vol. 92 / keeping it cozy ⛺We're keeping it cozy this week with guest editor Brian Bell who wants you to be kind, smile at strangers, and pick up litter.
VOL. 92 / KEEPING IT COZY
This week we’re keeping things cozy with our guest editor—Brian Bell. If you haven’t had the pleasure, Brian is the founder of Keep Virginia Cozy, a Richmond based nonprofit that has removed over 20,000 pounds of litter and recycling from our park systems, neighborhoods, and trails. He’s an avid hiker, backpacker, rock climber, and litter picker upper. He's also known to rappel off waterfalls to pull out invasive species of plants, scrub vandalism from our trailhead signs, and teach "Leave No Trace" classes at local breweries. When Brian is not spearheading cleanup efforts around Richmond, you can find him (if you have a good map and compass) somewhere in the mountains if you’re lucky. Take it away, Brian …
If I can inspire just one person to take the first step down a wilderness trail, or to see for the first time the beauty in the bark of a tree, or dew on a blade of grass—then my life makes sense.
How truly blessed I feel to live in this wonderful place. How truly blessed we all are. Here are three tips to get out there. Be kind. Smile at strangers. Pick up litter. And keep Virginia cozy.
Shenandoah
National Park
Shenandoah National Park is a beautiful, historic national treasure that’s just a short drive from Richmond. It includes the 105-mile long Skyline Drive, a National Scenic Byway, and the Park itself covers the crest of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains for over seventy-five miles. The Appalachian Trail roughly parallels the Skyline Drive and 101 miles of the trail runs right through the Park! We’re talking miles and miles of hiking trails, numerous waterfalls, and some of the best mountain summits around. Park Ranger Programs are offered seasonally and available in the Shenandoah Explorer newspaper that you’ll receive when you enter the park. Camping is also available in the Park in addition to rooms at Skyland, Big Meadows Lodge and Lewis Mountain Cabins. If you get hungry, there are full-service restaurants at Skyland and Big Meadows, plus there are plenty of "waysides" with lighter food. You can even join a guided horseback ride that departs daily (weather permitting) from the Skyland stables or check out the Night Sky Program held at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center Terrace for all the stars without the red carpet. Go now.
When you're looking to get outside, trade the work clothes for some trail shoes, log some miles, and put some nature back into your life...there's literally no better place to go than Walkabout Outfitter in Carytown. They have everything you need for your next adventure or to simply hang a hammock in a secret spot in the woods for the weekend! A knowledgeable staff, tips and tricks for your gear, insights on truly "local spots," and anything and everything else you need to get you back to the wild! Walkabout also hosts a series of monthly hikes throughout Virginia with prizes and a chance to win free gear while you hike. Make them your last stop before skipping town and you’re sure to have the most enjoyable time in the outdoors that you possibly can!
Perk: Post a photo of you enjoying the great outdoors (or even better, cleaning it up) and tag @here.weekly for a chance to win a $25.00 gift card to Walkabout Outfitters.
Come join our Trashy Family! There’s no better way to meet like-minded people than by cleaning up the areas where we all live, work, and play! Every Tuesday, weather permitting, Keep Virginia Cozy hosts Trashy Tuesday as we work together to clean up a different part of our city. Keep Virginia Cozy’s mission is to protect wilderness and to inspire all Virginians to care for our wild places. We contribute to better protection, stewardship and restoration of our public lands, preserving our rich natural legacy for current and future generations. If you’d like to join us in Richmond, our next event will take place at Texas Beach. Be sure to check our Facebook page to find out about future meetups. Things always kick off at 6 pm and everyone is invited to come meet new friends, bring old friends, and help clean this place we call home. All gear is provided. And we always make sure to follow up each cleanup with cold beer at a local brewery.
Perk: The first five Here. readers to join Trashy Tuesday on August 6 will be treated to a post beer on us at Väsen Brewing. Just shoot us an email letting us know you're attending by Monday, August 5 and we'll have a frosty one waiting for you.
vol. 91 / bullseye 🎯Coming at you with three quirky and offbeat activities this weekend!
VOL. 91 / BULLSEYE
This week we’re taking aim at unlikely summer activities—from tossing axes with friends to blitzing RVA with books to trying your hand at highfalutin' mini-golf to sipping craft beer while playing street-side shuffleboard.
Cheers to the weekend! Read on…
Virginia
Axe Company
Just an axe throw away from Short Pump sits the Virginia Axe Company, a recreational axe and knife throwing venue that invites you to take aim. The 3,000 square foot facility offers Richmohders a chance to grab a 5-pound axe and take a swing in one of its 5 throwing pits. Locally owned, Virginia Axe Company is part of an edgy new trend in entertainment options nationwide that offer an alternative way to get an adrenaline fix with friends and fam. So if you’re in need of a little lumber jack action in your life, head out to Goochland to throw some axes this weekend. And not to worry, Virginia Axe uses regionally repurposed timber cut targets from already downed trees. Corporate team building events, birthday parties, private lessons, and bachelor/ette parties are available!
