This week, we wanted to give you the warm and fuzzies - but without the snow. So, a few ways to warm your heart, your cheeks and your belly.
'Tis the season!
The Giving
Wall
If you're like us, you wish you did more to give back. To help you with this, we try to identify worthy, turnkey opportunities so you can get right to doing good.
Just launched in the last week, The Giving Wall connects the urgent, unique needs of those living in poverty in Richmond to those who want to help. One might need a pair of boots, help fixing a car, or a boost to cover a small debt.
This is where you come in. You can easily browse those needs on The Giving Wall website, then select which you'd like to support. The Giving Wall staff vetts every request and ensures the delivery of your sponsored good or service.
Check the site out, and let's give this young organization some early momentum.
At this point in the month, we are straight market-ed out. So relax when we invite you to another market.
Long under construction, the 17th Street Farmers Market is gracing downtown once again. You won't be buying goods just yet, but why not go ice skating and scope the new scene out? Don't know what to do with the fam over the holidays? Get them out and moving on the ice, then hit a restaurant to fuel back up! We're excited to see this Farmers Market blossom this spring.
Admittedly, we have a sweet tooth. But it's our job to follow all the bakeries in town and tell you when one is onto something, right? Listen up, we've got a good one.
We’ve had our eye on Lark Baking Co. for a while now and have tried all their tasty treats served at Ironclad Coffee.
But then we noticed something intriguing. Their Mechanicsville location - now serving breakfast (read: biscuits) - is repeatedly selling out. And their Christmas orders are fully booked. There's some serious demand for this scratch kitchen, and we are willing to get in line for it. Question is, when do we go? Breakfast? Friday date night for cake by the slice? Solid options...
vol. 64 / here & there 🚀We're going on a road trip... open up to see where!
VOL. 64 / LYNCHBURG
Buckle up; we're going on a road trip! Over the last couple years, we've visited Lynchburg to catch various concerts. Forget what you knew — the city is full of new entities you have to visit.
We're sending you just two hours southwest: Lynchburg is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We've broken down where to stay, what to do and, most importantly, where to eat.
Your adventure awaits…
Where To
Stay
Settle in for your weekend retreat at The Virginian, optimally located downtown at Eighth and Grace streets. Built in 1913 and then closed in 1972, this historic hotel just completed a massive luxury renovation and is now back open and ready for action.
Walking in the front door, you'd never know the hotel had past lives as apartments and dorms. Now you're welcomed with a warm, modern lobby. If you like to explore, see if you can take a peek in the ballroom, and of the 115 rooms, consider requesting the Moore & Giles suite, outfitted and decorated by the Lynchburg-native leather company. You'll see their handiwork throughout the hotel, from the sexy Chesterfield in the lobby to the on-premises restaurant.
Before you go, check the schedule at the historic Academy Center of the Arts, just a half-mile down the road from The Virginian. The historic theater just completed a stunning restoration.
Opened earlier this month, the century-old building boasts a reputation for perfect acoustics and attracts nationally acclaimed performing artists. Enjoy its galleries featuring a variety of paintings from renowned artists or one of its multiple events in the 340-seat Warehouse Theater. Hmm...looks like NO BS! Brass is playing for New Year's Eve!
For other activities, take some time to stroll along Blackwater Creek Trail or visit the Saturday community market open year-round!
No trip is complete without scoping out the best local eats!
First up, obviously you need a caffeine fix. Beeline to the hip yet friendly Golf Park Coffee, serving none other than Richmond's own Blanchard’s Coffee. This coffee shop is the cool local hangout and is the best way to kick start your morning. We are working on coaxing the owner to open a Richmond location...
Next, we need brunch, stat. New to the Lynchburg foodie scene, Grey’s opened last spring and has quickly made its mark, offering a rotating seasonal menu based on local ingredients, which is easier to show than tell. We want to order this or, hello, this. Check their Instagram for weekly updates!
And for dinner, visit the crew at Rivermont Pizza, a local staple. Their wood-fired pizzas are all over the map, in a good way. We’ve got our eyes on The Ricky. Pro tip: try the roasted vegetables as an appetizer (soaked in a super delicious sauce).
Don't worry, we're still obsessed with Richmond. Our talented photog Kate Magee's images are a love letter to our city - and now you can bring them home.
Shop our brand new prints online, and pick them up at our office on either Friday, December 14 or Friday, December 21.
Thanks so much to the overwhelmingly awesome and massive crowd that attended Good Tidings Market on Saturday. It was such a fun day!! If you didn't make it, there's still time to shop Someday, Loose Ends Embroidery, Anther and Strawberry Fields before year-end.
From shopping at Dear Neighbor and Someday, we've learned that we have an obsession with cutting boards. Who knew?
This weekend during Good Tidings Market, we came upon Rider Woodworks, a line of locally made cutting boards, prep stations, butcher blocks and charcuterie boards. Owner Ethan Rider adds flair to his boards with stripes of different woods and end-grain pieces. These would be stunning gifts for the guys or the gals in your life.
And we dig this super chill video of Ethan quality control testing a recent piece.
Right off the bat, we're entranced with this new shop's picture windows. The Wes-Anderson-goes-on-a-bike-ride vibes make us want to go inside!
This Saturday, you can. Journeyman's Adventure Co. is the new Shockoe Bottom destination shop offering bike gear for all scenarios, terrain and ages. As they put it, they're not just a bike store, but an adventure company! We want to learn more, so this Saturday we'll be heading to their launch party to see what's going on!
After visiting Journeyman's on Saturday, we're heading on another adventure, one of the holiday variety.
The CarMax Tacky Light Run combines a casual, untimed 6K with an overload of holiday festivity. The course winds through Midlothian's Walton Park neighborhood, known for its intense and amazing tacky lights. The family-friendly event is quite the scene. Be sure to dress up in your holiday tackiest, and enjoy rainbow cookies and hot cocoa.
It's going to be positively frigid, so skip parking conundrums by taking Lyft to and fro, using code TACKYLIGHTS for 25% off two rides.
Our question is: How long does it take these houses to rig their tacky lights? That's some commitment...
Go
