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Drive Shack Takes a Swing at the Richmond Area

Jonah Schuhart | October 14, 2019

Topics: community service, craft beer, drive shack, driving range, events, Games, golf, golfing, News, nonprofit

With golf balls, grill food, and community service, Drive Shack is setting the par for driving ranges in the River City. 

Driving up Route 288 just before it meets I-64, Richmonders have watched an impressive-looking structure grow over the last several months, and awaited their chance to go inside. Drive Shack, the brand-new driving range in Goochland, finally opened its doors last month for all to see — and well over two weeks past its September 20 debut, it’s still crowded with excited visitors.

Located at 1647 Four Rings Drive, Drive Shack is home to three levels of spots for golfers to hit balls into the massive driving range. It’s clear from the establishment’s food, games, and events that it welcomes more than just golfers, with plenty for families and businesses in the city to enjoy.

“We’re just trying to bring a little bit of everything to Richmond,” said General Manager Michael Matley.

Photo via Drive Shack Richmond

The driving range itself is large, taking up more than three-quarters of the facility’s 65,000 square feet. The range is also outfitted with technological attractions, meaning that it can track a golf ball’s flight path, distance, and landing location to display it on screen. The obvious benefit to this is that it allows golfers to more accurately judge where they tend to hit the ball. The range lacks any hills or natural grass, utilizing synthetic astroturf; so while it may be a good place to practice, it’s nothing like the kind of golfing on real grass one would find at a golf course.

The system also comes programmed with games for customers to play. Some are more casual, fantasy-style games for less serious golfers, but there is also the option to play a full 18 virtual holes of golf.

But those aren’t the only games at Drive Shack. The establishment also has a mini-arcade that widens its appeal; what’s more, it serves as an event space, with a full bar and food menu.

“We partnered with Performance Food Group for our food,” said Matley, “so we’re able to use local suppliers.”

Photo via Drive Shack Richmond

Their focus on food also extends to Richmond’s popular craft beer market. Seven local Richmond breweries have beers on tap at Drive Shack, including Hardywood’s special “Drive Shack Golden Ale,” brewed as a special release for its opening.

But Drive Shack’s interest in the Richmond community doesn’t stop with craft beer: members of their team have been working with nonprofit organizations like GoochlandCares since before the establishment opened. Along with participating in community service with their company, Drive Shack’s management team held a food drive for the first ten days the business was open. For every pound of food collected, Drive Shack donated one dollar.

“We’re looking forward to doing that even more,” said Matley. “[We have a lot of] responsibility to give back to the community with our time.” 

RVA ON TAP: Festivals Galore!

Caley Sturgill | August 21, 2019

Topics: 18th Street, ‪3 Sons‬, ‪American Solera, ‪Anchorage‬, Angry Chair, ardent, Ardent craft ales, beer, beer column, Bellwoods, Benefit, Bissell Brothers, Black Heath Meadery, Blue Bee Cider, Buskey Cider, ‪Cantillon, Casey Brewing, Center of the Universe, Cloudwater‬, courthouse creek cider, Drie Fonteinen‬, Final Gravity, fine creek brewing, ‪Fonta Flora‬, ‪Half Acre‬, Hardywood, ‪Hill Farmstead‬, ‪Holy Mountain‬, ‪Hudson Valley‬, Isley Brewing Company, James River Association, ‪Jester King‬, lab rescue, Lickinghole Creek, ‪Monkish‬, nonprofit, ‪Notch‬, ‪Ocelot‬, ‪Omnipollo‬, ‪Other Half‬, outrva, ‪Oxbow‬, Reservoir Distillery, Richmond Triangle Players, RVA On Tap, ‪Sante Adarius‬, ‪SideProject‬, ‪Suarez Family, ‪The Answer, The Veil, ‪The Veil, The Veil Brewing Co., three notchd, ‪Threes, ‪Tired Hands, Trillium‬, TRVE‬, va pride, Vasen Brewing Company, weldwerks

What’s happening, craft beer lovers of RVA?! Welcome to this week’s RVA On Tap, RVA Magazine’s weekly column for all your craft beer-related events, releases, festivals, and all the booze news your hearts desire. 

If you missed the last column, you can check that out here. Our kegs are overflowing this week with beer releases and festivals, events, and other cool happenings around town — so hold on to your mugs! 

