The Wrap: Preparing for Monument Avenue protests, Oktoberfest, grocery store news, and more

Photo: Clinton Lewis

The week in brief

Good afternoon Wrap readers. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the air on this beautiful Friday as protesters and counter-protesters seem intent on making their presence known along Monument Avenue Saturday. In short, if you don’t have to be near the Lee Circle area in The Fan tomorrow, stay away. If you do, however, need to be in the area or choose to participate in the un-permitted assembly, there’s a lot you need to know. There are major road closures, parking restrictions, and more to be aware of. We’ve put together a guide to everything we know so far, who we know is coming, and what to expect. Read it in full here.

That said, there are plenty other things going on this weekend, too. For one, it’s Oktoberfest at St. Benedict’s in the Museum District. There will be 47 beers on tap, lots of German fare and dancing, a stein holding competition, and more. That’s where you’ll find me posted up tomorrow. Learn more here, and get more ideas in our full Weekend Event Picks below.

Fall really snuck up on us fast, speaking of Oktoberfest. In just a month, the Richmond Folk Festival returns! This past Wednesday, the official festival poster was revealed at an event in The Fan. Here’s a look at this year’s design, its artist, and more.

Richmond is becoming more and more bike centric. So much so, in fact, that we’ll soon have our very own Bike Restaurant Week! All next week, 21 restaurants around the city will over discounts and specials to those arriving by bike. Learn more here. Want to get caught up on all of the other restaurant news you can handle? Take a gander at our Weekly Food News here. Beer news? We gotchu.

Whoa! Looks like Publix is going whole hog on their plans to renovate former Martin’s locations. The company is now planning to demolish both the former Martin’s in The Village shopping center, and another in  the Westpark shopping center. I’m just barely old enough to remember crews demolishing the former Safeway (I think it was?) that sat where Ukrop’s would be built in the Village shopping center in 1994. Then Martin’s took over the Ukrop’s space when they sold out, Martin’s then left the Richmond market, Publix took its place, and here they are about to demolish the “new” building to construct a third grocery store building on the site. And the door just keeps on revolving. Here’s a look at the plans.

Five things to know

1. Got $250? You can put your name on one of the brand new seats at the Byrd Theatre–you just can’t claim dibs on it–unless you show up really early to the movie.
2. Hey plant enthusiasts! The biggest plant sale in the area all year is taking place all weekend.
3. Halloween Haunt opens next Friday at Kings Dominion, and new thrills and chills await.
4. The VMFA is about to renovate and add an addition to the historic Robinson House on its property.
5. You can be lazy and float down the river while still helping out hurricane victims–here’s how.

Until next time,

Trevor Dickerson, Editor
RVAHub