Hello Thursday. March 28 2024 |
|
|
To round out Drink Up Week, we asked three beverage industry pros the same seven questions to get expert insight on Richmond’s drink scene. First, meet the makers.
☕️ Alan Smith is a co-owner at Afterglow Coffee Cooperative, a worker-owned coffee roaster based in Scott’s Addition. He had a decade of experience at Lamplighter before helping open Afterglow in October 2021.
🧃 Brandi Battle-Brown founded Ms. Bee’s Juice Bar in Northside after falling in love with juice in the summer of 2018. She says her motto is: If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?
🍹 Brett Nobile started Ninja Kombucha in 2015. Now, fermentation fans can find them in stores around VA in addition to sampling all the current offerings out of the Northside taproom.
|
|
|
Alan has been in the coffee business for decades. | Headshot by Jake Cunningham, @couragecophoto |
|
|
What is your favorite aspect of your job?
Alan: Probably the curatorial and creative aspects — I love getting to sample a wide range of coffees before selecting which ones we will bring in to roast.
Brandi: Introducing a healthier lifestyle to the community that tastes great. [...] I put a little twist, a little soul into all my juices and smoothies so it’s enjoyable for all walks of life.
Brett: The best part of the job is experimenting with new flavors and trying different brewing techniques. |
|
|
Brandi has expanded Ms. Bee's to two locations. | Headshot courtesy Ms. Bee's Juice Bar |
|
|
Describe your industry in three words.
Alan: Caffeinated, creative, exciting. Brandi: Love, live, juice. Brett: Living Sparkling Tea.
|
|
|
Brett and the Ninja team traveled to CA for an international conference. | Headshot by Jamie Douglas |
|
|
You’re taking out-of-town friends for a drink at a Richmond establishment. Where are you going?
Alan: I live in the East End so my favorites are out that way — Alewife or Metzger are definitely my most visited.
Brandi: My favorite restaurant to get a drink would be Lillie Pearl. I’m there every week!
Brett: If we're going out for drinks we're heading to the Ninja Kombucha Taproom (126 W. Brookland Park Blvd.) of course! Keep sipping on this story by hitting the button below.
|
Share this story with your friend who can't resist a little local treat. |
|
|
Click Here to have your event featured |
Today Saturday
- Summer Can Crush | Sat., July 30 | 12-10 p.m. | Benchtop Brewing Company, 434 Hull St. | Free entry | Swing by before 5 p.m. for the local vendor fair, enjoy Hamfish BBQ + crush some cans. 🍺
-
Richmond Flying Squirrels vs. Somerset Patriots | Sat., July 30 | 6:05 p.m. | The Diamond | $10+ | The first 1,500 fans ages 15+ will get a Black Panther bobblehead for Marvel Super Hero Night. ⚾️
Sunday Tuesday |
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends. |
|
|
Weather - 94º | Evening thunderstorms | 61% chance of rain
Civic -
The Dept. of Planning and Development Review is looking for community feedback on three city-wide zoning change proposals. PDR wants to revise short-term rental regulations (think Airbnb), eliminate parking space minimums, and permit accessory dwelling units. Find an in-person or virtual public meeting to attend in August.
- Tell the Dept. of Emergency Communications about your experiences with Richmond 911. Anyone age 18+ who lives, works, or studies in the city can complete the 15-question survey. Bonus: Leave your contact info + you’ll be entered to win a Ring video doorbell. 🚨
Number -
$40.6 million. That’s how much the 19 buildings that make up The Collection Midtown sold for last week. Priderock Capital Partners, a company based in South Florida, bought the portfolio of apartments. The properties are concentrated in the Fan + Museum District around Arthur Ashe Boulevard. 🏠 (Richmond BizSense)
Community -
Public Works crews will be in the Stony Point area tomorrow from 8 a.m. until noon (rain or shine) as part of the Neighborhood Clean-Up Program. Have things to throw away? They’ll accept anything except electronics, construction debris, hazardous waste + broken glass. 🗑
Arts -
VisArts has announced this year's featured artist for the Craft + Design show. Fiber artist Sarah-Djarnie Brown is a self-taught dollmaker. Her work will be used as the official cover image for the show, which returns to an in-person format October 14-16 at Main Street Station. 🎨
Festival -
The whole Ram-ily is invited to Ram Fest on Sat., Aug. 27 from 4-8 p.m. Head to Sports Backers Stadium to kick off the athletic + academic year with an Activity Zone, food trucks, and a Rowdy Rams corner. 🐏
Biz -
Dominion Energy has flipped the switch on its largest operational battery energy storage pilot project. Three battery systems — totaling 12 megawatts — have now been installed at a facility in Powhatan. The company says improving energy storage capacity will be necessary to achieve net zero carbon + methane emissions by 2050. 💡
Richmonders -
Two VCUarts professors spoke with VCU News about their experiences working at Industrial Light & Magic. The visual effects studio is the subject of a new Disney+ docuseries. Matt Wallin + TyRuben Ellingson worked on blockbuster films such as “Jurassic Park,” “Jumanji,” and the special editions of “Star Wars.” 🦖
Announced -
Congrats to reader David K. who was randomly selected to win $1,000 cash as a thank you for completing our recent product survey. David has been contacted by our team. Thanks to all of you who let us know your preferences about our product so we can continue making it better. (Didn’t share your thoughts? You still can.)
Local -
In case you missed it, RICtoday just launched our very own membership program. Membership starts at just $25 and helps keep our local news products free to all Richmonders — plus, members get perks like birthday deals, personal shoutouts, Six & Main discounts + more. Sign up. 🎉
|
|
|
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free. |
|
|
Mural-making is underway at The Park at RVA, an extensive indoor entertainment venue near the Diamond. The team shared some behind-the-scenes footage of artist Mickael Solomon Rosedale — aka The Night Owl — mapping out the first piece.
Read more on The Park development, which plans to open this fall.
|
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Just use #RICtoday on social media. |
|
|
| Points Balance zero? That can't be right |
EARN FREE GEAR
Keep earning and learn other ways to earn points here. Then redeem them for exclusive Richmond swag at Six and Main. Share now with your friends, family, and all Richmond lovers! Just click the buttons below: |
|
|
Here is your unique referral link ⤵️ Copy, paste, share + save this in a safe spot...or check here each morning anytime you need it. |
|
|
Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you? |
|
|
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City's advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS
|
|
|
|