbing terrain along with bouldering, fitness facilities, yoga classes, and wellness amenities like a sauna and hot tub, so you’re sure to break a sweat here when you break out of your regular routine.
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get 50% off the Intro to Climbing class, plus a free two-week club pass.
What’s trending from RVAx
👇
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 9 new members this week: Peighton S, Allie W, Karen S, Macee D, Lauren M, Donna S, Christina D, Dustin H, and Beth A, 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 409 of The Weekly Insider.
Buh-bye!
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to River City Roll for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
