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During The Pandemic, Rooftop Bars Are Skyrocketing In Popularity

Brooke Nicholson | August 20, 2020

Topics: coronavirus, COVID-19, Kabana Rooftop, Quirk Hotel, restaurants in richmond va, rooftop bars, The HofGarden

Rooftop bars might once have seemed like a mere novelty, but in a time when adequate ventilation and sufficient room to socially distance are paramount, these outdoor venues are becoming downright essential.

The world only had the chance to taste freedom for two months of 2020 before everything began to shut down and we all barricaded ourselves in our homes. Everything we knew was quickly swept away by the coronavirus, and nobody knew what was going to happen to the world. Now, almost six months into the worldwide pandemic that’s changing the way we eat, sleep, breathe, and go out in public, services are slowly beginning to open their doors once again. 

Everyone’s eager to return to normal life, but COVID is still very much a concern, which has led people to rethink the ways they spend time in public. They want to go to bars again, but they don’t necessarily want to cram into a cramped bar. One popular alternative that some locals have opted for has been to visit a rooftop bar, where instead of cramming into a poorly-ventilated enclosed space, you can sip a cocktail while remaining outdoors, enjoying an evening in the clouds.

Where rooftop bars are concerned, Richmond offers a variety of options. From the Graduate’s rooftop bar, Byrd House, and the HofGarden, to Kabana Rooftop and the Q Rooftop Bar at the Quirk Hotel, pandemic-adverse locals have been flocking to facilities that can offer them an opportunity to order a cocktail in a safer environment than indoor restaurants and bars can provide.

Photo via The HofGarden/Facebook

Of course, safety is still an extremely important factor for all of Richmond’s rooftop bars. Sandi Cauley of The HofGarden in Scott’s Addition says they are still in operation, but can only accommodate a fraction of the crowd due to safety concerns. Many larger events that had been planned before the pandemic had to be canceled. 

“All of our staff members are required to wear masks; guests must wear them too, unless they are seated at their tables,” Cauley said. “We also have hand sanitizing stations around our Taproom, Loft and Rooftop. We have spaced out all the seating and only allow for a small group of six or less to gather, and we have added QR codes to each table that open to our menu and allow guests to order without contact and use of a paper menu.” In order to keep control of the crowds, a reservations system is in place at the HofGarden, but Cauley says they continue to get filled up fairly quickly.

Derick Washington, Director of Operations for Kabana Rooftop in the Arts District, says that he believes the appeal is much higher for rooftop bars than that of standard indoor bars because of the skyline views and outdoor space. With the recent reopenings of some public spaces, Kabana has taken advantage of the shutdown to reinvent their bar and readied themselves for safely accepting customers again. “We are constantly working on new cocktails, food, and even events that we can operate safely to bring something new to the rooftop as much as possible during these times,” said Washington. Kabana has also engaged in some restrictions in order to ensure that safety remains a priority for them.

“We do take responsibility to guarantee our guests a safe space to enjoy a refreshing cocktail and food,” Washington said. “We are still regulating guest entry with mandatory use of masks, not only to enter the venue, but any time they are not within the area that they have been seated. It is a difficult task due to the size of our venue, but we have also continued operations to not include bar service, so guests are mandated to wait at their tables and receive service there only, instead of the usual venture to the bar.”

Nico Scherman, general manager of Quirk Hotel, the popular hotel, restaurant, and bar downtown, describes how their Q Rooftop bar looked at the quarantine as a chance to switch up the way they looked at serving food and drinks. 

“Obviously with the way things are running this year, we’ve got to rethink about how we operate,” Scherman said. “It’s resonating very well with our guests. The goal is to operate responsibly so that our guests, colleagues, and staff feel safe. We have a new reservation system, so it’s a goal to maximize the guest experience with the time that they have.”

Both Kabana and Q Rooftop have utilized their time stuck in quarantine as a chance to reinvent and come up with new items before reopening safely again. For Scherman, an important step is having food and drinks already waiting for the guest by the time they come in for their reservation, to minimize standing in lines and keep guests farther away from others.

“We try to do as much as we can up front,” Scherman said. “So if people are waiting for anything, we’ve bottled a lot of our house cocktails. And then we have our boozy popsicles, and those do change every day.” 

Photo via Quirk Hotel Richmond/Facebook

There are a variety of other methods these venues are using to minimize contact and keep patrons’ visits as safe as possible. The HofGarden is using the QR code method to allow customers to order food from their devices, so that orders go straight to the kitchen with minimal contact. The Q Rooftop bar implemented a new handle sanitation system; they placed self-cleaning patches on every doorknob to ensure that germs are dead by the time the next patron comes along.

Although it may seem like COVID-19 isn’t quite going anywhere for a while, plenty of people want to find a way to live as close to a normal life as possible in spite of the restrictions. To that end, the best everyone can do is practice safer methods for going out in public spaces — and rooftop bars are here to help.

“I think that there is certainly a greater comfort level between the steps that we’ve taken in making people feel safe from the second you enter the front door,” Scherman said. “[Feedback from guests] has been very positive. I think part of the people are just really trying to get outside, enjoy the environment, and socialize as much as you can in this situation. I think that’s resonating.”

“We are beyond grateful for the guests that have joined us each day and continue to work with us through these dark times,” Washington said. “We strive every day to continue to provide an extraordinary venue for the RVA community to continue to enjoy, and hope that we are able to do so for many more years to come.” 

Top Photo: Kabana Rooftop, via Facebook

Gay(RVA)NYE: Ring In Your 2020 in Proper Fashion

Marilyn Drew Necci | December 26, 2019

Topics: Black Pride RVA, Decemberween, Diversity Richmond, events in richmond va, events richmond va, Fallout, Godfrey's, Kabana Rooftop, Lamplighter, New Years Eve, No BS! Brass Band, PLF, Quirk Hotel, richmond events, Richmond Triangle Players, richmond va, Robert B. Moss Theatre, RVA, Scott Wichmann, Studio Two Three, things to do richmond va

Get the most out of your new year and say goodbye to the 10’s in proper fashion with our GayRVA guide to the best New Year’s Eve parties this town has to offer!

As 2019 ends and a new decade is set to begin, we all want to have the best New Year’s Eve possible. For plenty of people, this means traveling to some bigger city: New York for the ball drop in Times Square, DC for the big parties, maybe Atlanta where it’s not so cold… but what if you just want to stay in Richmond this year?

Well, if you choose to do so, you’ll not only be missing out on a boatload of travel time and related expenses, you’ll find plenty of amazing things to do and enjoy right here in the good ol’ RVA. If you ask us, it’s really the best way to go.

Here are the best places in Richmond to have yourself a truly wonderful New Year’s Eve.

