Don’t go into hibernation just yet, this is no time for a long winter’s nap. Richmond is alive with golden colors and surprising adventures around every corner. Hop on a tuk-tuk this weekend and go explore this place that we’re lucky to call home.
RVA
TukTuk
There’s no better way to do Richmond than in a three-wheeled, 100% electric, open air-limo. They’re called tuk-tuks. And they’re this season’s favorite way to roll up to breweries, take in the tacky lights, and celebrate a special occasion. Launched this fall by David and Lyndsi Austin, RVATukTuk is on a mission to provide environmentally responsible transportation services with a side of fun. Each tuk-tuk can seat up to six passengers and a driver who navigates a hop-on, hop-off circuit using a hand throttle and a pedal break. These babies top out at 25 miles per hour and even come with speakers and heated seats. If you ask us, there’s no better way to take in the sights and sounds of Richmond than in a tuk-tuk during one of the best times of the year.
There are no race day marshals. No water stops. No support along the course. No race bibs. No awards. And no entry fee. Just bring a canned food item for donation and join this free, voluntary social run organized by Race Team RVA Running Club for the purpose of running Thanksgiving morning while giving back. All food will be donated to the Salvation Army after the run, which will take you over the pipeline and throughout downtown Richmond (total distance is about five miles). You can run, walk or both. The Race Team RVA Running Club is a Richmond based non-profit focused on building a healthier community.
If classic parlour games with a modern spin are your thing, you’ll want to head over to the newly opened Slingshot Social Game Club this weekend. We’re talking games that have served as fan-favorites for generations but are now amped up a bit. Think ultimate bocce (with automatic scoring and instant replay), Extreme Duckpin (faster lanes and no bowling shoes needed), and SuperSkee (with bigger balls and longer lanes to take the level of difficulty up a notch). While playing your game of choice with friend or foe, you can even pour yourself a libation or two thanks to a tap wall that sports 48 craft beers, ciders, and wines. Slingshot also offers a bar with a selection of signature cocktails as well as shareable plates, gourmet burgers, and flatbreads. Opened this month, Slingshot is 10,000 square feet of entertainment coming at you thanks to the owners of The Circuit Arcade Bar.
The Institute for Contemporary Art just announced that Church Hill’s Soul N’ Vinegar, run by chef Michelle Parrish, is now up and running inside the ICA’s Abby Moore Cafe. As part of the partnership, ICA graduate assistant Houria Boumzairig, a Fulbright Scholar from Morocco and student in VCU’s Interior Design Department, collaborated with Parrish to ensure the new Soul N’ Vinegar space is as welcoming and familiar as the original.
Calling all leaf peepers, road trippers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Now is your time. Get out there this weekend. The leaves of deciduous varieties are at their peak and there are options aplenty, here at home and just a short drive away, for enjoying one of the best times of the year. See ya out there ...
Carter
Mountain
It's hard to know where to start when talking about this beautiful mountain-top orchard, but something tells us that fresh, hot apple cider donuts are a good place to begin. That's right, come hungry when you come to the mountain...'cause these award-winning donuts are legendary. And they come with dramatic vistas and acres and acres of fruit trees. When you're finished with this fall treat at Carter Mountain Orchard, meander into the orchard to pick-your-own apples (or you can buy fresh-picked apples) as you take in the Virginia countryside. No trip to this family orchard is complete without also popping into the onsite Bold Rock Hard Cider tasting room where you can sip on a cider crafted in the Blue Ridge Mountains using local apples from Carter Mountain. If you make the quick, approximately 1-hour, trip from Richmond this Veteran's Day weekend, make sure to check out the Hometown Heroes celebration on Saturday honoring active and retired military and first responders!
