Let’s get down to business. You’re in for a real treat with this week’s guest editor – Jack Lauterback. You likely know Jack as the co-host of "Mornings with Melissa and Jack" on 103.7 Play, have read his “Punch Drunk” column in Style Weekly over the past 10 years, or follow his lively RVA commentary @Jackgoesforth. This week, we asked Jack to let us in on his top three ways to explore this place we call home. Take it away, Jack!
It's almost the weekend. Time to EAT, DRINK & MOVE! I'm a big fan of the work hard, play hard mantra. If you want to overindulge that's fine, but life is all about balance. You have to make up for all that playtime somehow. Here's how I attempt to do it.
Fuel
Up
Any proper workout requires fuel and while I'd gladly eat nothing but Tostitos and salsa for every meal, the value of putting the right nutrients in your body has finally been impressed upon me. Thanks Courtney! My favorite way to go about this - without upping the calorie count too much - is bowls. Proteins, veggies, fruits, quinoa or brown rice (sometimes.) It's relatively foolproof. Plus it makes up for the 8 1/2 I'm going to have Friday night. Mmmm, 8 1/2.
Chug water. All day, err day. Then you won't feel too bad meeting friends late on Saturday afternoon at Virago Spirits for some of their incredible in-house handcrafted cocktails. Check out that huge pot still in the middle of the room. And then check out what's coming out of that pot still. Also, take a Lyft.
Warning, the following recommendation is not for the weak-stomached. Occasionally on Sundays my fiancee and I want to have a few beers, but, we also feel like we should be working out. So we simply figured why not do both? Starting at our place in the Fan we can easily cover 7-8 miles and 4-5 breweries, stopping at each for a beer before continuing our run. Again, caution is advised -- especially after a couple of heavy IPAs. PS. Final Gravity Brewing in Lakeside actually has a running club, that yes, involves drinking beer.
Side tip: For every mile you run and beer you have -- donate $1 to Richmond Animal League or Richmond SPCA. You don't have to, but it sure does make you feel better about running tipsy down Monument Avenue.
Member Perk:Book a stay on Sharp's Island, located in the middle of the James in downtown Richmond, in May or June and score a hidden treasure (a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine). Just let us know when you've booked a getaway and plan to paddle over.
vol. 80 / sidekickThree ways to celebrate RVA with your favorite sidekick!
VOL. 6 / SIDEKICK
Grab a sidekick because this week we're exploring ways to celebrate River City with our moms (or someone else you share a bond with), our pups, and ourselves. Read on, explore, and connect!
For
Mom
Cheers your mom, and anyone else special in your life, this weekend. Hardywood West Creek is hosting Cheers to Mom, a family-friendly Mother's Day festival complete with pop-up photography sessions, food vendors, last-minute flower arrangements, and plenty of shopping while you sip. Local vendors include Candy Valley Cake Company, Lyla Taylor Boutique, KEVA STYLE, and more.
If beer isn’t your thing, consider the Mother's Day Rooftop Shop n' Sip at Kabana for a Bottomless Brunch Buffet, Bloody Mary Bar, and Mimosa Bar! And best of all, local makers will be on hand so you can treat your mom to something nice right on the spot. Make sure to check out the handmade earrings from dagNABit, rings by Ko Designs, and magical confections by A Secret Forest. Seating is first come, first serve or you can book a discounted skyline couch package if you’re rolling with a group of 6+ (a bottle of Chloe Rosé is included).
Pack up your pooch and head to Ellwood Thompson's tonight and The Graduate on Saturday! Both Richmond favorites are hosting "Pups & Pints" events. At Ellwood’s you’ll find a pup-friendly happy hour featuring music by Aerica Lauren, discounts at the bar in The Beet Cafe, and a chance to share some love with Richmond Animal League. The crew from Suncrush Beer will be on hand offering samples of their new gluten-reduced, sparkling ale creation. On Saturday you’ll have a second crack at celebrating our furry friends in Richmond as The Graduate plays host to a special happy hour with 20% of proceeds supporting Richmond Animal Control and Care (RACC). The Graduate (pictured), which is known for its dog-friendly policies and BarkBox, is pulling out all the stops with giveaways, ice cream for your pup, opportunities to adopt a dog, and live music from Erin Lunsford and Prabir Mehta.
Vitals:
Pups & Pints on the Patio / Ellwood Thompson's / Thursday, May 9 / 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pups & Pints / The Graduate / Saturday, May 11 / 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For
You
Cake shake is all you need to know. At Coco + Hazel, located in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center, you can order a cake batter milkshake, topped with a big ol’ slice of confetti cake, whipped cream, and served in a cherry rainbow sprinkle rimmed glass. If candy is more your speed, do yourself a favor and order the Candy Land, which includes your choice of strawberry or vanilla milkshake topped with cotton candy, whipped cream, rock candy, and two lollipops! And if you want to make it a family affair, bring your crew and attempt to take on the “Family Challenge,” a jumbo-sized banana split built for four!
vol. 79 / paradise here 🏝️It’s not a place, but rather a sense of freedom to explore yourself and the world around you.