PLF’s Decemberween at Diversity Richmond

This one’s at the top of the list every year, and I can’t imagine that’ll change anytime soon. The Party Liberation Front’s Halloween-in-December shindig is always the place to be for the arrival of the new year, and it’s because the group never fails to pull out all the stops for this affair.

This year is no different! Dozens of DJs on three different stages will ensure that the music never stops. There’ll be fire performances outside to keep you from getting chilly, as well as mutant vehicles, food trucks, art installations, three different bars, and a whole lot more. It’s a totally immersive experience that will tantalize all five senses for eight full hours! Don’t miss this one. Tickets are $66, and worth every penny. Order here.

Black Pride RVA’s New Year’s Eve Bash 2020 at Studio Two Three

This New Year’s Eve, Black Pride RVA is doing it up right over at Studio Two Three. Their decade-ending event will be a Black & White Affair featuring food, champagne, party favors, and more. Everyone will be dressed to the nines for this one, and you’re sure to enjoy every moment. Tickets start at $25 — order here.

Scott Wichmann at Richmond Triangle Players’ Robert B. Moss Theatre

If you’re looking for a memorable musical affair that summons up the glittering showbiz days of yesteryear, Richmond Triangle Players has got you covered this year, with two performances by “Mister Showtime,” Scott Wichmann. Wichmann’s charismatic flair will lend a special vibrance to his performance of Rat Pack classics, and he’ll have some special guests and a trio led by Musical Director Ryan Corbitt to kick things up a notch and make it a show worthy of wrapping up the decade.

Wichmann will perform two different shows on New Year’s Eve, one at 7 PM and one at 10 PM, so whether you want to wrap the evening up early or stay out all night, there’s a showtime that’ll work for you! Tickets start at only $10, and can be purchased here. Grab yours now!

Godfrey’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

There are all kinds of places you can go for this occasion, but sometimes nothing feels as right as the place you visit regularly all year. That’s why the Godfrey’s New Year’s Eve throwdown just might be the best place to be in this whole town on December 31. They’ll be throwing a big drag show, along with some great year-end drink specials and a cash balloon drop at midnight, so there’ll be plenty to enjoy all evening. The economically-minded should make a note that the cover doubles at 11 PM — so show up by 10:59 and party all night!

Fallout’s New Year’s Eve Masque

Shockoe Bottom’s #1 fetish club is continuing their tradition with this Masquerade Ball featuring drinks, DJs, and plenty of awesome outfits. The line for drinks might be long once this one gets going, but there will be a secondary cash-only bar, so if you’ve got some legal tender in your pocket, you can avoid the rush!

Fallout strictly requires attendees to wear formal and/or fetish clothing, and a mask, so make sure you’re properly attired, or you might be turned away to hang with the normies. No one wants that! While Fallout is members-only, non-members can be guested in by friends who are members, or message their facebook to obtain a one night pass. It’ll be worth it.

Roaring 20s NYE at Kabana Rooftop

Over in the straight world, the arrival of 2020 seems to be a big occasion for “Roaring 20s” themed events, and Kabana Rooftop, atop the Hampton Inn downtown, certainly looks like the most promising of these. They’ll feature music all evening, headlined by a performance from virtuoso violinist and turntable-spinner DJ Manifesto. Plus there’ll be champagne toasts, party favors, and a live feed of the ball drop — so you don’t have to watch it at home. Tickets start at $35, and if you don’t want to find your way home afterward, Hampton Inn offers special rates for suites directly attached to Kabana, so you really can make an entire night of it.

Belle Epoque at Quirk Hotel

But hey, maybe the roaring 20s aren’t even retro enough for you — maybe you want to take things all the way back to the late 19th century. If so, Quirk Hotel has you covered with their Belle Epoque-style evening, featuring music by DJ Ant Boogie, a custom gin & tonic bar, champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and everything else you love about NYE parties. For $25, you can drop in to Quirk around 10 PM (tickets here), or if you really want to do it up right and proper, you can kick the evening off with a 5-course New Year’s Eve dinner at Maple & Pine, Quirk Hotel’s in-house restaurant. The prix-fixe meal is $99 per person (tickets here), and includes entrance to the Quirk event, so that’s your whole evening covered!

Noon Year’s Eve at Lamplighter featuring No BS! Brass Band

Are you the sort of person who’d really rather avoid leaving the house on New Year’s Eve at all? That’s understandable — the roads are hardly the safest on that evening, and lord knows a lot of people do not know how to stay within their limits. Fortunately, even if you’re completely uninterested in being out of the house after dark, there is some fun still to be had over at Lamplighter’s Addison Street location. Specifically, No BS! Brass Band will be showing up late in the morning on December 31 to play tunes and get the party rockin’ for a ball drop on the Lamplighter roof at noon! So there you go — you can take part in a joyous year-ending event with the sun still high in the sky, and head home secure in the knowledge that you’ve done your carousing for the year.

Top Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash

Virginia Is For Queer Lovers, Too!

Eric Hause | October 4, 2019

Topics: Assateague, Assateague Explorer, Babe's of Carytown, Barcode, Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop, Byrd Theatre, Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises, Carytown, Chincoteague, Chincoteague Oyster Festival, Diversity Richmond, Garden And Sea Inn, Godfrey's, Hispanic Music Festival, Island House Restaurant, Key West Cottages, L'opossum, LGBT Travel, Linden Row Inn, Luray Caverns, Mallards At The Wharf, NASA, Oyster Farm at Kings Creek, Page County Heritage Festival, Piney Hill Bed and Breakfast, Quirk Hotel, Richmond Folk Festival, scotts addition, Shadow Mountain Escape, Shenandoah Valley, Skyland's Pollock Dining Room, Skyline Drive, Southeast Expeditions, The Edinburg Mill Restaurant, The Inn At Little Washington, Virginia Eastern Shore, Virginia Is For LGBT Lovers, Virginia is For Lovers, Virginia museum of fine arts, virginia museum of history and culture, Virginia Tourism, Viva RVA, Wallops Island, Weezie's Kitchen, Wirt Confroy

Our 2019 Fall Pride Guide, in collaboration with VA Pride, is out now! In this article from the magazine, Outwire 757 co-founder Eric Hause gives us a guide to planning your all-day, all-gay getaway with Virginia Tourism’s LGBT Travel Program!

Fifty years ago, a $100-a-week advertising copywriter named Robin McLaughlin at Richmond’s Martin & Woltz Inc. came up with a new travel advertising concept for a client. The client was the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the concept became the slogan “Virginia is for Lovers.” That slogan is now so iconic that it was voted one of the top ten tourism marketing campaigns of all time by Forbes Magazine.