This week, Richmond’s brewers are at it again with *tons* of awesome events. You’ll find some great new beer releases, in addition to lots of benefits to help out the nonprofits and organizations we all know and love, so save your weekly restaurant budget for the weekend, because we’ve got a lot of great reasons to come and support. 

PHOTO: Hardywood

Big news at Hardywood! The James River Jubilee is coming up this Sunday, so make sure you don’t go too hard on Saturday so you can make it out. Our buds at Hardywood partnered up with the James River Association to create this special first-ever James River celebration to honor the biggest and best part of our city: the river that runs through it. 

All of our river-goers know how important the James is to Richmond and its history, and the James River Park System is one of the best in the state for hiking, fishing, picnics, and swimming all summer long. There’s nothing like getting out of the hustle and bustle of downtown to escape into the trails along the river, and take a vacation from the city without ever having to leave it. The James River Association maintains our beautiful environment and keeps it in tip-top shape for us to enjoy year-round, so take this Sunday to come together with us to appreciate the river and the people who protect it. 

All day long at Hardywood, food trucks and beers galore will be around along with interactive vendors and jubilant music to commemorate Richmond’s greatest asset, and the wildlife that surrounds it. 

Hardywood’s also got some great can releases this week, with None Of This Makes Sense coming out on Friday in cans along with Cloud Shapes, a dreamy fruit Double IPA dropping in cans that day as well. 

PHOTO: Isley Brewing Company

Calling all dog lovers! National Dog Day is around the corner, and our friends at Isley Brewing Company have brewed up something special to commemorate it. 

This Saturday, head over to Isley for the release of Rescue Red Ale, a red that reflects its name in its deep, cherry color. It’s brewed with Jarrylo and Mosaic hops that balance out its malty, sweet backbone with a bit of a hoppy kick. with a good amount of hops but a still-approachable 5.2% ABV and 34 IBU to keep the bitterness at bay. 

Along with great beer, you’ll find everything from treats to doggie pools and homemade ice cream for your pups, and giveaways and raffles to treat their humans, too. The beer benefits the Lab Rescue of Greater Richmond and the Lab Rescue LRCP, so drink happy knowing you’re helping some sweet babies find homes. 

Another bonus: if you’re a dog lover who has yet to find their dog to love, the event will be hosting adoptions of some great pups in need of forever homes. Come to Isley for the beer, and come home with your newest (and favorite) family member. 

PHOTO: Ardent Craft Ales

Tomorrow night, swing by Ardent Craft Ales for some sweet earthy flavors in their latest brew. Barrel Aged Honey Ginger is making its way back to the taps, and this new version of a fan favorite is only available once a year — so make sure you don’t miss out, and get your taste before it’s gone. 

Layered with bourbon and vanilla notes, this honey-ginger beer was aged for more than a year in bourbon barrels to add to its sweet honey tastes and spices with ginger. If you loved last year’s version, you’re sure to enjoy this one with its bourbon barrel additions of flavor. Coming in at a high 11.5% ABV, you’ll also only need one, unless you’re in that small class of folks I know who can grab a six pack and enjoy bourbon brews all night long. 

If you’re wanting a taste without a weeknight evening at the brewery, you can also head over to grab some in bottles to enjoy anytime. They’re also hosting the release alongside one of our most-favorite foods with The Return of the Mac food truck out in the beer garden, so you won’t want to miss it. 

PHOTO: The Veil Brewing Co.

Are you holding on to summer with all your might? You’re not alone. The Veil Brewing Co. feels your pain, and they’re hosting a banger for all the summer-lovers in the River City. 

Forever Summer Fest is going down this Saturday at The Veil to benefit ChildSavers. This is an awesome way to give back, so don’t let the high ticket price scare you off if you’re able to swing it — all proceeds are going back to the nonprofit, so you can rest easy knowing those dollars are well-spent. 

The event is taking place over three sessions throughout the day from morning to night, which lets you pick whichever time works best. Grab your tickets here for any session you please, and get tastes from tons of awesome breweries you won’t find around here… plus your local favorites like The Answer Brewpub who will be there pouring. 

Here’s a full list of the brewers, many we don’t normally get to try at home, who are coming out: 

18th Street, Angry Chair, ‪American Solera, ‪Anchorage‬, Bellwoods, Bissell Brothers, ‪Cantillon, Casey Brewing, Cloudwater‬, Drie Fonteinen‬, ‪Fonta Flora‬, ‪Half Acre‬, ‪Hill Farmstead‬, ‪Holy Mountain‬, ‪Hudson Valley‬, ‪Jester King‬, ‪Monkish‬, ‪Notch‬, ‪Ocelot‬, ‪Omnipollo‬, ‪Other Half‬, ‪Oxbow‬, ‪Sante Adarius‬, ‪SideProject‬, ‪Suarez Family, ‪The Answer, ‪The Veil, ‪Threes, ‪3 Sons‬, ‪Tired Hands, Trillium‬, TRVE‬, and ‪Weldwerks‬. 