Still looking for the perfect summer read? Or maybe you have some beach reads to swap out? Join the Friends of the Richmond Public Library for a reverse scavenger hunt this Saturday. Teams of 3-5 people will meet at Blue Bee Cider in Scott’s Addition at 3 pm to pool together a collection of books for re-homing that they've gathered in advance. From there, the group plans to blitz the books across Richmond's 30+ Little Free Library locations! Teams will document each "blitz" on Instagram using #rvabookblitz and the Little Free Library charter number for each little library that the team stocks. After the blitz, join other book lovers at 5 pm at Blue Bee Cider for an after party complete with cider prizes for the teams with the most creative pics, most books, and the most libraries stocked. It’s $10 to participate, with 100% of registration fees supporting the Friends of Richmond Public!
Step inside Hotel Greene this weekend and you’ll be transported to a fictional hotel in the 1930s where a bellhop will check you in for an evening filled with mini-golf, cocktails, and tasty eats. Housed in a former hotel at 508 East Franklin Street, Hotel Greene opens today and offers Richmonders a chance to tee off in the lobby and play their way down the halls and throughout the hotel that has been retrofitted with a course by an internationally renowned mini-golf course designer. Along the way, enjoy classic cocktails, club sandwiches, and other menu items inspired by the times. Or go straight to the good stuff, and stop at the shot station.
Vitals:
Hotel Greene / Opens July 25 / 508 E. Franklin Street
BONUS TIP: Väsen's Anniversary Festival
25+ breweries plus six bands, streetside shuffleboard courts, an archery station, and disc golf! That sounds like our kind of block party. On Saturday, Väsen Brewing will host an epic anniversary bash in Scott's Addition from noon to 7 pm. Session #1 will kick off at noon and Session #2 at 3 pm. The brewery will be closed to the general public, so make sure to snag tickets (word has it that the VIP tickets come with a special beer table with a “secret stash” and commemorative swag! In addition to new beers by Väsen, the festival will include participating breweries like The Veil Brewing Co., Triple Crossing, Commonwealth Brewing Company, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Tabol Brewing, Aslin Beer Company, and more! And the all-star lineup of bands will feature Chance Fischer, Minor Poet, Mikrowaves, Calvin Presents, Paulo Franco, and Weekend Plans. As a mission driven brewery, Väsen will also offer a nonprofit village with local charities, like Keep Virginia Cozy and BridgePark, there to share their mission. Cheers.
Run—don't walk—to this week's medley of events, gatherings, and activities. We're talking mounds of tacos, roving goats, good causes, and rooftop brews.
Ready. Set. Go...
Dogtown Beer
and Tacos Festival
Our friends at Dogtown Brewing Co. received their Certificate of Occupancy, health permit, and ABC license this week. That means, the Dogtown Beer and Tacos Festival is a GO this Saturday from 2-10 pm! The inaugural festival will go down in multiple locations: the back parking lot of Dogtown Brewing with food and beer stations plus live music, inside Dogtown Brewing’s first floor restaurant and game room mezzanine, and on the rooftop bar (playfully referred to as the Wooftop). While the brewpub won't host its official Grand Opening until Saturday, July 27, the Beer and Tacos Festival this Saturday will offer a sneak peek of the new digs and menu prior to opening its doors. Expect beer releases in cans and on draft from the new brewery and a festival menu boasting the likes of tacos, street corn, guacamole stations, and oysters. Our beer writer, Eric Jackson of Uncap Everything (pictured), will be following the Dogtown Brewing story at richmondgrid.com as it unfolds this Saturday and over the weeks ahead.
Do you love beautiful river views? Do you love goats? We do too! Herds of Goat Busters, an eco-friendly brush clearing service that taps into the natural appetites of goats, will make a grand appearance at the Wilton House Museum. Built in 1753, the Wilton House was previously located about 7 miles below Richmond along the James River. Today, Wilton and its collections can be found west of the city at 215 S. Wilton Rd. Known for its jungle to backyard transformations, goats from the Goat Busters will be on hand for Running of the Goats this Friday to help Wilton House maintain its green landscape. The famed City Goat will be in attendance and there will be plenty of family-friendly activities and free first-floor tours of Wilton House Museum from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. And make sure to hang around for a bit after the goats arrive for a question and answer period with the herd owner.
Every third Thursday through October, dog lovin’ runners can join Running Buddies at the Richmond SPCA at 5:30 pm and run to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (Richmond location). The Running Buddies program provides homeless dogs with much-needed exercise to give their health and happiness a boost while awaiting adoption. Thanks to local Running Buddies volunteers, dogs at the SPCA have an outlet for their energy—and you’re invited to join them on a 2.25 mile long run with beer at the finish line. Runners of all levels are welcome to join Run with the (Richmond SPCA) Dogs each week for free. The group will be led by Running Buddies representatives (active volunteers with the Richmond SPCA who have completed dog handling classes). With the exception of the adoptable four-legged guests, this is a human-only run so make sure to leave your own pup at home or with a friend who awaits your return to Hardywood for some Food Truck Court fare after the run!
Plan Ahead: Väsen Brewing is hosting its 2nd year anniversary BLOCK PARTY on July 27th in Scott's Addition with an all-star list of bands, 25+ breweries, cideries, meaderies, food trucks, outdoor activities (like archery, disc golf, shuffleboard, fly fishing), and surprises! There will be two sessions (session #1 from 12 pm - 3 pm and Session #2 from 4 pm - 7 pm). Get your tickets early!
Go
