Meet Kristy Cotter, this week's guest editor of our special Valentine's issue (with perks)! Kristy is the owner and founder of DEAR NEIGHBOR, a specialty women’s boutique in Church Hill. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, Kristy moved to the River City to pursue a Master's degree in art education at VCU. While teaching, she started a jewelry company that reignited her interest in the fashion industry, leading to the creation of DEAR NEIGHBOR! Over the years, her shop has evolved and today it's focused on apparel, lingerie, and fine jewelry among other exciting goods! You can usually find Kristy playing dress up in the shop or hanging out with her four-year-old son Rune. But today, she's putting on the editor hat for Here Weekly to deliver three tips for your Valentine's weekend ahead!
Take it away, Kristy ...
Homme Pop Up
Let's start with the boys at Homme Essentials – because they're hosting a Valentine's Day pop up and cocktails TODAY from 5 pm to 8 pm! Homme specializes in menswear staples and it's where I buy ALL of my husband's clothes. The dudes are cool and have some of the best men's brands (period), making it a go-to spot to shop in Richmond for sure. They’re right next to Stella’s and Stella’s Market on Lafayette St., so it's also a destination where you can order yourself a stiff drink after doing a little retail therapy! We're joining Homme Essentials for their pop up tonight, so swing by to say hello. Not only can you knock out your shopping, but there will be drinks from Richmond based Cirrus Vodka and delicious Filipino dishes by ATO Sisig & Grill. A million reasons to come out tonight!
Ready for the ultimate local Valentine's giveaway?! Of course you are! Well, that’s good because we’ve teamed up with some AMAZING local shops, restaurants, and businesses to offer OVER $1600 in prizes for one lucky Richmonder! Prizes include $200.00 gift cards to Elsie Frieda, Roan, Palette Home, Na Nin, Lolita's, Montante Aesthetics, and Dear Neighbor. Also, included is one month of unlimited classes at The Bar Method RVA. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to meet each of these local businesses that are soon to become a favorite destination regardless of who wins this ultimate giveaway. We plan to announce the big winner on February 14th via our Instagram stories and DM so head over to @shopdearneighbor for a crack at this sweet giveaway. Here Weekly readers can also find details about our giveaway at each of the participating businesses.
OBVI. This is a VDAY FEATURE, I’d be crazy not to highlight DEAR NEIGHBOR. We’re a sweet little shop in Church Hill, created in my backyard in 2016. We’re right next to Sub Rosa Bakery, across the street from North End Juice Co. (Church Hill) and up the block from Union Market. To say the least, we’re not the only reason to visit Church Hill, but we think so! We specialize in gifts for yourself and your sweetie for Valentine's Day. As a local boutique, we focus on anything that makes a woman feel good. We carry everything from lingerie to activewear, and pretty much everything in between. Swing by this weekend to introduce yourself and drop in at the last minute on Monday for your Valentine's Day needs!
You didn't think we'd end this Valentine's Day issue without flowers, did you? Check out Old Time Feeling by Kelsey Sykes, a local botanic artist and gardener. Her modernist foraged style translates the natural world into momentary works of art. Poet Pamela Johnson Parker perhaps said it best, “An intersection of the pastoral and high art, Sykes’ work is thoughtfully unstudied.” Pre-order your Valentine’s flowers for pick-up at Dear Neighbor on Sunday, February 13th, or at Rosewood Clothing Company's new location at Spacebomb Studios on Monday, February, 14th.
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!
Meet Rick Hood, this week’s guest editor! Many Richmonders know Rick as the owner of Ellwood Thompson's and as a founding member of Real Local RVA. In 1989, Rick launched City Market as the first in the area to provide access to organic produce and natural products. Several years later, the business leveled up to the intersection of Ellwood Ave. and Thompson St. where it earned its current name and has continued to grow into 20,000-square‐feet of all things healthy and local. Through it all, Rick has remained dedicated to feeding the heart and soul of our community. His store has long supported small local, organic and certified naturally-grown farms as well as recyclable packaging, composting, and water and energy conservation. Trained as an architect, Rick’s influence can be spotted throughout the store's design and re-use of building materials. When he’s not at Ellwood’s, you can spot Rick around town taking a stroll through neighborhoods in RVA with unique architecture as he looks for hidden details and new discoveries. We asked Rick to share his favorite spots to explore in the River City. Take it away, Rick …
Byrd Park Court
A year ago as I explored the east side of Byrd Park, I chanced upon this charming vest pocket grouping of 12 buildings arranged around an inner loop known as Byrd Park Court. Originally designed by well known Richmond architect, Carl Max Lindner, in 1921, the court is home to beautiful entry gates and a noteworthy center fountain. The variety of architectural styles of the day, and its residential court design, makes it truly unique in the City. In 2016, Byrd Park Court was added to the National Register of Historic Places. To explore the tiny court, head east past Byrd Park opposite Swan Lake Drive entrance, and look for the stone Beaux Arts-style gate nestled along the street.
West Avenue is always a favorite stroll any time of year. This cozy, one-way Fan street is just three blocks long and can be explored between the west campus of VCU and Stuart Circle. Among the narrow street, you'll find a solid consistency of modest building scale and a great variety of styles (especially in the westernmost block). The trees along the street form a passageway with nice shade and add to the exceptional pedestrian experience here. An interesting detail is the application of cobblestones at the pedestrian street crossings. Additionally there is a wonderfully designed corner apartment building facing Lombardy whose exterior fits perfectly within this beautiful residential area.
As a longtime fan of Carytown, I always encourage people to explore this unique retail district for an example of historic urban retail at its finest. Nine blocks of originally residential houses directly on the street have been converted over time into some of the area’s best small-scale, local food and business shops. I especially love the Art Deco block (3100 block of W. Cary) that’s anchored by Cary Court, Richmond's first strip mall, that was built in 1938 and recently restored. This block has a great architectural presence made up of several period revival styles that is always a pleasure to stroll. And make sure to support local while you’re there! Stop into unique shops adding energy and style to the 3100 block in Carytown like Can Can, Roan, The Phoenix, For the Love of Chocolate, The Broken Tulip, and so many more!
Vitals:
Carytown / Adjacent to the Museum District and Byrd Park
Real Local RVA.
Real Local RVA is a grassroots group of independent, small grocery stores, farmers, farmer’s markets, value added producers, restaurants, and supporters working to build a more collaborative local food system. If you're passionate about local food and building community, check 'em out.
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