PHOTO: Final Gravity Brewing Co.

Returning to Final Gravity Brewing Co. this week is Cassiopeia, a Double IPA brewed in honor of the beautiful Greek Cassiopeia in mythology. Head over to Final Gravity this Friday for a taste of melon, coconut, pine, peach, and “whispers of pineapple” in this easy drinker. 

Cassiopeia was brewed with Cashmere and Mosaic hops to come together in this heavenly congregation, as the brewers say, of radiant flavors with a smooth bitterness that brings out its lemon and tangerine flavors. 

PHOTO: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

Out on the farm at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, our brewers are at it again with a brand-new brew coming out this Friday. Juicy #14 is the latest in Lickinghole Creek’s Juicy Series, dry-hopped with a massive amount of Eureka hops — and only Eureka hops. 

A pale, hazy beauty according to Lickinghole Creek, Juicy #14 is full of tropical citrus, stone fruit, and blackberry flavors which all come together with a fluffy, wheat-based mash bill. You’ll love the low bitterness that comes with its big hop flavors from being rounded out with their house English Ale yeast to make this perfectly-dank and resinous beer. 

PHOTO: Center of the Universe

Grab your wagons if you’ve got ‘em (wheelbarrows and station wagons are acceptable for those of us who live in the actual city) because Center of the Universe has a festival for you. 

The 3rd Annual Circle the Wagons BBQ Cook-off and Concert is coming up this Saturday to benefit Circles Ashland, a nonprofit that works to reduce poverty in Ashland. This benefit is going down in the brand-new Green Top Hunt Fish with tons of entertainment, from music for parents to a 40ft inflatable obstacle course for the kids. 

If you’re a big BBQ fan like myself, this event is definitely for you. A panel of 10 judges is going to be tasting one meat and one side from each of the vendors in attendance, which includes Saucy’s BBQ, The Salty Pig Smokehouse Co., Jake’s Place, Virginia BBQ Ashland, The UFO Truck, and my *all-time favorite* Grandpa Eddie’s Alabama Ribs & BBQ. You can bet your sweet bippy that I will be coming out if only for a massive plate of Grandpa Eddie’s just to take home and eat by myself in bliss. 

They’ve also got amateur competitions that you can enter if you please, so get cookin’ and bring out your best recipes to take home the name of best cornbread in the state from the festival. All-around, this is going to be a day of bigtime good food, so bring your appetite and fast for food that morning if you have to. Lord knows I probably will. 

PHOTO: Fine Creek Brewing

Out at Fine Creek Brewing, a new Lemon Wheat came out over the weekend that sounds delicious. Already a favorite among fans, this American Wheat Ale brew hits in at 5.2% ABV and brings out all the refreshment you need for these hot summer days. It was brewed with Callista, Saphir, and Nugget hops in addition to its fresh lemon peel additions, and you can grab it to-go as well in Growlers and Crowlers. 

They’ve also got their beloved Turf & Twig Brown Ale back on tap, which has just the right amount of sweetness to complement this dark-style Brown Ale. You’ll catch dessert flavors like nutty coffee, baker’s cocoa, and pumpernickel bread to bring out its rich maltiness, and a clean finish with just that hint of sweetness to round it out. 

That’s it for this week’s RVA On Tap! As your weekly columnist, I’m here to take all your beer releases, event info, ideas and questions. If you’re a brewer, send me your release info at [email protected], and if you’re a beer enthusiast, drop me a line anytime to talk booze. Catch y’all next week! 

Rx Partnership Fights To Make Medications Affordable For All Virginians

Abigail Buchholz | July 25, 2019

Topics: amy yarcich, coverage, crossover ministry, HEALTH, health care, health coverage, Health insurance, healthcare, insurance, local news, medication, nonprofit, richmond nonprofit, rx partnership, virginia health, Virginia News

Life uninhibited by the financial strain of healthcare: Rx Partnership works to provide Virginians with affordable medications across the state. 