As the temperatures cool, there's no better time to hit the trail, huddle around a fire, or even squeeze in one more camping trip just in time for spectacular displays of orange, yellow, and red during peak fall foliage. And the good news is that you don't have to travel very far. Just 20 miles from Richmond, Pocahontas State Park offers 64-plus miles of pristine trails (particularly popular among bicyclists), rotating nature and history programs, three lakes (including the 225-acre Swift Creek Lake), some of the best camping around, and a variety of cabins. And if yurts are more your style, Pocahontas State Park has you covered. Bundle up, make a fire, and soak in the beauty of our state parks!
Just outside of Richmond is Upper Shirley Vineyards, an estate/winery/restaurant that is perched above one of the most scenic bends on the James River that is stunning this time of year. Located at mile maker 30, we recommend hopping on a bike and taking the Capital Trail to this rural wonderland. The tasting room is open Wednesday to Monday from 11-5, with lunch from 11-3 and small plates from 11-4:30. On their fall menu, the crispy fried Virginia oysters (with Absinthe creamed spinach, smoky bacon, and Parmesan) are not to be missed. And if you want to make it easy on yourself, let the Cap Trail Bike Shuttle turn your outing into a one-way cycling trip by dropping you and your bike off at Upper Shirley or have them drive you back!
Join or watch the fifth annual ‘King of the James’ adventure triathlon on Sunday, November 10th. Individuals and teams will
battle it out as they run the Forest Hill Trail loop, mountain bike Buttermilk and North Bank Trails, and paddle the urban whitewater found deep in the heart of Richmond’s fall line!
After your Halloween bender on fun-size sweets, get out there this weekend and celebrate this place we call home by launching a few pumpkins by slingshot, building a gingerbread house for a cause, or locating one of the best hidden coffee bars in all the land. Let’s get to it.
Pumpkin
Slingshots
With your Halloween fix in the bag, this weekend marks the perfect time to smash some pumpkins down on the farm. That’s right, our friends at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, a farm brewery on 290 pristine acres in Goochland, have been hard at work creating targets and rounding up slingshots for some post-Halloween pleasure. The first ever Smashing Pumpkins & Saison event will take place this Saturday, giving you a chance to try two new Saisons while launching pumpkins at hay bales. Bring your own or use some of theirs!
If you’re a fan of festive craft beer, tasty desserts turned into architectural masterpieces, and a jolly good time for the entire fam, ‘yule’ love this event. The third annual Better Housing Coalition's Gingerbread House Challenge at Hardywood dares Richmonders to form teams and display their holiday spirit by constructing gingerbread houses benefiting Better Housing Coalition. Event attendees will have a chance to vote on their favorite houses, select the $500 People’s Choice Winner, and cheer on the expert judging panel who will crown the $500 Runner-Up and $1,000 Grand Prize Winner. Houses will be up for auction for the public to purchase (and take home that afternoon) in support of Better Housing Coalition's mission to transform communities through high-quality affordable housing!
Once you’ve finished slinging pumpkins and building gingerbread houses, seek out Recluse Roasting, a coffee bar tucked away in a side alley in Scott’s Addition. Set amongst dark reclaimed wood and polished brass, Recluse offers the perfect hole-in-the-wall vibe with a moody interior that is overflowing with ferns and moss. The unique, DIY space was personally built by owners Aimee Biggerstaff and Jack Fleming, who have worked in the coffee industry for years as baristas, managers, and head roasters committed to ethical sourcing. On Sunday, the duo will offer a pop up at the coffee bar, which serves as a culmination of their collective work in coffee and a reflection of the experiences they’ve gathered along the way. While you’re there, make sure to try the Marigold and Honeycrisp Apple Shrub, Recluse’s small batch ode to autumn inspired by the last of the marigolds that they’ve been harvesting in their garden. Chewy's Bagels, a pop up micro bakery, will be serving bagel sammies on sourdough too!
There's nothing like oysters over an open fire in the fall, especially if you're cracking 'em open with a locally made oyster knife by Grid Supply Co. These handmade beauties feature wooden handles created from charred bourbon barrels from Reservoir Distillery and road-tested with some of the best shuckers in Virginia.
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