Love is in the air in the River City! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we've rounded up favorite local businesses looking to make it as easy as possible for you to show that you care any time of year. From bike excursions to a new independent bookstore to wine and cheese delivered to your doorstep, we have you covered this year.
Basket & Bike
BASKET & BIKE, a local bike excursions company founded by Anne Poarch, is offering a chance for recreation, exercise, and good times with friends. It’s also offering something much more – a new way of looking at the beauty around us. A new way of looking at the history that shaped our Commonwealth, and our nation. A new way of looking at ourselves. What better gift to give to someone you love this Valentine's Day or any day. To make it easy, Basket & Bike is offering electronic Tour Gift Cards that can be used for Quirk Richmond & Secret Garden Tours (bike tours of some of RVA’s artsy must-sees and pocket parks), Downtown Tours (classic and electric bike tours of RVA street art, nature, and history), Signature Rides at Upper Shirley, Williamsburg Winery to Jamestown Island (19-mile classic bicycle ride on the Colonial Parkway and around coastal Jamestown Island), and elevated picnic experiences.
Give the gift of a good book and a little "me" time. The Book Bar, a Black-owned, woman-owned bookstore that centers on BIPOC authors, is hosting its grand opening this Saturday at 1311 E. Main St. in downtown Richmond. The 2,100-square-foot shop was created by Dr. Krystle Dandridge, a local therapist, as a way to create an independent bookstore and uplifting community space where Black, Indigenous and people of color are reflected when you walk through the door. The Book Bar also doubles as a wine shop that will soon host wine tastings and sell wine by the bottle to take away. For Valentine’s Day, we suggest The Black Box, a subscription box by The Book Bar that features books by BIPOC authors, curated items that cultivate knowledge, and local products that encourage self-care while also promoting a variety of other Black-owned small businesses. And you can even add wine to your box! Box subscriptions are delivered quarterly and are the perfect gift for yourself or for anyone who loves to escape in a good book.
Talk about a perfect match, RVA Cheese Girl and RichWine RVA are collaborating this Valentine’s Day to offer Richmonders a special edition, heart-shaped charcuterie box paired with a handpicked bottle of red! Emmie Lewis, local owner of RVA Cheese Girl, has racked up a loyal following of late for her handcrafted seasonal boards curated to highlight RVA’s finest ingredients. For Valentine’s Day she has gone above and beyond with a themed box packed with cheese, charcuterie, chocolate covered strawberries and other various accouterments. RichWine RVA, a boutique wine retailer with a focus on clean farming practiced wines, steps up this package with a special bottle picked by owners Kristen Gardner Beal and Lance Lemon. Get your orders in by February 8, 2022 before midnight, as limited quantities are available.
RVA First Fridays is tonight, Friday, February 4th! Among the many participating galleries and local businesses in the Richmond Arts District you'll find an opening exhibit by Justice Dwight at Eden Airlines at 214 E Grace St. The new exhibit, called “promises, promises,” will also feature a brand new coloring book by the popular local artist dropping tonight!