That sort of heady success, however, hasn’t diminished the power of its message of love over those 50 years, and in 2016, our purple-ish state stepped into the modern age by adding a new component to that message: “Virginia is for LGBT Lovers.”

That year, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s LGBT Tourism Task Force and the Virginia Tourism Corporation publicly acknowledged the economic impact of LGBTQ travelers, and welcomed us to experience the Commonwealth.

There was some kind of kismet at work here. After all, in 1969 — the same year that Robin Mclaughlin came up with the Virginia slogan — the Stonewall Riots launched the Gay Rights movement. Back in those days, the LGBTQ community was still on the fringes of society. While Virginia’s queer population could gather safely at a smattering of bars and other gay-owned businesses, the Commonwealth, to say the least, was not known as a welcoming destination.

Godfrey’s is a restaurant and nightclub in Richmond that features premiere drag shows. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

That’s all changed. Today’s queer road warriors can find hundreds of self-designated LGBTQ-friendly travel businesses and events in all corners of the Commonwealth. Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Director of Business Development, Wirt Confroy, is the man tasked with putting all the pieces together. He’s worked tirelessly with Tourism’s IT department, businesses, destinations, and event planners to catalogue and present them on the State’s tourism website.

When asked about what the program means to him, Confroy said, “It’s simple. LGBT visitors to Virginia now have access to queer-friendly places and experiences. They have a resource that helps them find the destinations, events, tractions and services that welcome them the most.”

So it is with the progressive efforts of many in mind that we present you with our Fall Queer Travel Guide to the Commonwealth. With Virginia Tourism’s help, we’ve carefully curated travel itineraries built around special events this autumn in three destinations: the Shenandoah Valley, the Eastern Shore, and Richmond. All you need do is gas up the automobile, get a few friends together, and hit the road for your big queer fall vacation in Virginia!

Shenandoah National Park is a beautiful, historic national treasure which includes the scenic 105-mile long Skyline Drive – a designated National Scenic Byway. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

Head for the Hills: A Mountain Getaway

When you think of autumn travel in Virginia, one of the first destinations that comes to mind is Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Valley. No doubt, leaf-peeping on a crystal clear brisk Blue Ridge day is a timeless exercise. As an extra bonus for queer folk, the Shenandoah is home to many friendly and exciting attractions, events, restaurants, and lodging.

Plan this year’s mountain getaway around the Page County Heritage Festival, the weekend of October 12- 13 in Luray. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Festival, and it’s a true slice of small-town farm life with a big-city progressive attitude. Highlights include live entertainment, Shenandoah Valley craftsmen and artisans, a delightful antique farm equipment show, and food. Oh, the food!

After the festival, head into the town of Luray for some exploring. Roadsnacks.com ranked the town as the 8th Gayest Place in Virginia for 2019 based on the percentage of same-sex households, so you’re bound to make some new friends.

The town itself is centered around a beautiful Historic District, but the famous Luray Caverns are the area’s top visitor attraction. This U.S. Natural Landmark holds the largest and most popular caverns in Eastern America. From well-lighted paved walkways, explore cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10 stories high, filled with towering stone columns and crystal-clear pools.

Luray Caverns, eastern America’s largest and most popular caverns. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

If you’re more of a car warrior, take a ride on the nearby Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop, a compact wine-tasting route that winds through the Northern Shenandoah valley. Recommended by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, the Loop features seven wineries, a whiskey distillery, antiques, dining, and the gorgeous natural scenery of the Shenandoah National Park.

You can hop off the Loop and onto Skyline Drive at several spots, and it’s worth the detour. Mid-October is prime leaf season, and the parkway has many overlooks with as many eye-popping photo ops as you can stand along its 105-mile length.

Where to Stay: For LGBTQ-friendly lodging in Luray, check out Piney Hill Bed & Breakfast and Cottages. Comprised of two private cottages and three guest rooms in the main house (a renovated 1800s farm house), the B&B is gay-owned and operated since 2000. It is also consistently ranked as the top inn in Luray each year.

The nearby Shadow Mountain Escape is billed as a romantic couple’s escape, and features modern and authentic European timber cottages adjacent to the Shenandoah National Park. Shadow Mountain is recommended as a Best place To Stay by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and both properties are located on the Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop.

The Inn at Little Washington is one of America’s finest restaurants and country inns. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

Where to Eat and Drink: While exploring Skyline Drive, satisfy your appetite at Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room. Located right off Skyline Drive near Luray, Pollock’s specializes in Blue Ridge specialties made with farm-to-fork ingredients and served with incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley.

In the mood for a true special-occasion dining experience? Make a reservation at the Inn at Little Washington. The 2019 Michelin Guide awarded The Inn three stars, the only restaurant in the Northern Virginia region to receive the honor.

Just a few miles away, you’ll find a completely different dining experience at The Edinburg Mill Restaurant. Located in an 1848 Virginia Historical Landmark, the establishment specializes in rustic American style cuisine. And if you’re lucky, you’ll catch them on a day when some kickass local live music is on the calendar.

Chincoteague. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

Take a Shore Break: A Seaside Escape

If autumn by the sea is more your style, turn your attention east to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. It’s probably not the first destination that springs to mind when you think of LGBTQ-friendly travel, but Governor Northam’s home base is a surprisingly progressive place with a thriving queer population, and many LGBTQ-owned and allied businesses. Plus, you can drive the entire length of the Virginia Eastern Shore in about two hours. It’s perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway with great dining, eclectic antiquing and shopping, and exhilarating activities.

For seafood (and all food) lovers, start your visit at Chincoteague’s 47th Annual Oyster Festival on October 12. Founded to mark the hallowed arrival of oyster season, the event draws visitors from all over the mid-Atlantic. You don’t have to be an oyster lover to find something good to eat! Come enjoy clam fritters, clam chowder, shrimp, hot dogs, hush puppies, Boardwalk fries, and a cold beer.

Get your hands dirty on a boat tour of the waters surrounding Chincoteague with Captain Barry’s Back Bay Cruises Expeditions. But be prepared to get wet. On this cruise, you’ll dig for clams, pull crab pots, and haul in a trawler net to see what delights King Neptune has to offer.

Wild ponies from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.
Photo via
Virginia Tourism Corporation

Run with the wild horses and take a tour with Assateague Explorer’s Pony Express nature tours. You’ll be assured at least a glimpse of the famous equestrian population — or choose to be the captain of your own ship, and drift away on one of Southeast Expeditions’ kayak tours.

If the ocean isn’t for you, you can also be the pilot of your own spacecraft with a visit to the NASA facility at Wallops Island. Check their website for a schedule of rocket launches, and time your visit for a truly unforgettable experience.

