vol. 80 / sidekickThree ways to celebrate RVA with your favorite sidekick!
VOL. 6 / SIDEKICK
Grab a sidekick because this week we're exploring ways to celebrate River City with our moms (or someone else you share a bond with), our pups, and ourselves. Read on, explore, and connect!
For
Mom
Cheers your mom, and anyone else special in your life, this weekend. Hardywood West Creek is hosting Cheers to Mom, a family-friendly Mother's Day festival complete with pop-up photography sessions, food vendors, last-minute flower arrangements, and plenty of shopping while you sip. Local vendors include Candy Valley Cake Company, Lyla Taylor Boutique, KEVA STYLE, and more.
If beer isn’t your thing, consider the Mother's Day Rooftop Shop n' Sip at Kabana for a Bottomless Brunch Buffet, Bloody Mary Bar, and Mimosa Bar! And best of all, local makers will be on hand so you can treat your mom to something nice right on the spot. Make sure to check out the handmade earrings from dagNABit, rings by Ko Designs, and magical confections by A Secret Forest. Seating is first come, first serve or you can book a discounted skyline couch package if you’re rolling with a group of 6+ (a bottle of Chloe Rosé is included).
Pack up your pooch and head to Ellwood Thompson's tonight and The Graduate on Saturday! Both Richmond favorites are hosting "Pups & Pints" events. At Ellwood’s you’ll find a pup-friendly happy hour featuring music by Aerica Lauren, discounts at the bar in The Beet Cafe, and a chance to share some love with Richmond Animal League. The crew from Suncrush Beer will be on hand offering samples of their new gluten-reduced, sparkling ale creation. On Saturday you’ll have a second crack at celebrating our furry friends in Richmond as The Graduate plays host to a special happy hour with 20% of proceeds supporting Richmond Animal Control and Care (RACC). The Graduate (pictured), which is known for its dog-friendly policies and BarkBox, is pulling out all the stops with giveaways, ice cream for your pup, opportunities to adopt a dog, and live music from Erin Lunsford and Prabir Mehta.
Vitals:
Pups & Pints on the Patio / Ellwood Thompson's / Thursday, May 9 / 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pups & Pints / The Graduate / Saturday, May 11 / 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For
You
Cake shake is all you need to know. At Coco + Hazel, located in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center, you can order a cake batter milkshake, topped with a big ol’ slice of confetti cake, whipped cream, and served in a cherry rainbow sprinkle rimmed glass. If candy is more your speed, do yourself a favor and order the Candy Land, which includes your choice of strawberry or vanilla milkshake topped with cotton candy, whipped cream, rock candy, and two lollipops! And if you want to make it a family affair, bring your crew and attempt to take on the “Family Challenge,” a jumbo-sized banana split built for four!
vol. 79 / paradise here 🏝️It’s not a place, but rather a sense of freedom to explore yourself and the world around you.
VOL. 79 / PARADISE HERE
Paradise is where you make it. It’s not a place, but rather a sense of freedom to explore yourself and the world around you. This week, we dig into a few ways to create your own paradise in this place we call home.
Because, there's no place like here.
Sharp's
Island
Nothing says paradise like your own private island. Just last year, Andy Thompson, founder of Richmondoutside.com, rounded up a gaggle of local nature lovers to purchase a 1-arce island in the middle of downtown Richmond. When this rare little spit of land, called Sharp’s Island, appeared on the market Thompson quickly snatched it up in an effort to carve out his own slice of paradise. This spring, Thompson is making the entire island available for rent in hopes others will create their own adventure here in RVA. You can easily motor up to the island from Ancarrow's Landing in a john boat, canoe over from the trail just below Mayo Bridge, or make it the final destination on your next downriver kayak trip. How you get there is up to you! The location of Sharp’s makes for perfect fishing conditions this time of year or simply a good place to enjoy a frosty beverage in a hammock, a book on the sandy beach, or storytelling by the fire pit. And during the summer months, the river levels produce dozens of swimming holes scattered along the banks.
Perk: Shine on. What’s a private island in the middle of the James without a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine in hand? We'll greet Here. members that book a Sharp's Island experience in May and June with a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine upon arrival!
While everyone is in charge of creating their own paradise, we’re fairly certain that adding burgers and beer by the river can help make things extra special. At the Lilly Pad, a hidden gem on Osborne Turnpike next to the Richmond Yacht Basin, you can order up a burger & basket of beer, enjoy tiki drinks served in pineapples at picnic tables, learn some bartending tips and tricks from guest mixologists, or belt out a classic tune during karaoke on the outside patio. It’s also the prime spot to watch a storm roll in over the James near Dutch Gap. And be on the lookout for Lilly Pad Luau's on Sundays, which will kick off in June with guest DJs and all the tiki themes you can handle.
