The Wrap: Labor Day Weekend events, Pets for Paramedics, a hidden burger gem, and pawpaw season

Photo: @that_one_transplant

The week in brief

Good afternoon, Wrappers, and welcome to what is hopefully a long Labor Day Weekend for you and yours. I’ve got some great ideas below if you’re looking for some weekend plans. Two museum exhibits close this weekend, one at the VMFA, another at the Science Museum of Virginia. My wife and I went to the Bodyworlds: Animals Inside Out exhibit last night, and it’s pretty cool! There are over 100 animals preserved by means of plastination, and it’s truly fascinating. Go check it out before it closes! But first, let’s get into some of the week’s news.

Mayor Stoney announced this week that the city is investing in a major expansion of after-school programs. The city, along with nonprofits like the YMCA, Peter Paul Development Center, and NextUp RVA are working with philanthropic partners to expand their programs and close funding gaps. Up to $6 million will be invested into various programs, which is a worthwhile investment, according to local nonprofit The Community Foundation. “For every dollar spent on quality after-school programs, the community recovers anywhere from $3 to $5 in education and juvenile crime savings,” according to Sherrie Armstrong, President and CEO of the Foundation. “By investing in our young people, we invest in the future of Richmond- its diversity, economic vitality and vibrancy.” More here.

How cool is this? The Richmond Ambulance Authority is teaming up with the Richmond SPCA to bring pets to EMS crews once a week, thereby reducing stress of personnel and helping adoptable pets find homes. First responders with highly-stressful careers will get to hang with pets; pets get exposure and hopefully find homes. Win-win! Read about the program, launched today here.

Money Magazine teamed up with Yelp recently, and the two set out to find the ten best burgers in America, and I have a few things to say about it. Coming in at number nine was the burger at Around The Corner, a hole-in-the-wall, breakfast and lunch spot in the Near West End near W. Broad Street and Glenside Drive. I’ve never heard of this place, and, judging from the comments on social media, I’m not alone. Money’s website states that the winners were chosen based on an algorithm that weighed Yelp reviews on a respective place’s burgers, plus their overall star rating, to find the best of the best. However, on Yelp (hat tip to local food writer Robey Martin who looked into this), you’ll notice barely any mentions of this place’s burger. Moreover, I get probably three or four press releases a week announcing that something in the area had been judged the best, Richmond or Virginia ranks number one in something or another, etcetera. I question how a lot of these rankings are determined. Plus, why is Money Magzine ranking burgers? Shouldn’t they be providing financial tips or something? Anyway, I’ll step off my soapbox now. I guess the bottom line is I need to check this place out and report back. It may very well be a delicious burger that’s been flying under the radar this whole time. See the article here.

Speaking of restaurants, what do MOD Pizza, Panera, and Chipotle, plus an indoor trampoline park, have in common? They’re all coming to Regency Square as the aging mall’s $30 million renovation marches on. Here’s when they’ll open and what else has been going on.

Remember those old Dominion Chevrolet commercials where owner Ted Linhart told you his dealership was way out yonder in the pawpaw patch? That was back when that part of Short Pump, less than a mile from the Goochland County line, now all built up, seemed a world away. Well, there very well could have been some pawpaws out there, because they’re pretty common in our area. Richard Hayes has some interesting info on these, the largest edible tree fruits in North America, and where you can find them around Richmond.

Did you make it out to LOCKN’ Festival last weekend? I’ve never been, but it’s on my short list. We sent our newly-minted, intrepid, resident photographer, Suzanne Velasco, out to get some shots of local band People’s Blues of Richmond playing the festival. She captured them, along with some of the other acts like Matisyahu, Sheryl Crow, and Blues Traveler, too! Be sure to give her a warm welcome to the RVAHub team–you can email her here.

We’ll keep things short and skip the five things you need to know this week, and I’ll hand out your weekend assignments below. Make it a great one!

Weekend event picks

Weekend Event Picks: Americana Festival, last chance to see Flying Squirrels and two museum exhibits, and free Lewis Ginter admission

Until next time,

Trevor Dickerson
Editor, RVAHub