Shop ‘til you drop at the hundreds of unique retail opportunities on the Shore. You can spend an entire day exploring the small towns and antique stores, flea markets, farmer’s and fish markets, art galleries, and specialty boutiques located on or just off the main highway.

On April 17th, 2019, the NG-11 Antares rocket launched from the Wallops Island Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

Where to Stay: The charming Garden and Sea Inn is just a few miles from Chincoteague. Transgender-owned and operated, the Inn is actually comprised of one modern home and two historic farmhouses that date back to the 1800s. The Inn is pet-friendly and sits on five gated acres of land, so there’s plenty of room to walk the dog.

If the sound of gentle waves luring you to sleep each night is your groove, Key West Cottages in Chincoteague is your spot. This charming row of modern pastel-hued cottages line the waterfront in the heart of downtown. Each cottage has a full kitchen and waterfront views, and all are within walking distance of the town’s restaurants, shopping, and attractions.

Where to Eat and Drink: When visiting the ocean, you want a taste of the ocean, and the Eastern Shore’s dining scene does not disappoint. The Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague has it all: fresh local seafood, award-winning Eastern Shore crab cakes, and a gorgeous view of Virginia’s barrier islands. Bring your boat! Slips and fuel are available.

Experience dockside dining a la the Keys at Mallards at the Wharf in Onancock. Johnny Mo, the musical chef, serves up his “all crab” crab cakes, famous jalapeño mussels, and mouthwatering filet mignon. You might even catch him strumming his guitar for guests!

Or head south to Cape Charles for a bayfront fine dining experience at Oyster Farm at Kings Creek, a casual oyster/raw bar and cocktail lounge. Flip flops and shorts allowed. Astounding sunsets are always on schedule.

Richmond’s Main Street Station (c 1901) is a historic railroad station, office building and Virginia Welcome Center. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

Make it a Capital Affair: Fall Fun in Richmond

So the rural thing isn’t your cup of iced tea? Head to the Capital City for a totally urban experience. Richmond sometimes takes it on the chin for lacking in the diversity department, but we disagree. For example, in October 2019, two fantastic events celebrate the city’s distinct rainbow hue.

On October 5, come explore your inner Latin diva at the Viva RVA! Hispanic Music Festival. This exciting celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month honors Virginia’s Latinx LGBTQ community. Viva RVA! is a free family-friendly event at Diversity Richmond, and features authentic Hispanic music, food, dancing, and live music.

The Richmond Folk Festival on downtown Richmond’s waterfront is the following weekend, on October 11-13. The festival presents the very finest traditional musical artists from across the nation, with 25 performances ranging from bluegrass and Cajun to Indian and African music. Don’t forget to head over to the Festival Marketplace, and shop authentic crafts from over 20 international artisans.

Festivals aren’t the only way to taste the Richmond rainbow. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture does a great job of cataloguing America’s diverse past by interpreting the unparalleled story of Virginia. In fact, their signature exhibition The Story of Virginia recently added an LGBTQ chapter to the 16,000 years of Virginia history it covers.

With a collection of art that spans more than 5,000 years, plus a wide array of special exhibitions, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is recognized as one of the top comprehensive art museums in the United States. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

While we’re on the museum tour, a visit to the nearby Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a must. But be prepared: there’s a lot to see, and you’ll want to see it all. In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently declared the Museum a two-day affair. With over 5,000 years of art from around the world, take your time to explore exhibitions ranging from Fabergé and Russian Decorative Arts to their most recent addition, Edward Hopper and the American Hotel.

If you still have the strength, head over to Carytown for some of the most eclectic shopping and dining in RVA. The heart of Richmond’s gayborhood is only one street long, but you’ll be surprised at the variety of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and food stores in this nine-block shopping area. Don’t forget to check the schedule at the Byrd Theatre. In the past, the Byrd has presented LGBTQ programming with icons such as John Waters and their popular MonGays Movie Festival during Pride month.

Quirk Hotel is in an ideal location in the heart of downtown Richmond’s dynamic arts and design district, surrounded by small galleries, unique boutiques, inspiring architectures and an explosive culinary scene. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

Where To Stay: The Quirk Hotel in downtown Richmond lives up to its name. With its original artwork, eclectic design sensibility, and location in the middle of downtown Richmond’s Arts District, it is indeed out of the ordinary. Voted by US News and World Report as one of the country’s top hotels for 2019, Quirk is an experience that will please even the most jaded traveler.

For a more traditional Richmond experience, stay at the Linden Row Inn. This National Register hotel is comprised of seven row houses, built in the mid-1800s and meticulously restored. Guest rooms are furnished with antiques from the middle and late 1800s. Trivia alert: Edgar Allan Poe spent his childhood playing in the hotel’s garden courtyard.

Where To Eat and Drink: We have one word for you, and it’s French: L’Opossum. Chef David Shannon will tell you that his definition is “tongue-in-cheek faux French presented as delightful whimsy on the menu, but seriously delicious cuisine on the plate.” Gay-owned and operated, L’Opossum was named the Southern Living Magazine’s 2018 Best Restaurant. In the whole South.

If Southern home cooking makes your stomach growl, take a seat at Weezie’s Kitchen in Carytown. This is lip-smacking fare at its most fattening and delicious. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, a meal at Weezie’s is a culinary experience of its own.

Scott’s Addition Foodie and Arts District is the newest and hippest food and drink destination in town, and this National Historic District has become the brewing center of Richmond. Within walking distance, you’ll find breweries and cideries interspersed with hip lofts and eclectic restaurants.

Virginia’s first urban cidery, Blue Bee Cider is located in the heart of Scott’s Addition in Richmond. Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation

If you’re looking for a superb drag brunch, Godfrey’s is the queen. It’s home to Richmond’s most famous drag brunch, with two seatings on Saturday and Sunday. Godfrey’s also doubles as a mixed bar in the evenings and hosts special events most nights.

And if you’re craving a little socializing with your people, Babes of Carytown and Barcode are two of the best queer nightlife spots in town.

Visit Virginia.org/lgbt for a comprehensive list of Virginia’s LGBT-friendly travel destinations, businesses, and events.

Top Photo Courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation

RVA Mag #28, Good Eats RVA: Beijing on Grove opens, The Jackdaw, & Carytown’s Eleven Months restaurant

Amy David | May 2, 2017

Topics: Beijing On Grove, community, Good Eats, Nota Bene, Pizza Club, Quirk Hotel, The Jackdaw

This article was featured in RVAMag #28: Spring 2017. You can read all of issue #28 here or pick it up at local shops around RVA right now.

