Blue Bee Cider's new Scott's Addition digs open this weekend with parties and flowing taps galore. (Photo by Stephanie Breijo)
There’s so much great event goodness coming up, you may need a guide to help you navigate all that deliciousness. Think of me as that knight in “Last Crusade,” urging you to choose wisely. Or, conversely, choose them all and never stop running around the city, spending your mornings, afternoons and evenings eating and drinking. That’s what I would and probably will do, and if you see me at one or more of these events, I strongly suggest going in for a high-five.
- BLUE BEE IS HERE. More specifically, it's in Scott’s Addition in the charming former stables at 1320 Summit Ave. The cidery just moved from its previous Manchester digs, and the new spot should be buzzing this evening, considering its limited-ticket preview of the space. Grab your $15 ticket here and stop by tonight between 6 and 10 p.m. for two tasting-room pours, a tour, hors d’oeuvres and more. What’s that? Why, yes, tonight’s ticket proceeds DO benefit the Enrichmond Foundation! If you can’t make it tonight, tomorrow’s grand opening event should more than suffice, with SIX local collaborations on tap, plus bottle releases, plus live music, plus food for purchase, all from 1 to 10 p.m. Catch some fun Sunday, too, with a live jazz performance, a DJ set and some house-made sangria from 1 to 8 p.m. Basically just camp out at the new Blue Bee site all weekend. In fact, just move in there, it’s adorable.
- Also on Saturday: Butcher shop and corner store extraordinaire JM Stock Provisions celebrates its anniversary with the Meat Your Makers food fair, wherein you’ll find cheese tastings, beer tastings, wine tastings, plus sandwiches — of both the savory and also ice cream variety — available for purchase. Meet the fine folks of Autumn Olive Farms! Snack on some specials! All from noon to 4 p.m. at 1531 W. Main St.
- Then on SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY, the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program brings its annual annual Shell-Raiser’s Shindig to Libbie Mill-Midtown from 2 to 5 p.m., and if seafood — and great food in general — is your jam, I suggest you stop by for dishes from Shagbark’s Walter Bundy, Keswick Hall’s John Hoffman, Williamsburg Winery’s John Hoffman, Café Provençal’s Ian Robbins, Richmond Restaurant Group’s Michael Ledesma, Postbellum’s Kevin Church and Terrapin’s Rodney Einhorn. Expect roasted oysters; foie gras apple fritters; Chesapeake Bay she-crab bisque; Border Springs Farm lamb; and free-flowing Virginia beer, wine and cider, all for $75 that benefits VOSRP. (SAVINGS: A pair of tickets will set you back $135.) Get your tix here. Looking for a bit more information on how this program is helping the Chesapeake Bay? We've got you covered.
- Feeling a bit meatier? Sunday night is Nota Bene’s first ever Steak Florentine dinner, which is also the Italian restaurant’s first-ever time offering beef on its menu! Find 40 ounces (yes, FORTY) cooked in a wood-fired oven, along with sides, salads and desserts, plus optional wine pairing. Dinner for two is $150, and I suggest you get on those tickets ASAP. To reserve your spot for either the 6 or 8 p.m. seating, call the restaurant at 477-3355.
- And because you didn’t have enough to do on Sunday, here’s JUST ANOTHER OPTION: It’s time for the third annual Kickin’ Chicken WingFest over at 17th Street Farmers’ Market, where you can taste your way through a variety of wings from a variety of RVA restaurants. (Don’t forget to cool down with beer, also there.) Noon to 5 p.m. in Shockoe Bottom.
- If you’re reading all these events and thinking, “NOT WITHOUT MY DOG,” then Strangeways Brewing’s BARK-toberfest from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday is for you. This pet-friendly event costs five bones and benefits Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s. There will be beer. There will be dog treats. There will be live music. Get thee to 2277 Dabney Road.
- Jumping ahead to next week, jump on over to Carytown’s Garden Grove Brewing Co. for a paired beer dinner with The Roosevelt’s Lee Gregory on Monday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets to this five-course meal (plus beer!) will only set you back $38 plus tax and tip, so please do step right this way…
- And looking far into the future, Wednesday is a very fake event at Center of the Universe Brewing Co., in the best, most non-fake way possible. Fauxever in Love is basically one big, fake wedding reception because no one’s getting married, but the Ashland brewery is partying like someone did. A $25 ticket gets you entry, wedding desserts, dancing, a photo booth, beer and more. TICKETS HERE.
OK, WHEW, GOOD LUCK OUT THERE. Till next time, go forth and nosh and I’ll probably be too full to high-five, in all honesty.