VOL. 79 / PARADISE HERE
Paradise is where you make it. It’s not a place, but rather a sense of freedom to explore yourself and the world around you. This week, we dig into a few ways to create your own paradise in this place we call home.
Because, there's no place like here.
Sharp's
Island
Nothing says paradise like your own private island. Just last year, Andy Thompson, founder of Richmondoutside.com, rounded up a gaggle of local nature lovers to purchase a 1-arce island in the middle of downtown Richmond. When this rare little spit of land, called Sharp’s Island, appeared on the market Thompson quickly snatched it up in an effort to carve out his own slice of paradise. This spring, Thompson is making the entire island available for rent in hopes others will create their own adventure here in RVA. You can easily motor up to the island from Ancarrow's Landing in a john boat, canoe over from the trail just below Mayo Bridge, or make it the final destination on your next downriver kayak trip. How you get there is up to you! The location of Sharp’s makes for perfect fishing conditions this time of year or simply a good place to enjoy a frosty beverage in a hammock, a book on the sandy beach, or storytelling by the fire pit. And during the summer months, the river levels produce dozens of swimming holes scattered along the banks.
Perk: Shine on. What’s a private island in the middle of the James without a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine in hand? We'll greet Here. members that book a Sharp's Island experience in May and June with a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine upon arrival!
While everyone is in charge of creating their own paradise, we’re fairly certain that adding burgers and beer by the river can help make things extra special. At the Lilly Pad, a hidden gem on Osborne Turnpike next to the Richmond Yacht Basin, you can order up a burger & basket of beer, enjoy tiki drinks served in pineapples at picnic tables, learn some bartending tips and tricks from guest mixologists, or belt out a classic tune during karaoke on the outside patio. It’s also the prime spot to watch a storm roll in over the James near Dutch Gap. And be on the lookout for Lilly Pad Luau's on Sundays, which will kick off in June with guest DJs and all the tiki themes you can handle.
Vitals:
Lilly Pad / 9680 Osborne Tnpk. Guest bartender from Sticky Rice and Cobra Cabana / Thursday, May 2
Karaoke / Friday, May 3
Live music by Jack Ruby & Co. / Saturday, May 4
Transitory
by Ed Trask
Ed Trask is back in May at Glave Kocen Gallery. Things kick off on Friday night with an opening reception for “Transitory” New Work by Ed Trask. As one of RVA’s most celebrated artists, Trask is known for pushing our little city by the river forward. In the mid 80s he made a name for himself on the punk scene as a drummer for bands like AVAIL, Corntooth, and Kepone. When he wasn’t performing, Trask turned Richmond (and many other cities he visited around the world) into his canvas as he painted directly on dilapidated buildings … perhaps a bit illegally, at times. Though Richmond is today flush with murals, back then large public displays of art took on a bit more of an outlaw vibe with Trask often leading the charge. Today, his work can be found in permanent collections at the VMFA, Gap, Capital One, Fortune Magazine, and more. And as the co-founder of RVA Street Art Festival, he has made it a point to support arts education, fellow artists, and good causes along the way.
Despite the accomplishments, Trask knows all of life is transitory. There are fleeting moments of change, love, light, and color. Even our own version of paradise here in Richmond is in transition. Stop by Glave Kocen Gallery on Friday night, and throughout May, to view “Transitory" to see what we're talking about. You’ll find paintings of some of your favorite Richmond spots in flux – such as a flooded Pipeline, fog rolling over the James River, a storm creeping on the old Skateland on Hull Street, Belle Isle ruins, a eulogy to Fulton Gas Works, and a Red Maple in full bloom at Maymont, just to name a few. And there are unlikely surfaces too, such as dramatic works painted on surfboards (yes, actual surfboards that can be used in the water!) and several skateboard decks etched by Richmond laser artist Big Secret. Take a moment, pause, and consider that everything is transitory. We must live accordingly.
Perk: Our friends at Glave Kocen Gallery love Here. readers. And as a Here. member, you’ll receive 10% off any non-exhibited work at Glave Kocen Gallery. Just let them know Here. sent you!
Seeking your own paradise sometimes requires a good vessel. The side arm flask, boasting the Richmond flag, is an essential tool for anyone hell bent on getting spirits where they need to go. Check out this Richmond Grid and Shine Vessels collab.
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