New Events & Other Happenings At Quirk Hotel

The boutique hotel located at 201 W. Broad St. has added quite a few programs recently. At the end of January, Quirk Hotel launched Wine Table Tuesdays in partnership with non-profit organizations. Each week, a new organization or charity will be featured with wine reps present to educate patrons on the chosen wine. Price: $17 per person that includes four tastings, with $2 of all tastings being donated to the specific charity that week. Events are held in Quirk’s restaurant, Maple & Pine, with past charities including the American Heart Association. Contact [email protected] to book.

Also at the end of January, Quirk Hotel’s restaurant launched its 10 Course Chef Tasting Series. Maple & Pine allows guests to leave all decision in the hands of Chef David Dunlap. These dinners will consist of 10 courses showcasing the chef’s favorite local ingredients and a variety of textures and techniques. Menus will change frequently and the series will run Thursdays to Saturdays. Price: $89 per person / Optional $25 Wine Pairing.

Maple & Pine Restaurant has introduced their version of “Sunday Supper” entitled Feasting With Friends. This new offering is a special family style menu that will allow guests to engage with one another through good food and delicious drinks. With a rotating monthly menu of seasonal eats, guests can continue to come back to enjoy all that Maple & Pine has to offer. Feasting With Friends will take place every Sunday at the restaurant from 5 to 9 pm. Price: $25 per person that includes an enjoyable four-item, shared plate family style meal.

RVA’s EAT Restaurant Partners Return To Chinese Roots With The Bejing On Grove

On Dec. 31, The Blue Goat came to the end of its six-year run at 5710 Grove Avenue and in January, EAT Restaurant Partners returned it to its original Chinese roots with The Bejing on Grove Chinese Kitchen and Bar. It will be the eighth restaurant for the local restaurant group, which also owns Boulevard Burger and Brew, Fat Dragon, Foo Dog, Osaka, Wild Ginger, and Wong Gonzalez.

Prior to The Blue Goat opening, which was a popular place for cocktails, the spot near the corner of Libbie and Grove was home to Peking for over 30 years. Chris Staples, Director of Hospitality for EAT, said the former restaurant was run by the father of EAT Restaurant Partners’ owner Chris Tsui and his business partner, who owned five Pekings around Richmond. “When Chris was in high school he was a bus boy, a waiter, he worked here while his family ran the business,” he said.

After they made the decision to close The Blue Goat just before the New Year, Staples said Tsui wanted to bring back a concept that once did well in the bustling Near West End corridor. “The Blue Goat ran its course,” he said. “There’s five American style restaurants on this block and instead of trying to always think of ways to compete with them and share that same client base, we were like, ‘Why don’t we just bring in something that the neighborhood is starving for and nostalgic about,’ which was Chinese food.”

This Asian concept is a fresh, modern version of its original antecedent according to Staples. “It’s a modern take on traditional Cantonese food, and a really cool upbeat chic fun place to come and enjoy it,” he said.

At the helm of The Beijing on Grove is Chef Fei Zhao, who is from Guandong and served as the original chef at Osaka, and most recently Fat Dragon as executive chef. The restaurant’s menu features dishes such as Beijing Duck, Mushu Pork, Chili Dumplings and Guandong fried rice. “He makes Szechuan, he makes Hunan style, but the core of the menu here is Cantonese food,” Staples said.

Prices are along the lines of Fat Dragon with appetizers from $4-$10, entrees from $12-$28, and lunch combos around $10-11. And don’t fret Blue Gloat fans, Staples said they are keeping their popular cocktail and craft beer program in place so patrons will have the best of both restaurants.

“All we did was take the focus from the Blue Goat and amp it up even more, so still a big focus on craft beer, craft cocktails, and a really nice curated wine list,” Staples said. “You get the things you want if you’re nostalgic for Chinese food, but you also get the stuff you want if you’re into craft beer.”

The restaurant offers happy hour seven days a week from 4:30-7pm with $2 off drafts, specialty cocktails, high balls, and $5 glasses of wine.

Pizza Club 2.0: Nota Bene’s Victoria DeRoche Breaks Silence With Rebooted Monthly Club

You may have heard rumblings a few years ago of several local restaurateurs getting together for pizza and booze at the home of Victoria DeRoche, now owner of Italian restaurant Nota Bene, for what would become known as Pizza Club. No one was allowed to talk about it, but we all knew it was happening.

And now DeRoche, along with several RVA brewers and restaurant owners, has given Pizza Club a reboot and this time not only do you get to talk about it, but you get to be a member too. Starting in January, DeRoche turned her monthly backyard pizza parties into a monthly event where patrons can dine on a special pizza at her restaurant created by some of Richmond’s finest restaurant owners, along with specialty cocktails and tap takeovers by local brewers.

“It’s fun to see it go from a fun gathering to now bringing it a different playing field where we can host it at a restaurant…” DeRoche said. “There’s a lot of nostalgia.”

It all started back in 2009 and for two years every month, DeRoche would invite her friends — including Nate Gutierrez now of Don’t Look Back, Julia Battaglini of Secco Wine Bar, and others — over for a potluck, but with a twist. Members would come up with a pizza recipe based on DeRoche’s theme, and they’d make that pizza right there in the backyard with a small wood-fired oven.

“I would provide dough and sauce and I would throw out a prompt, and the prompt would be like heirloom tomatoes are in season, make your favorite pizza based on an heirloom tomato… or make your favorite pizza that’s based on a soup. People were encouraged to do a signature cocktail or I would do a signature cocktail for the event.”

The club events will take Sundays and DeRoche will be baking up the pies in her wood-fired oven, but the restaurant owners will be creating the recipes along with a signature cocktail or other special beer. And while Nota Bene’s kitchen team is busy making pies, the monthly specials guests will be behind the bar sharing stories.

DeRoche has made the club even better by offering attendees an official Pizza Club punch card towards earning a free pizza. These punch cards will only be available during Pizza Club Sundays but are redeemable for punches and redemption during any visit.

Pizza Club runs on one Sunday of each month from 5-9 p.m at Nota Bene. Reservations are recommended and can be made online at NotaBeneRVA.com.

Millie’s Diner Executive Chef Launches Asian-Influenced Pop-Up Series, The Jackdaw

Richmond was late to the pop-up game, but nevertheless, the one-night temporary restaurants have become quite the hit over the last few years with Underground Kitchen, Longven, and Pop Up Revolution making it a regular occurrence in our food-obsessed city.

One that seems to have flown under our radar is Ian Merryman’s “The Jackdaw.” Merryman, the Executive Chef at Millie’s Diner, started doing a Chinese-influenced pop up at local restaurants around town about two years ago as a way to challenge his culinary chops.

“The Jackdaw started just out of wanting to cook my own food instead of somebody else’s,” he said. “Working for someone else, cooking their vision, I just felt like doing something on my own and wanted to do something I hadn’t done before.”

