We see a fun-filled fall in your future...

VOL. 46  /  FORTUNES We hope you’ve been relaxing and taking full advantage of all things summertime. Take a brief break from the humidity to think forward and knock out some crucial fall planning. Read below for three must-do commitments to begin shaping out your fall calendar! Middleburg Film Festival So, little known fact is that we are film fiends… amateur film buffs, if you will. If you’re like us - or at least curious - we have a must-attend for you. The Middleburg Film Festival returns to Northern VA this October. Think impressive line-up of films, beautiful countryside, and coursed farm-to-table dinners hosted at local vineyards (that means there will plenty of wine, too). Ticket packages are now available and will sell out. Check out the Cinephile Pass or Saturday Date Night Special. Individual tickets will go on sale at the end of September when the full slate of films is revealed.   Vitals: October 18-21 middleburgfilm.org Fire, Flour & Fork Next up: Fire, Flour & Fork, a weekend for the food curious - one of our favorite happenings of the year. You know the drill: 40 food and drink events brought to you by the best of the Richmond dining scene and beyond. Tickets go on sale August 15, and they move. If you want your first pick of chef dinners or signature events, then be ready to pounce. The line-up of tours, lunches, dinners, classes and more has not yet been released. Our best advice: sign up for the emails so you get the notifications and are ready to go! Food for thought: Each ticketed Fire, Flour & Fork event benefits a different local non-profit each year. Now that’s something to feel good about. Vitals: November 1-4 fireflourandfork.com All The Running How to make reparations for your overindulgences at Fire, Flour & Fork? Run it all out in the Anthem Richmond Marathon races the following weekend. Good news: There are options for runners of all strides. Choose your challenge between the marathon, the half marathon and the 8K. Official training just started, so there’s still plenty of time to prep yourself for race day! Hit us up at hi@hereweekly.com for our half-marathon training schedule. (Wish us luck!) Invite a friend to join you! The marathon's energy and sense of community is seriously infectious. Race ya! P.S. Registration prices increase October 1, so commit yourself early!   Vitals: November 10 richmondmarathon.com Oh baby... Your favorite Rep T-Shirts now come in miniature! With all the baby showers and new little Richmonders popping up, the Rep Onesie is the perfect gift. Plus, they are just as soft & cozy as our t-shirts. SHOP NOW

Life gets pretty crazy, so we're in need of a quiet escape this week...

VOL. 45  /  OASIS Whether you are traveling or working this summer, the quiet joy of reading fills the time in between with transcendent escape. This week, we tapped local experts for their tips on the perfect summer reading titles. Browse this volume attentively... Ready, set, read! bbgb tales for kids Though they are best known for their children's book selection, bbgb actually caters to booklovers of all ages. We've frequented this vibrant, darling bookstore for ages - they always know which read to recommend. We asked owner Jill Stefanovich for her summer reading best. What the kids are reading / The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr. Think magic, humor, heartbreak… oh, and dragons. Current fiction fav / Varina by Charles Frazier takes the perspective of Jefferson Davis' wife before and after the Civil War. Let’s read local / Any book from Steven Smith’s Virginia Mysteries series. You’ll recognize these Richmond settings... spooky. Two chances to treat the kiddos / Read 8 books before August 30 to earn a free cookie from Sugar & Twine, or enter their bike giveaway!   Vitals: bbgbbooks.com Public Libraries In the city of Richmond alone, there are nine public libraries, and even more in the surrounding counties. Our favorite happens to be the brand new Libbie Mill Library located in Henrico County. We also hear great things about the Varina branch. There’s no better feeling than leaving the library with an armful of awaiting adventures. As for what to read? This summer, the libraries are featuring PBS's The Great American Read, celebrating America's 100 most beloved novels, spanning everything from Pride and Prejudice to Ready Player One. See how many you've already read and find some fresh ideas. Now, where to read your library finds? Try a shady spot in Forest Hill Park, posting up on a soft picnic blanket (with snacks, of course).   Vitals: rvalibrary.org henricolibrary.org Fountain Bookstore Next up, we head downtown to Shockoe Slip for all the suggestions and a pair of killer events from our friends at the Fountain Bookstore. They found some gems... Kids' picture book of the summer / Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak and illustrated by Julian Frost. The title says it all. Best summer cookbook / Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue by Tuffy Stone, local author and owner of Q Barbeque restaurants. Current fiction fav / Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer, in which Obama and Biden partner up Holmes-Watson style to solve murder mysteries. (What?!) Secret Richmond reading nook / Scuffletown Park Must-attend events / August 4, Amber Tamblyn reads from Any Man. / August 22, Christina Dalcher debuts her novel Vox, which is going to be huge and is drawing comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale.   Vitals: fountainbookstore.com

Trying oh so hard to stay cool this week...

VOL. 44  /  SPARKS Thanks to all who came out to Boho last Thursday! We had a blast. That Richmond humidity that we're oh-so fond of is slowly making its comeback, so this week, we're sparking your interest in three things that will both keep you cool AND make you feel cool! Read on... North End Juice Co. Remix your summertime salad routine with a trip to this sidewalk juice bar for a poké bowl. That’s right; North End Juice Co. serves not only refreshing smoothies and açai bowls, but also yellowfin tuna and vegan poké bowls. Why we’re obsessed: they’re delicious AND reasonably priced. Seriously, the entire bowl is the price of one special sushi roll at a restaurant. Important distinction: North End Juice Co. closes at 4:30pm, but North End Market, immediately next door, is open 4-10pm, serving those precious poké bowls (and ice cream). Midlo friends: there’s a location near you, too!   Vitals: northendjuiceco.com Shop Kamili To shop Kamili is to shop with a purpose. This new local jewelry company collaborates with refugees settled in Richmond, providing them with work and contributing to their sense of belonging. Kamili’s vibrant, colorful (and gorgeous!) bracelets are crafted by refugees from the comfort of their own homes, giving them an opportunity to contribute financially to their families, while taking care of their children. The bracelets themselves are made from African heishi beads and are finished with 24-karat-gold-dipped discs. Try stacking them for an easy fashion statement - or surprise a friend with a fun summer gift.   Vitals: shopkamili.com Futures: Summer Brain Freeze We're ice cream fanatics, so this event sounds extra-amazing. Mark your calendars now! Blue Bee Cider is hosting an ice cream festival, conveniently when the heat and humidity start taking a toll. Gelati Celesti, King of Pops and Scoop RVA will all be there, and Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches is crafting a specialty sandwich with Blue Bee cider! There’s definitely a “cool” theme, as there will be plenty of shade on their patio, plus cyrofacials (cold therapy that reduces aches & pains). Sounds heavenly, if you ask us.   Vitals: Saturday, August 4 / 12-6pm facebook.com/events/1943460519300017