Vitals:
Lilly Pad / 9680 Osborne Tnpk. Guest bartender from Sticky Rice and Cobra Cabana / Thursday, May 2
Karaoke / Friday, May 3
Live music by Jack Ruby & Co. / Saturday, May 4
Transitory
by Ed Trask
Ed Trask is back in May at Glave Kocen Gallery. Things kick off on Friday night with an opening reception for “Transitory” New Work by Ed Trask. As one of RVA’s most celebrated artists, Trask is known for pushing our little city by the river forward. In the mid 80s he made a name for himself on the punk scene as a drummer for bands like AVAIL, Corntooth, and Kepone. When he wasn’t performing, Trask turned Richmond (and many other cities he visited around the world) into his canvas as he painted directly on dilapidated buildings … perhaps a bit illegally, at times. Though Richmond is today flush with murals, back then large public displays of art took on a bit more of an outlaw vibe with Trask often leading the charge. Today, his work can be found in permanent collections at the VMFA, Gap, Capital One, Fortune Magazine, and more. And as the co-founder of RVA Street Art Festival, he has made it a point to support arts education, fellow artists, and good causes along the way.
Despite the accomplishments, Trask knows all of life is transitory. There are fleeting moments of change, love, light, and color. Even our own version of paradise here in Richmond is in transition. Stop by Glave Kocen Gallery on Friday night, and throughout May, to view “Transitory" to see what we're talking about. You’ll find paintings of some of your favorite Richmond spots in flux – such as a flooded Pipeline, fog rolling over the James River, a storm creeping on the old Skateland on Hull Street, Belle Isle ruins, a eulogy to Fulton Gas Works, and a Red Maple in full bloom at Maymont, just to name a few. And there are unlikely surfaces too, such as dramatic works painted on surfboards (yes, actual surfboards that can be used in the water!) and several skateboard decks etched by Richmond laser artist Big Secret. Take a moment, pause, and consider that everything is transitory. We must live accordingly.
Perk: Our friends at Glave Kocen Gallery love Here. readers. And as a Here. member, you’ll receive 10% off any non-exhibited work at Glave Kocen Gallery. Just let them know Here. sent you!
Seeking your own paradise sometimes requires a good vessel. The side arm flask, boasting the Richmond flag, is an essential tool for anyone hell bent on getting spirits where they need to go. Check out this Richmond Grid and Shine Vessels collab.
vol. 78 / awaken 🌅Unplug. Power down. Take a pause from the ordinary this weekend.
VOL. 78 / AWAKEN
Unplug. Power down. And take a pause from the ordinary this weekend. We've rounded up three tips to get you started on your journey right here in our River City.
Because, there's no place like here.
Climb
Right RVA
Find your Zen at the Manchester Wall. Climbing is all about being present. Your body makes a clear shift, your ego takes a seat on the bench, and all that unimportant stuff banging around in your head somehow slips away as you focus completely on your next move. To help you find that oh so sweet space, the folks at Peak Experiences are hosting their annual Climb Right RVA event at the Manchester Wall. If you haven’t checked it out, the Manchester Wall is part of the historic pilings scattered along the James that once held the Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge. Today, the original granite structures are home to some of the best climbing in the area and can be reached by theT. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge or south side access.
Climb Right RVA will consist of two days of free climbing events, designed for beginners and advanced climbers, by certified guides. Plus, there will be plenty of gear demos by Sterling, Wild Country, and Evolv as well as local food and drink vendors. On Saturday night, head over to Väsen Brewing for the official after party filled with craft beer and climbing games, like crash pad stacking (imagine a life-size Jenga game with you balancing on top).
Perk: The first three Here. readers that drop our name when checking in at the registration table at the Manchester Wall will receive a free stainless steal water bottle from Richmond Grid magazine with a sweet Richmond flag logo.
Vitals:
Saturday, April 27 / 9 am - 4 pm
Sunday, April 28 / 10 am - 3 pm Climb Right RVA
Awaken
VMFA Exhibition
Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment opens this weekend at VMFA, providing a chance to hop on a voyage into the visionary art of Tibetan Buddhism. The journey from clamor to contemplation unfolds as you progress through a series of immersive spaces with spectacular art and nearly 100 objects along the way. Best of all, you'll have an opportunity to take part in the narrative it presents and quest for enlightenment. Our friends at the VMFA promise that the opening weekend will offer a pause from the ordinary noise of daily living and a chance to contemplate and reflect.
Get your hands dirty this weekend while making a difference in the place we call home. The action-oriented team at Enrichmond Foundation will host its annual Earth Day of Service on Saturday. For over 25 years, Enrichmond Foundation has called on neighbors all over Richmond to volunteer in their communities. And this year promises to be their biggest Day of Service yet! Here. readers can help clear invasive plants, plant native trees, beautify public spaces, and so much more. Make sure to register to volunteer here. Volunteers will receive an Every Day is Earth Day tote bag.
Two tickets are up for grabs for Friday Cheers for Here. members. Tag a friend to take with you on our Instagram page for a chance to win two free passes to a concert of your choice from this season's Cheers lineup!
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