Since 2003, Virginia nonprofit Rx Partnership and their associated clinics have helped provide access to free prescription medicine to over 68,000 uninsured Virginians, totalling over $150 million in retail value. 

Rx Partnership accomplished this feat by facilitating a relationship between pharmaceutical companies and 26 free clinics throughout Virginia, donating medicines in bulk to bring affordable care to folks throughout the Commonwealth. Through the process, the nonprofit has received donated prescription drugs from companies such as Merck, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, AbbVie, and Pfizer. 

“A lot of folks are being helped right now by Medicaid expansion, but at the same time, there are folks that make a little too much to qualify for that,” explained Amy Yarcich, Executive Director of Rx Partnership. “They’re not so well off that they can just open their wallet and afford an inhaler for their asthma for $125.”

Heads of households — who often work multiple jobs, providing for their families and putting food on the table — are the usual focus of these clinics. A recurring dilemma faced by these caregivers is the choice between medication for themselves and groceries for their family. 

“We look at it like [this]: the healthier the caregiver is, the better it is for the family,” said Yarcich.

Acting as a middle man, Rx Partnership cuts out expenses for clinics by buying prescription drugs. With the costs taken care of, individuals covered under PAP (Patient Assistance Programs for low-income people and those with no prescription insurance coverage) can receive treatment — and clinics are able to concentrate on serving more patients. 

“We keep a laser focus on medication access, and what we can do on a statewide scale,” said Yarcich. “That helps free up the clinics to really focus on patient care, and doing what they do best.” 

With 26 affiliated free clinics, Rx Partnership serves the whole Virginia community with licensed pharmacies. Each clinic is well-equipped with screening processes, which help them look at the income, household size, and access to insurance of their patients. This screening process is crucial to keeping the whole system running effectively, and to making sure those who need prescription medicine the most are able to get it at no cost. 

CrossOver Ministry receives support from Rx Partnership, and is the only free clinic in Richmond with a licensed on-site pharmacy. In order to qualify as a new non-Medicaid patient at CrossOver Ministries, patients must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and have no form of insurance. 

Their clinic serves a diverse part of the community, and saw over 6,000 patients in 2016, providing 49,000 prescriptions. Led by Leo Ross, a decade-long volunteer at the pharmacy, a staff of 24 pharmacists help in handing out more than $10 million in medications to the community. These medications provide uninsured individuals with the life-saving medications needed to function in their community, and to live life uninhibited by the financial strain of their health. 

In Richmond, CrossOver Ministry provides a variety of care for patients in one convenient location. All in one building, they provide services ranging from dental to vision health, HIV testing, and mental health services. By keeping all of their facilities under one roof, CrossOver Ministry is able to foster intimate relationships in a close knit community. 

“They know the names of the front desk staff, and there’s a relationship there,” said Yarcich. “That’s really important.” 

Thanks to the work of Rx Partnership, these clinics are able to help the vulnerable Americans who miss out on the benefits of health insurance. For the most part, patients are between the ages of 18 and 64. Those younger than 18 benefit from programs that help minors get insurance, and those older than 64 benefit from Medicare. It’s the patients stuck in the middle that Rx Partnership focuses on. 

Often times, individuals at the clinics are suffering from chronic conditions that make it impossible to operate at 100 percent — so even if they do go to work, both their families and their careers are damaged in the process. 

Yarich recalled several of their patients’ stories, in particular focusing on chronic illness that prevented them from going to work. An unemployed man, who suffered from several chronic conditions, was unable to afford his medication. Because of the assistance he received from the program, he was able to get back on his feet; he even started supporting his family and taking care of his kids again. She shared a similar tale of a woman in the same situation who was able to afford both her medication and her children’s Christmas presents thanks to the clinic. 

Along with their continuous fight to increase pharmaceutical company donations, Rx Partnership works to raise awareness of their organization’s services to patients across Virginia. At the moment, specific medications are donated through established programs and contracts between the nonprofit and medication companies — but there is still a swath of medications from generic manufacturers that would benefit the public just as much (if not more). 

In the future, Rx Partnership wants to start helping patients who are underinsured. These individuals might be able to afford insurance, but their coverage is such that they’re going to struggle to pay for medications and start skipping doses or splitting pills. 

As the debate on universal healthcare continues, the future is uncertain for Americans who rely on good health insurance to navigate their day-to-day life.  Despite this uncertainty, Virginian residents can trust in organizations such as Rx Partnership and its clinics to act as a safety net for themselves and their families. 

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