The chef has worked off and on and Millie’s for the last few years, prior to that he held the chef spot at Antler & Fin, but had the idea while he was in between jobs. Merryman has put on pop-ups at the now shuttered Kinsfolk, Lunch, Shoryuken Ramen, Belle & James, and the last Monday of every month he hosts “Industry Night” at Millie’s Diner. “Millie’s has been my go to because Paul {Keevil, owner} has been really supportive,” he said.

Creating an ever-changing menu, Merryman first started with Chinese dishes such as dumplings, spicy Dan Dan Noodles, Congee with pork belly, and dan dan mein soup with squid ink noodles. “I have a heavy back ground in Asian background, but never Chinese food,” he said. “I wanted to do something that wasn’t in my comfort zone.”

Since then he’s evolved the pop-up to feature other cuisines, most recently, Filipino. “I don’t have any family ties to it, but my mom was in the military and actually went to school with half-American, half Filipino kids when I was younger and was exposed to the food from a young age and loved it.”

Merryman said he felt like it was a cuisine that’s not really championed in Richmond so he wanted to bring something to the table that was lacking in the city. By the time this comes out, the chef will have put on his first Kamayan dinner, a traditional Filipino feast which features rice, noodles, pork belly, shrimp, clam and oysters and other dishes you can eat with your hands.

“The Kamayan feast, they’ll lay banana leaves out on the table and serve the food communal style,” he said. “Eating with your hands is encouraged.”

Merryman usually has guest bartenders from RVA spots including Ron Rogers from Strange Matter and Shaun Loughran from The Rogue Gentlemen along with several Millie’s employees.

Long Read: Eleven Months: Chatting With Restaurateur Hamooda Shami On His Bold New Project

Never one for sitting back on his haunches, RVA restaurateur Hamooda Shami is always looking for the next exciting move to make when it comes to his businesses. Since 2006, he’s continued to shake up the local restaurant scene with unique ventures like New York Deli, Portrait House, and Don’t Look Back, and now Shami will tackle his next challenge with Eleven Months, a restaurant with temporary themes that will switch up every year.

Shami opened the first Eleven Months in Charlottesville, where he’s currently based, February 8th, and a Richmond spot will follow in Carytown sometime in the spring. Each year, both restaurants will open with an entirely new theme, coordinating interior, menu and cocktails. We caught up with the busy entrepreneur to hear about his latest venture and his time spent in the business.

Tell me a little bit more about your new restaurants, “Eleven Months.”

The idea of Eleven months, which is going to be the permanent name… every year we’ll shut down for a month for a remodel and it will open with a new concept. The idea essentially is every year, it’s mostly cosmetic changes, light fixtures and furniture, but also the food and beverage menus. We’ve been saying extended recurring pop-ups, when in actuality it’s more like a temporary restaurant. From the day we open there will be a large clock in the restaurant at Eleven months and when that hits zero, that concept is done.

What can patrons expect with the opening theme, “Best Friends Forever,” at the Richmond restaurant?

Friendship and everything wonderful that comes with it. But there’s also a strong kitsch element, whether it be old photos of kids frolicking in a park or the more recent (and unnecessary) phenomenon of duck face selfies. Think Moonrise Kingdom meets Freaks And Geeks, if that makes any sense. There’s also an understated irony to the name, as it seems when you’re at the age when you’d actually use the term Best Friends Forever with complete sincerity… well, those friendships tend to rarely last.

You recently launched the first Eleven Months concept in Charlottesville with the theme, “Sorry It’s Over.” Can you elaborate on that?

It’s going to be all breakup based. I have breakup letters from my bartender, I got her and her husband’s old breakup letters that will be up there, think The Smiths. It’s completely camp, but there’s some substance there if you want to dig in. This won’t work if we take ourselves too seriously it’d be really easy to be pretentious. We’re trying to have fun with it.

Do the menus for both locations coincide with the themes?

[Charlottesville is] a contemporary American bistro. It’s sort of a mix of dishes, some of them are comfort-themed like mac and cheese on this first go. We’re still working the Richmond one out. It’s going to be rotating, it won’t necessarily be tied into the theme. The menu will sit on its own as something that will be fun and an opportunity to be creative. I think the Eleven Months concept will lend itself really well to cocktails. Like a featured eight or so every year. Like in Sorry It’s Over, it’s the name of depressing songs, “Boys Don’t Cry”… so having fun with that.

You decided to rebrand your Charlottesville restaurant Yearbook Taco into the first Eleven Months. What made you want to run with this idea?

Late summer, it became apparent it’d be madness to keep doing what I was doing. Essentially, what happened there, we were around for two years, I closed it December 31. We had a really good first year, second year slowed down considerably, the downtown mall in general in Charlottesville kind of had a bit of slowdown. Outside of the flagship ones like Whiskey Jar, Citizen Burger — a lot of places there started struggling including us. Anytime you face a challenge, there can be a positive outcome out of it, and to me it was, “I have to come up with a really compelling idea for this space.” People aren’t going to the mall are weekday nights. Parking is a problem so I need to come up with something that I think is compelling. I had to reach into my vault of restaurant ideas and come up with one that was a little admittedly, at most kind of out there. That could be the positive outcome of the slowdown I had at Yearbook, I really had to take a risk and this is definitely a risk.

Was this concept something you saw in other places?

I did conduct some research once I decided I was going to go forward with this, there was no one quite doing the same thing. The closest one we could was in Chicago, it’s called Next. Fine dining though, every three months they change the theme of the menu, but they don’t change the actual restaurant. So we’re the first doing this in this manner. I contacted a market research report all over the world because I was curious. I’ve figured out some of the numbers so it could make sense, but again, we won’t really know if it’s something people are going to be into until we open those doors.

Are you working with anyone on themes or branding for both restaurants?

I’m working with Campfire & Co., they’re on the branding and interior design. They have been instrumental in the process, leading the branding and interior design at both locations. What’s been lost in some of the initial buzz is that we’ve been compared to places that change their menu themes over different time intervals. When what we’re actually doing is creating an entirely new brand and restaurant experience every year. The signage will indicate Eleven Months, but when you walk through the doors, you’ll be walking into an entirely new concept. That’s why Campfire & Co. is so crucial to the model we’re attempting to execute, as the plan is for them to be the ones to develop the new sub-brand and interior design on each iteration at both locations. They have been instrumental in the process, leading the branding, logo and interior design at both locations.

Did you approach your previous restaurants in the same way, when it comes to creating the concept?

