One weekly email. Three must-do ideas. Infinite potential.

VOL. 30  /  THRIVING The long-awaited arrival of spring has brought with it an explosion of activity in Richmond. This week’s happenings were happily tough to narrow down, but we focused on the best of the best for you. Here’s to an exciting week ahead! Two Openings, Two Vibes It seems new spots are popping up every day. This week, two different but both very cool places are opening their doors. Pick the vibe you’re feeling and try one out! Active & Eccentric / We didn’t know we needed a boutique bowling alley until River City Roll opened near Scott’s Addition this Tuesday. We’re down to work up a sweat - and cool off with great food and drinks - in this reinvented classic. Academic & Provocative / The long-anticipated Institute of Contemporary Art is throwing a huge block party to celebrate the grand opening of its (very massive and graceful) new space. The site-wide Declaration exhibit will “speak” to you, while the party will include music, food trucks and interactive activities.   Vitals: RCR / rivercityroll.com ICA / Saturday, April 21 / 10am-4pm icavcu.org/events/grand-opening Richmond Restaurant Week Richmond Restaurant Week comes around twice a year, a bi-annual opportunity to try a nice cross-section of plates thanks to the prix fixe menu format. We’re happy to support the Central Food Bank of Virginia and Meals on Wheels - but we also love to gather a squad and see just how many of the plates we can taste between our group’s orders. Our short-list this spring includes Little Saint, Southbound and Lehja. Though we haven’t made it out to this last one yet (embarrassing), it’s a must, and Restaurant Week extinguishes all excuses.   Vitals: Monday, April 23 - Sunday, April 29 richmondrestaurantweek.com Futures: Burn Both Ends Excitingly, Richmond is teeming with innovators, influencers and entrepreneurs. Ours is a community that understands if it doesn’t yet exist, you can build it. But building it can be challenging (understatement). Enter Burn Both Ends. This all-day conference is geared for new businesses and is founded and led by Campfire & Co. and The Content Chop Shop. On the schedule: keynotes, a panel discussion and workshops. We’re especially pumped from operations guru Maria Pahuja of Vayas (Vimeo’s former Director of Operations) and Big Secret’s Jason Lefton on “Life, Love and Lasers.” Color us intrigued.   Vitals: Friday, May 4 / 8:30am-6:30pm eventbrite.com/e/burn-both-ends-tickets

One weekly email. Three must-do ideas. Infinite potential.

VOL. 29  /  SOUL FOOD This week we’re treating ourselves to a trio of little luxuries… some extra foliage, a delicious meal and stretching like we mean it. Don't forget; the Monument Avenue 10K is on Saturday! Time to have some fun! Get Your Green Thumb On We're not alone in our plant obsession. Plants add architectural interest to your living space, improve curb appeal - and they’re good for your soul. Now’s the time to take a trip to a nursery and make some new leafy friends. Skip the big box store with their obvious selection and try these locals. We’re into Great Big Greenhouse for their wondrous variety and extremely knowledgeable staff. For the best selection, call ahead to learn when their next shipment will arrive. We also like Sandy’s Plants, especially when picking up some stunners for your front yard or garden.   Vitals: greatbiggreenhouse.com sandysplants.com Yoga For All Seeking to calm the mind? Try these yoga classes in unique settings, for kids of all ages. Namaste. For the grown-ups / King of Pops is back at it, hosting free yoga sessions every Tuesday at 6:30pm until October. Finish your sweat session with a sweet treat – if only to spend a few more minutes basking in the peace of the outdoor location, the Carillon. For the little ones / Every month, crazy-cool retailer Little Nomad and bareSOUL Yoga team up for what is potentially the world’s cutest workout: kid's yoga. The next time to roll out a mat is Saturday, April 21 at 10am.   Vitals: King of Pops / facebook.com/events/155033951841211 Kid's Yoga / facebook.com/events/868749973333482 Futures: Dinner with the Chefs CurEat, a restaurant-finding app, shares our mission of highlighting the few and good. The CurEat team is celebrating its Richmond launch by hosting a dinner with some of Richmond's best chefs -- including Brittany Anderson, Jason Alley and Sunny Baweja. The dinner is at Brenner Pass, and the chefs themselves will be dishing up everything from BBQ to Indian fare to craft cocktails and wine from the Williamsburg Winery, all to the tunes of a Dixieland band (think washboards and spoons!). And the best part of it all? You'll be eating for a cause. The dinner will benefit No Kid Hungry as the CurEat cycling team preps to ride in Chefs Cycle in Charlottesville this September.   Vitals: Sunday, April 22 / 6pm brownpapertickets.com/event/3338765

One weekly email. Three must-do ideas. Infinite potential.

VOL. 28  /  PUMPED UP We want you to get out there to explore Richmond with all your friends. Speaking of friends, how about sharing Here. with them? Today, if you use the Share Now button at the bottom of this newsletter, you’ll be entered to win one of our Rep. t-shirts! One share = one entry. No limit to shares. Only today’s shares will count though, so do it now! This week we’re headed to the new Hardywood location and stopping in at Short Pump -- and no, not the mall. Let’s go! Hardywood West Creek Grand Opening Hardywood co-founders Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh have acquired a bit of beer knowledge over the years. Now, their new brewery, Hardywood West Creek, the culmination of that wisdom and experience, is officially opening this weekend, and they’re throwing a hell of a bash to celebrate. Hardywood West Creek is the ultimate beer destination, offering 55,000 square feet for brewing/packaging and expansive grounds for enjoying a cold one. The three-day-long opening festivities include a stacked food truck line-up, live music as well as several beer releases, including Road to Idaho on Friday and Hopkeeper on Saturday. Oh, and there is, indeed, a creek on the 24 acres; we can’t wait to see it all in full bloom this spring.   Vitals: Friday, April 6 - Sunday, April 8 hardywood.com/visit-us/westcreek facebook.com/events/281992205657802 J.Crew Warehouse Sale J.Crew's Lynchburg distribution center gives us Virginians amazing access to the mother of all sample sales. The J.Crew warehouse sale is back, today through Sunday. These sales can get chaotic, and we don’t usually enter the fray. But the deals can be absurd - in a good way - so it’s worth a visit. Our game plan for you: pick a time that works, and just go. New items are brought out daily, so it doesn’t matter when you go - and we don't mean you should go every day. Give yourself enough time to do some digging, and bring your patience. Pro tip: there are no dressing rooms, so plan your day-of outfit for in-the-moment layering. We told you it was crazy.   Vitals: Thursday, April 5 - Friday, April 6 / 10am-8pm Saturday, April 7 / 10am-7pm Sunday, April 8 / 10am-6pm West Broad Village / 2200 Old Brick Road Steak & Sushi Night So you’ve scored some deals and celebrated with a beer (or two). Obviously, the next stop is to refuel. Carytown’s favorites have sprouted second locations in the West End: The Daily, Mellow Mushroom, even a Carytown Bicycle Co. We opted to go with an original, Red Salt Chophouse & Sushi. Red Salt, from the owners of Fat Dragon, Foo Dog and Beijing On Grove, fills a void. Richmond has a few solid sushi joints, but it’s been a weak spot, with no stand-outs. Red Salt may now be the best, with generous, creative rolls served by a friendly sushi bar team. Bonus: the huge space allows for bigger groups, so round up a crew and try the steak side of the menu while you're at it.    Vitals: redsaltrva.com