Brace yourself; the weekend is coming, and it's packed with so many events. Read on for the latest in news, plus your next week(ish) itinerary of great dinners, happy hours, parties, etc. Do it to it:
- Kicking off the news with something sweet, Sugar Shack's South Side location is now open! All those near Chesterfield County, prepare to chow down on doughnuts at 1931 Huguenot Road. (Richmond.com/Richmond Times Dispatch)
- Speaking of delicious things launching this week, Saison Market just started a monthly subscription service for wine, beer and cocktail lovers. Think of it like all those popular box subscription services, except done locally, and curated by one of the best beverage programs in the city. Get all the details here, then pour us a glass (if you feel like sharing). (Richmond magazine)
- In #MarketWatch news, downtown is getting a new gourmet market and deli in the Cokesbury building at 417 E. Grace St. Pop's Market on Grace will be located only a few short blocks from the forthcoming Perly's Market, as well as Saison Market, but owner Josh Wright tells Richmond BizSense he hopes to attract business with his selection of baked goods and price point. Expect prepared food, made-to-order food, beer, wine and bagels. (Richmond BizSense)
- Coming soon to Southside is new coffeehouse Brewer’s Café, which is expected to open by the beginning of August. Modeled loosely after Urban Farmhouse and Lamplighter Roasting Co., the new spot is set to offer coffee, sandwiches, salads, and wine and beer on tap. (Style Weekly)
- And in this week's #BummerNews, after nearly two years of service and critical renown, Estilo is now permanently closed. Even though we're so thrilled for the arrival of co-owners Jessica and Josh Buffords' first child, and whatever that new concept for the space will be, we're sad to see the restaurant close. Pour some out for chef Owen Lane's pig head tamale, but be sure to visit the Buffords' other ventures (Toast, Hutch and Shoryuken Ramen), plus Lane's Carver darling, The Magpie. (Richmond magazine)
- The British are coming! Actually, they're already here, and they're eating their way through Virginia as I type. The popular online food personalities at SORTEDfood are in the midst of a gastronomical tour of America, visiting restaurants based solely on suggestions made over social media. They're making their way through Virginia, and especially Richmond. Check out our Q&A with the Brits to learn the details and how to direct them to your favorite spots, then stop by Rappahannock tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. to meet them in person! (Richmond magazine)
- Fresh produce is coming! OK, fine - technically this is already here, too, but now it's back in Church Hill at an affordable rate. Robinson Theatre Farm Stand returned this week, providing locally-grown, seasonal produce, and will continue to return every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2903 Q St. throughout the summer (and possibly into fall). (Church Hill People's News)
Beat the heat with a few cool events:
- Tonight (Thursday) is the night, Richmond: Head out to Brewer's Ball at the Virginia War Memorial, to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and eat and drink your way through some of #RVAdine's best. We're talking beer from 11 breweries/cideries, plus food from 11 restaurants, along with cocktails provided by Belle Isle Moonshine and wine from Tap26. Nothing not to love. (Brewer's Ball)
- Tomorrow, Friday, head to another Feast RVA happy hour to meet some of the latest local contenders who'll present their start-up ideas at the next Feast dinner. (Last round introduced new kombucha start-up, Ninja Kombucha, now available at South of the James!) Meet at The Valentine at 6 p.m. for cocktails and discussion on what you'd like to see in the community. (Especially Richmond's dining community!) (Feast RVA)
- HEY, GUYS. EAT YOUR VEGETABLES. This Saturday, the Richmond Vegetarian Festival returns for its 13th year. Make your way to Bryan Park from noon to 6 p.m. for vegetarian fare from over 20 Richmond-area restaurants! (Richmond Vegetarian Festival)
- Harvest Grocery + Supply is hosting a pop-up market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday with local goods and a knife sharpener, plus sandwiches from J.M. Stock Provisions. Can't go wrong. (Harvest Grocery + Supply)
- Then on Sunday, check out Hardywood's Father's Day Keg 'n' Oyster Fest for Rappahannock River Oysters (in forms both raw and fried), plus Rappahannock's crab cakes, plus gastronomical goods from Pizza Tonight, Goatocado and King of Pops. Oh, and don't forget that new Hardywood Oyster Stout you can buy there, too. Noon to 6 p.m. Bring you appetite. Dads (and dad jokes) welcome. (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery)
- Have you ever needed a reason to justify eating burgers for an entire week? (Yes? Are we soulmates?) WHAT LUCK! Monday kicks off RVA Burger Week, presented by Style Weekly, with various $5 burger specials around town. Get eatin'. (RVA Burger Week)
- And if you didn't get your fill of oysters on Sunday at Hardywood, or if you did and you could eat about 1 million more (again, are we soulmates?), Secco Wine Bar presents OSTRAS, QUE OSTRAS, an evening of oysters five ways, plus wine pairings! (Secco Wine Bar)
And now for a few (inter)national links:
- Not to sound the alarms or anything, but the world is running out of groundwater. THANKS, NASA. (No, really, thank you for noticing that.) I've already started planning on what my Mad Max-esque car will look like during the inevitable water wars to come. (The Atlantic)
- We may be screwed on a planetary scale, but at least we finally got that taco emoji. (Mashable)
- Handy: this look at whether or not you should be living and dying by the sell-by date. Spoiler alert: it depends, but probably not. (Los Angeles Times)
'Til next time, we'll be training for driving in a post-apocalyptic society.