I feel like when you’re building a restaurant like NY Deli or Don’t Look Back, a place that you want to last for a while, you’re constrained with how insane you can get with regards to creativity of the theme. It would get old. Like the one in Charlottesville, the break up theme. If that went two or three years it would get kind of tired, but it could be really fun for eleven months. Any time I try to come up with a different concept, [it’s] same sort of thing. I’ve kind off had to have that in mind, I had to be, “this would get old soon.”

Why was this something you wanted to do and do you think it will take off?

The restaurant business is sort of a young person’s game and if I didn’t do this Eleven Months idea now, I was never going to do it. That sort of time thing keeps coming into play here… I think the Richmond arts community would really take to it. Richmond in general has been growing like crazy. When you put something on white board or an Excel spreadsheet, it’s not the same as reality. We won’t know if it’s something people will be into until we open those doors. There’s been a lot of positive feedback so far, but now we have to execute. This done the wrong way, is really cheesy and gimmicky. Done the right way, is creative and something we can have fun with and the neighborhood can have fun with.

You’ve been in the industry for over 10 years, how do you think you’ve managed to stay successful?

The importance of your staff it’s not just an aspect of the business it is the business. I’m at the point now, I want to work with professionals, I want to work with good people and people with a work ethic. The reason Don’t Look Back has made it is not because of me it’s because of the crew here. Really importantly is separating myself out from it. Starting with the earliest restaurants I worked at in DC, I’d work there and hang out there’s that sort of clubhouse mentality. I’ve learned to detach myself a little bit. People compare their companies often times to being a family, it’s tough to fire your sister or nephew whereas if you’re on a team you have that cohesive energy, you have to perform. I fired myself at the Deli at one point. I burnt myself out I looked at myself I was a manager, and I said that manager is not performing. I feel like a team mentality over a family mentality is the way to go. Every role is crucial. If the dishwasher or host doesn’t show up on Saturday night, the whole thing falls apart.

What are some of things you’ve learned along the way as you’ve worked your way up?

I read somewhere when I first getting into this that the two main reasons places fail are lack of knowledge and lack of capital. I was fortunate enough to, for the first couple years, not work as an investor, but as an assistant GM in DC. I could make mistakes so I was able to get a good knowledge base to start with so I wouldn’t make that fatal mistake in the first six months. And the second part is just making sure the place was financially secure enough to get through the waves in the beginning. Every one of my places at some point had an existential crisis. Every one, I was able to get through the slow times, occasionally have to strong pivot, but just making sure you have a safety cushion, some line of credit, and make all the mistakes before you try to start your own.

Top photo credit: The Jackdaw

GOOD EATS RVA 003: The Jackdaw hosts Kamayan Feast, Richmond Black Restaurant Week, & more donuts for RVA

| March 7, 2017

Topics: Belle & James, community, Early Bird Biscuit Co. & Bakery, GOOD EATS RVA, Growlers to go, Kabana Rooftop, Kitchen on Cary, Mean Bird, mellow mushroom, Nota Bene, Quckness RVA, Quirk Hotel, Rapp Session, Rappahannock Restaurant, Richmond Black Restaurant Week, Rise Biscuits Donuts, RVA dine, rva food, rva restaurants, Strawberrry Street Cafe, The Jackdaw, Weezie's Kitchen, Wong Gonzalez

Now we’re into our third installment of GOOD EATS RVA, filled to the brim with restaurant news, new menus at local eateries, chef series and more. If you’re still among the few who missed RVA Magazine’s launch of GOOD EATS RVA, head over here to check it out.

Just as before, we’ve got a big helping this go around, so make some more room on your plate and pull up a chair and get ready for some GOOD EATS.

Richmond Black Restaurant Week Kicks Off

From March 6-12, a number of local Black-owned restaurants, coffee shops and other establishments will celebrate Richmond Black Restaurant Week to offer dining deals to bring in new customers and raise awareness. According to the Facebook page, 20 restaurants are participating including Croaker’s Spot, Mama J’s, Sugar’s Crab Shach, Charlie’s Kitchen and more. Stay tuned to a more in-depth interview on this new event. Enjoy $15.00 two course lunches and $25.00 three course dinners.

Richmond is the latest city to host Black Restaurant Week. Memphis, St. Louis, and Birmingham are also hosting their own Black Restaurant Weeks either this week or next. No calls were returned by press time, but the website states that Black Restaurant Week is an “opportunity for Black-Owned restaurants to offer dining deals to bring in new customers and raise awareness. It allows the country to support minority owned eateries.

We believe supporting Black restaurants play a crucial role in achieving socio-economic upliftment, and the sustainable implementation of these beliefs will strengthen our communities and open opportunities for future generations.”

Vegan food truck Mean Bird snags former StickyToGoGo space

Popular RVA food truck Mean Bird, which serves traditional and vegan fried chicken around town has just scored itself a brick and mortar spot in the former Sticky ToGoGo space. You can usually find them at Hardywood, Isley for their brunch and other spots about town. The couple announced on their Facebook page Feb. 25 that they would be moving their business into the space at 2227 Main St and plan to open in the next couple of months. Co-owner Sarah Moore said in an email that the space will mainly be a take out restaurant and market with possibly a few seats.

Mean Bird was starting to outgrow the food truck according to Moore and needed to expand to accommodate their customer base.

“In some ways, Mean Bird has maxed out the opportunities available operating solely out of the food truck,” she said. “Instead of pursuing a dedicated commissary space, we decided on a store front, which we see as the next step in keeping our customers happy and expanding Mean Bird’s business.”

Mean Bird will dramatically scale back the food truck business for the time being, but will still use it or catering and big events. Inquiries can be sent to [email protected]

Strawberry Street Cafe rolls $6 burger menu:

Strawberry Street Cafe has recently added a $6 craft burger menu with a bacon and mac and cheese burger, pimento cheese burger and more. See the menu below.

Kitchen on Cary Tuesday Wine Dinner, Thursday Wine nights

Every Tuesday Kitchen on Cary hosts a Wine Dinner with a unique menu. Three courses paired with three wines for $30. Check out tonight’s dinner menu and reservation info below:

Kitchen on Cary also hosts “UnPlugged and Uncorked” every Thursday night featuring half off select bottles of wine and live music.

Nota Bene’s Wood-Fired, Umbria-Inspired Book Dinner featuring Chef and Author Letizia Mattiacci

On Sunday, March 19, the restaurant will host chef author Letizia Mattiacci all the way from Umbria Italy for their Wood-Fired, Umbria-Inspired Book Dinner. Over a five-course dinner, Letizia will be sharing stories and recipes from her new book A Kitchen With A View.

Letizia owns Alla Madonna del Piatto bed and breakfast and cooking school where she has offered hands-on classes for over a decade.

