Things are heating up this week in RVA, with one of the city’s stickiest summer celebrations, the annual Carytown Watermelon Festival; NASCAR burning rubber at Richmond Raceway; and a hot, hot, hot lineup at the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival. Plus, bartenders duke it out, and dogs get their day. Enjoy!
Ready to Rumble
I’ve always had a competitive spirit and equally love cheering from the sidelines, especially when the contest involves a masterful balance of booze and brains. On Tuesday, Aug. 6, the Richmond chapter of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild will host its third annual Bartender’s Brawl at Black Iris Social Club. During the “Chopped”-style competition, 16 bartenders will whip up drinks on the fly using secret ingredients — aka cocktail curveballs — before judges rate their creations and crown a winner. The lineup of mixologists includes Alewife bar manager Sophia Kim, longtime RVA beverage pro Lindsey Scheer and 2023 winner Sarah Rigney of the forthcoming Ilo Bistro in Norfolk. Bonus: Drinks (of course), food by pop-up Quarter Horse, free admission and laid-back vibes.
—Eileen Mellon, Food Editor
All That Jazz
The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival brings an impressive lineup to the grounds at Maymont on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11. Fantasia, Ludacris, Andra Day and Monica are just a few of the performers scheduled to take one of the event’s two stages. Rapper and producer Wyclef Jean is serving as artist-in-residence, so expect to see him on- and offstage throughout the festival. Admission to the two-day festival is $169 for one day and $299 for a weekend pass. Plus, don’t miss Homegrown at the Hip, The Hippodrome’s showcase of local talent, returning Friday, Aug. 9, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic; tickets are $40.
—Nicole Cohen, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Experience on Track
NASCAR is back in town this weekend, Aug. 10-11, and as Adam Cheek writes in our August issue, it’s a whole new track out there for longtime race fans and newcomers alike. Saturday’s Clean Harbors 250 truck series race gets rolling at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $30. Admission for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 starts at $40 ($20 for the 21-and-up Chaos Corner), and drivers start their engines at 6 p.m. As one longtime fan told Richmond magazine, “It’s a big party.”
—Mark Newton, News Editor
Calling All Good Dogs
My pittie-mix pup Bonny rules our roost and — in her mind, at least — the blocks surrounding our house, and she’s always eager to add to her empire by visiting new places. She’ll be delighted to take a car ride to James River Cellars for the winery’s National Spoil Your Dog Day event from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. Leashed dogs and their owners are invited to enjoy pet-focused craft vendors, dog-friendly activities, music and wine. Don’t have a dog? Adoptable pups will be on-site. Admission is free.
—Mindy Kinsey, Editorial Director
Sweet, Seedy and Social
Watermelon is incredibly hydrating and an excellent source of electrolytes, making it among the best snacks for a hot and humid summer day. Let that be your mantra this Sunday, Aug. 11, at the 42nd annual Carytown Watermelon Festival, where the temperatures (and crowds) will rise along West Cary Street. More than 100 vendors and some 80 musicians will line the blocks between the start of Carytown and the Byrd Theatre from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If it’s your first summer in town (or you just haven’t made it yet), get out there and see why it’s a Richmond classic.
—Kevin Johnson, Lifestyle Editor
Other Suggestions
- Enjoy three nights of music during the Mingus Awareness Project, at local venues Aug. 9-11, with all proceeds benefiting the ALS Association.
- The JamPacked Craft Beer & Music Festival packs Brown’s Island on Aug. 10.
- The Oddities & Curiosities Expo brings the macabre, strange and unusual to the Greater Richmond Convention Center Aug. 10-11.
- PopUp RVA at The Diamond features artisan vendors weekly at the stadium’s Red Lot and will host an open mic on Aug. 10; musicians can sign up on-site and the day of.
- Celebrate the local music scene with concerts and experiences all over town during Richmond Music Week, continuing through Aug. 11.
- Using recycled and reused materials, Nancy Bruce’s mixed-media exhibition “Let’s Rescue the Environment” is on view at Art Works through Aug. 17.
River City Roundup is Richmond magazine’s weekly compilation of the best things to see, do and experience in the region, compiled by our editors. Get each week’s installment directly in your inbox every Monday by subscribing to our e-newsletter.
