The Wrap: Monument Avenue 10K, historic vetoes, TEDx, & the BRT

Photo: Vintage RVA

The week in brief

Good afternoon, folks! It’s a soggy, dreary day in RVA, but the weather looks to be shaping up (unlike me) for the Monument Avenue 10K. Whether you’re running in this massive event, cheering on runners or checking out all the live entertainment along the route, or just trying to avoid the area altogether, we’ve got coverage for you. The 10K pretty much pierces The Fan in half, so if you’re not trying to do any of the above, just take my advice and sleep in. Here’s the full schedule of events and all the road closures you’ll need to keep in mind.

Want to get away from it all? Check out our Weekend Event Picks for some additional options, and Richard Hayes’ RVA Beer Explorer for all the boozy fun you can handle.

I’m back from an awesome trip to New York to celebrate my fiancé’s birthday, and the best (eight-course) meal we’ve ever eaten–seriously. If you ever find yourself in the area, be sure to check out Eleven Madison Park. We may not have a three-Michelin star restaurant of that caliber in town, but we definitely have some great spots–and some questions to answer this week. Where can you get shark tacos and fried grasshoppers in The Fan? Which Richmond speakeasy has a new venue on the Outer Banks? Answer these questions and more in our Weekly Food News.

With the weather shaping up nicely, it might be time to check out a Canal Riverboat Cruise! The boats are back open for business tomorrow. Thinking about taking a stroll to the Potterfield Bridge? A portion of the path is currently closed, but that’s a good thing, as it’s becoming more ADA compliant.

Governor McAuliffe has vetoed a total of 37 bills proposed by the General Assembly this session, and more than 108 his entire term in office. No other governor in the Commonwealth’s history has vetoed more bills. Is it due to the legislation being put forth, or are there other factors at play? Our Capital News Service reporters have some insights.

Some sad news to report from last weekend. The Richmond Kickers lost one of their own as coach Kofi Nti, who also played for the Kickers for three years, passed away unexpectedly over the weekend while in church. He has no family in the states after his father passed away this past year. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help send his body back to his mother in Ghana.

The GRTC Pulse Bus Rapid Transit line is currently under construction, and while the long-term benefits will be great for the city, the short term headaches that come with construction are being felt by business owners around town. To mitigate these concerns, city officials (including Mayor Levar Stoney) and others are going door to door, talking to folks about the impacts and passing out “Open For Business” signs. In addition, the city put together this nifty video encouraging folks to support local businesses while construction takes place.

Do you know a person or organization doing great things right here in Richmond? HandsOn Greater Richmond wants to know about them! Nominate them for an award and volunteer celebration right here. Today’s the last day, so get on it!

Five things to know

Photo: Pupatella Website

1. More pizza is on the way to The Fan, as a Northern Virginia spot takes over the former Rancho T space.
2. Suburbanites! There’s a Henrico Restaurant Week just for you; here’s who’s participating.
3. Henrico Police have received a prestigious international award for their policing practices.
4. More Virginians had health insurance in 2016 than 2015, an encouraging new study finds.
5. An awesome new LEGO art experience opens this weekend at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.

Make it a great weekend, y’all!

Trevor Dickerson
Editor, RVAHub