The Wrap: RVA Street Art Festival, Restaurant Week, rogue piggies, and a vacant School Board seat

Photo: Dancers of RVA

The week in brief

Good Friday afternoon, Wrappers. Richmond came out on the other side of the neo-Confederate rally last Weekend unscathed–there were just seven arrests and no reports of violence or injuries. The “CSA II: New Confederate States of America” group, however, can’t seem to get enough. They’ll be back for another rally on December 9th, apparently. Will they bring more than five people with them this time? We shall see.

There is so much going on in Richmond this weekend, it’s hard to know where to begin or how to spend your time! But I’ll start with one idea that will make you feel good and bring you major karma points. Tomorrow is HandsOn Greater Richmond’s Give A Day RVA. What is that, you ask? It’s the area’s single largest day of community service. There are dozens of volunteer opportunities all over the city, some of which you may still be able to sign up for if you hurry. Miss the boat on one? There are some drop-in projects you can just show up for, too. Our friends at HandsOn Greater Richmond put together an idea or two of how you can make our city a better place in each of the six neighborhood sections we cover. Check them out here and help make a difference!

Richmond has picked up three more national accolades for its food scene just this week. Two spots are also celebrating their 15th anniversaries this weekend, and a third is closing its doors after three years in business (farewell to The Betty on Davis–I’ll miss your cozy atmosphere and delicious reuben sandwiches). This and much more in our Weekly Food News.

There are beer events a-plenty this weekend, too! Richard Hayes has your hookup in his RVA Beer Explorer. Please join me in wishing our resident soccer and LEGO nerd, intrepid community news hound, and the other half of RVAHub a very happy birthday today, too!

The Diamond is coming to life as we speak as artists from all over the country descend upon the Boulevard for the RVA Street Art Festival. It’s going on tonight through Sunday at the stadium, which is being transformed from a drab, concrete canvas into a work of vivid, bright artwork. There are tons of interactive exhibits, beer, food trucks, and live entertainment all weekend. Learn more here.

Speaking of Boulevard, the Boulevard Bridge, better known as the Nickel Bridge (Truthfully, it’s the 35 Cent Bridge now, but that just doesn’t sound as good, does it? Moving on.) will be closed Saturday morning, and lane closures will persist throughout the weekend for repairs. Details here.

Wrapping up Boulevard-related news, construction has started on a new Wawa store–the company’s second within city limits–and people are going absolutely ‘nanas over it. It will admittedly be nice to have hoagies so close to my house, so I guess I’m amongst the population going bonkers over this news. Details from Richmond BizSense here.

Are you in a position to be a foster parent and provide a loving, stable home to a child or children in need? UMFS wants to talk to you! The nonprofit tells us they are in “desperate need” for foster parents right now. Here’s what you need to know to consider this big step that could make a huge difference in the lives of youth in our area.

Speaking of stepping up to the plate, the Richmond School Board is seeking an interim member for its 7th District seat after board member Nadine Carter-Marsh stepped down following the untimely death of her husband. Learn more about the qualifications you’ll need, and if you have a passion for RPS and its students, you should totally at least consider it!

Five things to know

Photo‎: Farah Hottle (via Facebook)

1. The 40 participating restaurants for the fall edition of Richmond Restaurant Week, taking place the week of October 21st, have been announced.
2. The VMFA has been awarded a $331,000 grant to expand their conservation education offerings and bring in a more diverse range of candidates.
3. The city’s leaf collection policy is changing in some major ways this year; here’s what you need to know.
4. Henrico Animal Control is on the lookout for a pack of rogue pigs roaming the Twin Hickory neighborhood in the West End, and so far, these roaming hams have eluded just about everyone.
5. The city is hosting a natural disaster preparedness day this weekend, and you should attend to ensure you and your family are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Weekend event picks

Photo: RVA Street Art Festival

RVA Street Art Festival at The Diamond – The fourth annual RVA Street Art Festival, a roving festival featuring local and national artists alike that has added color and flair to neighborhoods around Richmond, will add some color to the drab Diamond baseball stadium this weekend–in fact, it’s already begun. Artists from all over are already painting the top panels of the stadium with a variety of designs, but the real fun will really begin Friday, September 22nd when the actual festival begins, which includes a concert series, food and beer trucks, and creative activities for children and adults in the parking lot around the Diamond. It’s all free to attend. Get the full schedule here.

Doggie & Me at Willow Lawn – Forget the “Mommy & Me” events that just about every mall has–Willow Lawn is hosting a Doggie & Me event this Saturday just for dog owners and their four-legged friends. The event, taking place Saturday, September 23rd from 4:00 – 9:00 PM, will feature over a dozen regional craft breweries, ten wineries, food sampling, a doggie costume contest, kids zone, and much more. Unlimited sampling tickets are $25 apiece and include beer and wine. Proceeds benefit FETCH A Cure. Purchase your tickets online here.

Virginia PrideFest on Brown’s Island – Virginia PrideFest is the largest annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the Commonwealth. The event, put on by Virginia Pride, aims to unite these sometimes segmented communities throughout the state. Saturday is the big day to celebrate with a free, family-friendly day of festivities featuring a variety of vendors, local eats, activities, and entertainment. Learn more and see the full lineup here.

Pickled & Fermented Festival at COTU – Richmond’s own Artisan Pickle Club (yeah, it’s a thing!) is hosting Pickled & Fermented, a celebration of all things pickled and fermented, this Saturday, September 23rd at Center of the Universe Brewing Company in Ashland. We’re talking more than pickled cucumbers here, too–enjoy pickled fruit, pickled veggies, hot sauces, kimchi, and more, along with lots of craft beer, of course. Free to attend, $5 gets you a pass to sample all the pickled stuff you can handle. Event info here.

Oktoberfest at Capital Ale House Downtown – The folks at Capital Ale House’s Downtown Richmond location are shutting down Main Street to bring in live music, beer, and other entertainment all day Saturday, September 23rd. The fun starts at 11:30 AM with the Fritz Polka Band, Low N’ Brows, and Johnny Koenig. There will also be a stein holding competition and tons of German fare. Free to enter; VIP tickets available. Get all the details here.

Be sure to catch our Weekend Event Picks each and every Friday morning at 7:10 and 9:10 AM with Brady in the Morning on Classic Rock 96.5!

Until next time,

Trevor Dickerson, Editor
RVAHub