This is my last Friday round-up, folks. It’s been a great five years at Richmond magazine, and I just want to thank you all, dear diners, for following along and reading what I write, even if it annoyed you or confused you! (It's what I do best.)
Onward with the news:
Apparently Maureen McDonnell claimed to bake homemade cookies for millionaire Jonnie Williams when he visited, and then secretly got chef Todd Schneider to do it. Turns out, “homemade” is stretching it a bit. The cookies arrived, frozen and ready to go in the oven, from Sysco, the restaurant supply company. This inspired the best quote of the week: “The revelation, while wholly irrelevant to the McDonnells’ guilt or innocence, could bolster Williams’ effort portray himself as an everyman millionaire.” (Washington Post)
Can you believe The Redskins left already? It may have seemed to go by quickly for some of us (like me) but for the food trucks that ponied up $2,500, it turned to be agonizingly long and unprofitable, so many stopped showing up entirely. (Style Weekly)
They caught that guy who's suspected of robbing Sugar Shack. (North Richmond News)
Southern Living loves us and named four of our restaurants on its Best Southern Restaurants list and one on its 12 Best New Restaurants to Watch. (Southern Living, here and here)
An Bui texted me at 11:23 p.m. on Wednesday to let me know that The Answer Brewpub opens on Sept. 2. Let all beer lovers rejoice!
In future news:
Starr Hill Brewing Co. and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery are pairing up to create a special brew for Fall Line Fest: Fall Line Fest Amped Up Ale.
This sounds crazy and fun. Crazy-fun. On Aug. 31, you can eat on the stage of the Carpenter Theatre (10:30 a.m., $30) during the buffet-style Chicks and Waffles Drag Brunch. YOU MUST GO.
Tomorrow, Susan Howson and Carrie Fleck Walters will be on hand to sign copies of 804ork at Southern Season from 2 to 4 p.m. Did I happen to mention that I wrote the introduction?
This afternoon, fans will gather to celebrate the life of Dave Brockie from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hadad’s Lake. It’ll be sad, but I bet it’ll be raucous, too — just the way Dave would have demanded. Afterward, you can head on over to the B4BQ at The Broadberry for some live music, with doors opening at 7 p.m. The next day, also at Hadad’s Lake, you can stop by the 5th Annual GWAR-B-Q to hear Body Count, Hatebreed, Misfits, Revocation and more, plus a close-out show by GWAR — with a special appearance by the talented and much beloved Mike Bishop, who’s been teaching music theory at U.Va. and hoping his colleagues never look up the lyrics to any GWAR songs. And if you have the strength, the next day, Bandito's Burrito Lounge will host The GWafter Party, starting at 7:30 p.m. Am I verklempt that I didn’t go the GWAR-B-Q last year? Yes, but then, the whole thing causes ongoing verklempt for me.
In other news:
What an interesting logo you have, Dirty Bird Fried Chicken! (HuffPo Food)
Favorite headline of the week: World's Most Expensive Hot Dog Can't Stop Being Gross (Eater)
Anna S. Harrington became the face of Aunt Jemima in 1935 and made special appearances, in character, promoting the product for 15 years. Her great-grandsons are now suing Quaker Oats for $2 billion dollars, claiming exploitation. (Eatocracy at CNN.com)
A Utah woman is in critical condition after drinking iced tea laced with a lye-based cleaning product. (L.A. Times)
We all feel pretty sad about Robin Williams, but if you'd like a little cheering up, here’s a video of some of his most memorable food moments. (Eater)
So long folks! It’s not goodbye — you’ll hear from me again, I promise!
