The Slice: Coffee Talk, Booze News, Farm Tours and the Fair
STRANGERS WITH COFFEE
This Friday, September 29th is National Coffee Day, and to celebrate, Coffee with Strangers, a video series with host Kelli Lemon, will be posted up at Ellwood Thompson's from 7:00 am to 11:00 am for a morning of caffeine, conversation and community. A $1 donation gets you a cup coffee and treats from sponsors, and if you upgrade to $5, you'll get a custom CWS mug and swag bag. Ellwood's is matching donations, and the proceeds will go to the Salvation Army. Sponsors include Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co., Black Hand Coffee Company, Gearharts Fine Chocolates,King Of Pops - Richmond, Richmond PhotoBooth, LLC, and Triple Crossing Brewing, so you know the swag bags will be '100 emoji.'
PICTURE JASPER
The big news for RVA imbibers this week is that three local barmen are opening a cocktail-focused concept in Carytown, Jasper, named for Jasper Crouch, founder of the Quiot Club and a freedman cook and barman for Justice James Marshall in the 1800s. Mattias Hagglund, Thomas 'T' Legget and Kevin Liu will transform the former Cary carpet shop (with help from Campfire & Co!) into a drinking destination, ideally, later this year. The bar plans to be open from 6:00 pm until 2:00 am 7 days a week, with a menu of small plates and entrees to accompany the star of the show: THE DRINKS.
STATE FAIR DON'T CARE
The State Fair of Virginia returns to The Meadow Event Park this Friday, September 29th through Sunday, October 8th; and I'm as surprised as you are to admit that I simply love the fair. The people-watching; the fried, over-priced food; the rides (which I mostly enjoy from a safe distance on the ground); and especially the farm critters and agricultural stuff (I just close my eyes and pretend I'm Fern from Charlotte's Web). My State Fair bucket list includes procuring an air-brushed tank top with my and Mr's Ganz's names in a hot pink heart, an absurd turkey leg, a deep-fried brat wrapped in pretzel dough and a trip to the bumper cars where I will work out a year's worth of road rage.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Don your overalls and prepare to get your hands dirty at Real Local's Second Annual Farm Tour & Cookout, this Sunday, September 30th. You'll have a chance to meet local producers like Broadfork Farm, Tricycle Urban Ag, Shalom Farm, and Casselmonte Farm before enjoying a locally-themed cookout, craft cocktails c/o Belle Isle Craft Spirits and beer by Hardywood, plus live music. Tour tickets are $25/person; Cookout tickets are $50; and you can enjoy both kit and kaboodle for $65.
SIP OF THE WEEK: VIRGINIA WINE
Get a jump start on Virginia Wine Month, which begins this Sunday and lasts through October. This Saturday, at participating wineries, you'll have a chance to grab a swag bag with a Virginia is for Lovers trucker hat (in case you missed your chance during the great VA ABC promo of 2016), a 'Wine Me' pin, and/or a Virginia Wine tote bag. Use the hashtag #OctVAWineMonth to share your joy with the rest of us.
BITE OF THE WEEK: SECRET SANDWICH SOCIETY'S VELVET BURGER
Next week, Secret Sandwich Society will be donating 15% of proceeds to the Massey Alliance in support of VCU Massey Cancer Center, so if you hate cancer and love burgers, saddle up to the Grace Street spot for pimento cheese fries and a velvet burger, a serious burger situation that includes bacon, french onion dip, balsamic onions, and Swiss cheese.
GRAM OF THE WEEK: @THREESHIPSCOFFEE
In honor of National Coffee Day this Friday, one of my all-time favorite Virginia bean-slingers.