Nota Bene’s chef Randall Doetzer collaborates for a seasonal and regional wood-fired menu available through the evening. This five-course dinner is $65 per person with an additional wine pairing and Letizia’s book available during the event. A limited number of tickets will be available during each seating and can be purchased in advance here. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The Jackdaw hosts first Kamayan Feast

Local pop up restaurant The Jackdaw (which you can read more about in our upcoming print issue!) is hosting its first Kamayan Feast at Citizen on Sunday, March 12.

Kamay is the Filipino word for hand. Kamayan means to either shake hands or since this is about food and this particular event, it would mean eating using only your hands. Kamayan has placed this traditional way of eating with hands on a pedestal and turned it into a real art form. This is a good way to kick back, relax, and get to know your neighbor while eating a feast on banana leaves. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through Eventbrite here.

Rise Biscuits Donuts coming to Short Pump

Durham, NC-based biscuit and donut concept, Rise Biscuits Donuts, will open its first Virginia location in Short Pump in June. The business sells both sweet and savory breakfast and lunch options,

“We are excited to bring this creative, chef-driven concept to Richmond,” said David Dowdy who, with partners Nash Osborn and Matt Hurley, will own and operate the franchise. “We feel there’s a void Rise will fill nicely in the breakfast market and can’t wait to serve scratch-made biscuits and donuts daily to hungry Virginians.”

Menu items include fied chicken biscuit, ham and sausage biscuit topped with cheeses, spreads and eggs and the Cubano. The shop boasts such donut flavors as Maple Bacon Bar and Crème Brulee. Rise Richmond (Short Pump) will be located at 11561 W. Broad St., across the street from Short Pump Town Center. Check out Rise Richmond’s Facebook page here.

Kabana Rooftop unveils new menu and hosts Jazz over the James

Kabana Rooftop has rolled out a very diverse menu. Greek meatballs with house ground lamb, feta and taztiki, Pergories, a pulled chicken, rice and avocado burrito, and a steak and cheese taquito are just some of the dishes. See the full menu below.

Every Tuesday, Kabana also has Jazz over the James featuring live jazz music during dinner with select half price bottles of wines and champagnes.

Early Bird Biscuit Co. & Bakery flocking back to Northside

According to their Instagram, Early Bird Biscuit Co. & Bakery will be coming back home to Northside. Not in their exact space on Lakeside Avenue, but the biscuit and sweets shop has secured a space at 1221 Bellevue Avenue. Not to worry Fan residents, your beloved biscuits will stay put at Early Bird’s Robinson Street location.

We are coming back home! I promised the kind souls that supported my business from the beginning that I'd come home. It's official, space has been secured at 1221 BELLEVUE AVENUE. I am so excited to be a part of the community that helped me begin. #biscuitsonbellevue

A post shared by Early Bird Biscuit Co & Bakery (@earlybirdbiscuitco) on Mar 3, 2017 at 6:07pm PST

Growlers To Go Launches Bike Delivery Through Quickness RVA

No longer do craft beer lovers need to make the trip up to the store or brewery to fill up their growlers. Growlers To Go has partnered up with local bike courier company Quickness RVA to deliver the beer of its 50 plus kegs that are tap to the masses.

“It’s awesome how Quickness is helping us reach people who might not yet know about our store,” said Alyssa McCartney, Store Manger of Growlers To Go in a release. “We offer a wide variety of craft beer and cider at way less than bar prices, now in the comfort of your home.”

In the future, Quickness RVA plans to work out a subscription ABC delivery by bike with the company.

Fire at Rappahannock closes restaurant

A fire at Rappahannock Restaurant forced the popular seafood and oyster bar on East Grace Street to close its doors along with its neighboring sister restaurant, Rapp Session, while they assess the damage. They sent out a message on their Facebook page where you can keep up with updates on the restaurant:

“Rappahannock Restaurant will be closed until further notice. We are still assessing the damages and hope to know more soon. All reservations are being contacted. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you all again for your support and well wishes. Also, we’ve received a lot of messages from the business community offering to help, thank you. We’re are very appreciative of all the support and help. We hope to have more updates soon.”

The Brunch Market launches in Scott’s Addition

Scott’s Addition recently got its own monthly artisan market and brunch spot in the Urban Roost event space, The Brunch Market. Music, local shopping, brunch, and bar to make for the perfect Sunday Funday. The new event space by Lunch.SUPPER! offers a beautiful layout, open air garage doors, full bar, and custom farm tables. Their next event is Sunday, March 19 from 11am-4pm. Brunch bites and cocktails served walk-up style with 20 local retailers all under one roof. Check the link above for vendors. 3023 W. Marshall St.

Wong Gonzalez Beer Dinner

On Wednesday, EAT Partners restaurant on East Grace Street, Wong Gonzalez will host a beer dinner featuring Charlottesville’s South Street Brewery’s brews. Enjoy 5 delicious beer from the Charlottesville brewery paired with Chef Ken’s Latin-Asian fusion. Only $50 a person, make your reservations today by visiting wonggonzlez.com or calling (804)-788-9000. 6:30-9:30pm.

Laura Lee’s rolls out brunch menu

Laura Lee’s restaurant at 3410 Semmes Avenue started serving brunch last weekend. Starts at 10:30am. You can see a sneak peek below and the full brunch menu here.

Quirk Hotel Wine Table Tuesdays

As you found out in the first edition of GOOD EATS RVA, Quirk Hotel has launched Wine Table Tuesdays, where each week, a new organization/charity will be featured and $2 of all wine tastings will be donated to the specific charity. $17 per person (includes 4 tastings). Tonight, Quirk Hotel will donate proceeds to the World Pediatric Project and next week, March 14, the Wine Table event will benefit the Legal Aid Justice Center.

Weezie’s adds to dinner menu

Weezie’s Kitchen in Carytown has just put out a mouth-watering specials menu for dinner along with some wines. The restaurant has added some new burgers, wings, chicken and waffles, and chicken and biscuits. Check out the menu below and drool over the photos while you’re at it.

Food Porn:

Vegan mock turtle pie from @properpieco can sweeten up any Monday Located in Richmond, VA. #vafoodie: @richmond_bites

A post shared by Virginia Foodie (@vafoodie) on Mar 6, 2017 at 10:37am PST

Head over to RVA Magazine’s instagram @rvamag to check out more photos of local good eats.

To submit news, ideas, press releases, menus, or other restaurant news, please email Amy David at [email protected] For advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please email John Reinhold at [email protected]

Quirk Hotel named one of the best new hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveler

Amy David | April 25, 2016

Topics: Conde Nast Traveler, Quirk Hotel, rva travel, travel

Richmond has many cool hidden gems around the city to eat, shop, stay and play.
[Read more…] about Quirk Hotel named one of the best new hotels in the world by Conde Nast Traveler

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