08.28.2023

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Today’s Forecast

49º | Sunny | 5% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. | Sunset 5:07 p.m.

Food

10 barbecue spots we’re fired up about

Pig and Brew also offers brunch, wings, cocktails, and more. | Photo via Pig and Brew

We asked readers and social media followers for their picks for the best barbecue in Richmond — and the results are making us hungry.

Here are 10 local spots for the next time you’re craving brisket, pulled pork, ribs, or just a huge tray of sides.

Deep Run Roadhouse, 12379 Gayton Rd.
Chopped pork, pulled chicken, brisket, rope sausage, smoked portabello, and fried catfish are all on the menu at this Henrico establishment.

Frontier by Alamo, 412 N. 25th St.
Church Hill is home to this Texas-style barbecue spot that also offers rotisserie and grilled dishes.

McCormack’s Big Whisky Grill, 204 N. Robinson St.
Try the smoked duck breast, house brisket, or smoked tofu at this Fan restaurant.

RICtoday_Barbecue_SmokyMug — Fill your belly with a platter from The Smoky Mug.
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Photo courtesy The Smokey Mug

Oak & Apple, 1814 E. Main St.
This Shockoe spot uses an Ole Hickory smoker first introduced in 1974.

Pig & Brew, 1313 Hull St.
This restaurant opened in 2018 and brings pitmaster Lamont Hawkins’s 20+ years of experience to Manchester.

Redemption BBQ, 3420 Lauderdale Dr.
Pitmaster John Vest — also known as Rev. Dr. Porkchop — prides his business on working with local farmers to ensure high quality meats.

The Original Ronnie’s BBQ, 2097 New Market Rd.
Drive up to this classic country roadside joint near Varina.

RICtoday_BarbecueSpotsMap_Still — Click the image to explore the map — you can even filter to see which restaurants have meatless “meat” options.
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Map by RICtoday via Proxi

Smohk RVA BBQ, 3112 W. Leigh St.
Dig into a whole platter at this Scott’s Addition spot and take some sauce to go — most flavors are available by the bottle.

The Smoky Mug, 15 E. Brookland Park Blvd.
This Northside restaurant is also part coffeeshop and part Tex Mex Kitchen — look for the barbecue Wednesdays-Sundays.

ZZQ, 3201 W. Moore St.
Get out early for this Texas craft barbecue, served out of Scott’s Addition Wednesdays-Sundays until sold out.

Asked

What restaurant should be added to the list?

We pulled the top 10 responses from readers — what local barbecue spots deserve some more love? Let us know and we might add them to the map.

Drop your favorite

Events

Monday, Aug. 28

“The Other Boys of Summer” Screening | Monday, Aug. 28 | 2-4 p.m. | Black History Museum & Cultural Center, 122 W. Leigh St., Richmond | Free | Register to watch this documentary about the Negro League and participate in a discussion with “Black Baseball Mixtape” podcast host Marc Cheatham and film director Lauren Meyer.
Monday Family Movie Night | Monday, Aug. 28 | 6-7:30 p.m. | RPL Broad Rock Branch, 4820 Old Warwick Rd., Richmond | Free | Bring the kids for a family-friendly screening and popcorn — you can even make a request for a specific movie at the front desk.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

Richmond Fencing Demo | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 3-4 p.m. | Children’s Museum of Richmond, 2626 W. Broad St., Richmond | $0-$9 | Some of the area’s best fencers will give kids an up-close look at the sport.

Wednesday, Aug. 30

Kickers vs. Central Valley Fuego FC | Wednesday, Aug. 30 | 7 p.m. | City Stadium, 3201 Maplewood Ave., Richmond | $16 | Join the Red Army in cheering on the Roos at RVA Community Night.

Thursday, Aug. 31

Flowers After 5: Jackass Flats | Thursday, Aug. 31 | 5-9 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond | $0-$17 | Enjoy a night in the garden with the Virginia-based bluegrass-meets-rock quintet.

Friday, Sept. 1

First Fridays for the Whole Family | Friday, Sept. 1 | 5-8 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free entry | Get free admission to the museum and enjoy happy hour, food trucks, music, and family fun.

Full events calendar

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Richmonders will vote in November on whether to allow a casino in the city. The referendum had faced a legal challenge from a local bingo hall, but a judge said the group lacked standing. The last casino referendum was voted down in 2021. (VPM)

Concert

The Music at Main concert series at Main Street Station is returning for free shows every Thursday in September. Head to the patio on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m. to see High Definition. Brencore Allstars, Adam Hawley, and Legacy Band fill out the lineup for the month.

Eat

Short Pump is getting a Popeyes. The fried chicken chain has filed plans to build a new restaurant near Regal Cinemas and Barnes & Noble. There’s no clear date for when construction will start. (Richmond BizSense)

Active

Registration is open for the 12th annual Hike for Kids on Saturday, Oct. 21. The event supports Blue Sky Fund, a local nonprofit for youth outdoor education. Sign up for a three, eight, or 14-mile hike and enjoy a post-hike celebration with live music from The Hot Seats.

Shop

We know — it’s not even September. But the Carytown Artisan Market has announced the dates for its holiday market. This year, 125+ vendors, food trucks, and live music will take up City Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 17. Know someone who should be a vendor? Tell them to apply.

Kids

Young adults ages 14-21 are invited to apply to join the Virginia Department of Health’s Youth Advisory Council. Members from around the commonwealth will advocate for public health initiatives, learn about policy, and collaborate with other students. Applications are due by Saturday, Sept. 30.

Giveaway

Did you know when you subscribe to our new sister market, WStoday, you’ll be entered into our contest to win $250 cash? Subscribe today for a chance to win.

Finance

How many cards are in your wallet? Make your answer “one.” Earn a $200 sign-up bonus simply by spending $500 in your first three months with this card. Pair that with 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for your first 15 months — oh, and unlimited cash back.*

Arts

🎨 New exhibit now open

Music-inspired art exhibit opens at Artspace

Local artist Robert Meganck taught at VCU for over 40 years. | Photo courtesy Robert Meganck

“See What I Hear,” a new exhibit featuring 40 works by local artist Robert Meganck, opened last week at Stratford Hills Shopping Center.

Meganck started the series on April 7, 2020, the day legendary musician John Prine died. Since then, he has created 185 illustrations, each inspired by a different song.

The new exhibit spans two locations, both situated in the shopping center. You can find the illustrations at Artspace and Boyd Realty Group.

Songs illustrated in the exhibit span a variety of genres and decades — from “Sing For Your Supper” by The Mamas & the Papas to “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys to “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin. The series will be on display until Saturday, Sept. 16.

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The Wrap

Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin

From the editor

If you’ve already got ballot questions — casino-related and otherwise — send them my way. We’re prepping our Richmond election guide that’ll include important dates, registration and early voting info, what you’ll see on the ballot, and more.

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