Our guide to First Fridays, downtown Richmond's signature monthly art walk.

VOL. 32  / FIRST FRIDAYS First Fridays, downtown Richmond’s signature monthly art walk, is a must-attend, at least yearly. But with our “let’s wing it” approach, we never quite felt like we knew where to go. So for tomorrow night's First Friday, we’ve done the research and devoted a whole newsletter to guiding you through it all: the art, the food and the extras. This evergreen guide serves whenever you go, with a few May-specific events sprinkled in. Step 1: check out the map. Then read on for our recs! Unrelated P.S.: Boho Cycle and Health Warrior are celebrating National Fitness Day this Saturday with a killer workout we want to try. The Art First Fridays is all about the art, of course. Instead of vaguely walking the streets wondering where the action is, walk with purpose to this short list of galleries. Extensive & coordinated / Gallery 5 throws a First Fridays shindig every month, complementing their current exhibits with food and music. Candela Books & Gallery and 1708 Gallery are both opening new exhibits Friday and are always a good stop. And definitely hit ADA! Under-the-radar & intimate / Middle of Broad is a studio partnership between three VCU departments, and we're sure it will show us something we've not seen before. Valet also has a new exhibit opening, and Endeavor screams cool.   The Food The walk in “art walk” works up a bit of an appetite, as if we needed an excuse to explore some new restaurants. Loved standbys Comfort and Saison are always yummy, but have you been to Mahogany Sweets? Read more about their story and then go try their baked goods before they close to the public and shift to a wholesale bakery at the end of May! Last week, we covered breakfast and lunch joint Salt & Forge, and this week, they’re staying open late for First Friday. (Side note: anyone else dying over their biscuit pics on Instagram!?)   Vitals: mahoganysweets.com saltandforge.com The Extras The magic of First Fridays lies in the unexpected adventure of the night. There's a lot more beyond the art! Steady Sounds, Black Iris and 9WG Studios add a musical element to your night. The Broad also opens its doors to the public every month, giving us a glimpse at their gallery - right now it features work by local Virginia women. This Friday, our extra pick is definitely the Latin Ballet of Virginia's performance featuring the music and dance of Cuba. Bring your dancing shoes, because we hear participation is highly encouraged!   Vitals: facebook.com/events/1012856138853015

 One weekly email. Three must-do ideas. Infinite potential.

VOL. 31  /  CRISP The plethora of exciting things to do and adventures to be had continues this week. We've been digging April, and we're pumped to see what May brings next week - ideally more blooms and less pollen. Let's go! Rooftop Guide We’re just going to optimistically say that rooftop season has officially arrived. We’ve scouted the prospects for you, so all you have to do is pick your favorite and order a drink. We’re partial to the Graduate’s Byrd House, which just opened this season. It now claims the title of highest rooftop bar in the city. Worth the wait! (P.S. Check out the rooftop yoga.) Nearby, Quirk’s rooftop is just as stunning and intimate. Kabana is larger and a little bit more wild, but has killer views. And there’s always the Hof for a more casual vibe. Cheers!   Vitals: graduatehotels.com/richmond/restaurant/byrd-house destinationhotels.com/quirk-hotel/q-rooftop-bar kabanarooftop.com thehofgarden.com Homemade in Jackson Ward Salt & Forge is a welcome addition to the neighborhood in Jackson Ward. The menu at the newly-opened breakfast and lunch spot expertly couples made-from-scratch, yet innovative elements. Example: bread from Idle Hands Bread Company sandwiches turkey, brie, blackberry jam and crispy shallots, while the lentil soup is finished with fresh tomatoes and kale. The food is lovingly and promptly served in a stunner of a space with tons of natural light. We’ve tried it for lunch, and we're dying to return for breakfast - mostly to hang with owner David Hahn, who's got the gracious host thing down.   Vitals: Monday-Friday / 7am-4pm Saturday / 9am-4pm saltandforge.com Futures: Trevor Noah Tickets Trevor Noah was just named one of the TIME 100 Most Influential People this year - making his live show in Richmond a must-see. His visit to the Altria Theater was announced way back in February, but lucky for you, we noticed there are still a few tickets left. Now’s the time to grab them - they won’t last much longer now with the bump of press from the Time honor. Our plan: grab an early dinner down the street at Dinamo, and then follow up the show with a rooftop stop or two!   Vitals: Saturday, May 5 / 7pm etix.com/ticket/p/8680862 Spring Green We chose the color of our Rep. t-shirts carefully. An army green works with just about everything. And pairs well with florals. Groundbreaking. SHOP NOW

 One weekly email. Three must-do ideas. Infinite potential.

VOL. 30  /  THRIVING The long-awaited arrival of spring has brought with it an explosion of activity in Richmond. This week’s happenings were happily tough to narrow down, but we focused on the best of the best for you. Here’s to an exciting week ahead! Two Openings, Two Vibes It seems new spots are popping up every day. This week, two different but both very cool places are opening their doors. Pick the vibe you’re feeling and try one out! Active & Eccentric / We didn’t know we needed a boutique bowling alley until River City Roll opened near Scott’s Addition this Tuesday. We’re down to work up a sweat - and cool off with great food and drinks - in this reinvented classic. Academic & Provocative / The long-anticipated Institute of Contemporary Art is throwing a huge block party to celebrate the grand opening of its (very massive and graceful) new space. The site-wide Declaration exhibit will “speak” to you, while the party will include music, food trucks and interactive activities.   Vitals: RCR / rivercityroll.com ICA / Saturday, April 21 / 10am-4pm icavcu.org/events/grand-opening Richmond Restaurant Week Richmond Restaurant Week comes around twice a year, a bi-annual opportunity to try a nice cross-section of plates thanks to the prix fixe menu format. We’re happy to support the Central Food Bank of Virginia and Meals on Wheels - but we also love to gather a squad and see just how many of the plates we can taste between our group’s orders. Our short-list this spring includes Little Saint, Southbound and Lehja. Though we haven’t made it out to this last one yet (embarrassing), it’s a must, and Restaurant Week extinguishes all excuses.   Vitals: Monday, April 23 - Sunday, April 29 richmondrestaurantweek.com Futures: Burn Both Ends Excitingly, Richmond is teeming with innovators, influencers and entrepreneurs. Ours is a community that understands if it doesn’t yet exist, you can build it. But building it can be challenging (understatement). Enter Burn Both Ends. This all-day conference is geared for new businesses and is founded and led by Campfire & Co. and The Content Chop Shop. On the schedule: keynotes, a panel discussion and workshops. We’re especially pumped from operations guru Maria Pahuja of Vayas (Vimeo’s former Director of Operations) and Big Secret’s Jason Lefton on “Life, Love and Lasers.” Color us intrigued.   Vitals: Friday, May 4 / 8:30am-6:30pm eventbrite.com/e/burn-both-ends-tickets