Plus, garden tours + river paddles
 
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Today’s Forecast

81º | 5% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:01 a.m. | Sunset 8:10 p.m.

 
🚲 Gear up for an adventure
Three bike route signs lined up in a row. All of the signs are green and white and depict a bike under the letters "US," with a number below indicating which route it is.
You may have seen signs indicating a bike route in the system without even knowing what it was. | Graphics via USBRS
Did you know that an extensive system of bicycle routes connecting cities like Richmond and Raleigh exists right here in the US?

The US Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is a network of numbered, developing bike trails that are officially approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Currently, the network features 19,000+ miles of bike routes, but it’s not pumping the brakes there; USBRS’s goal is to eventually establish a 50,000-mile bike route network that connects all of America.

While some of these routes span hundreds of miles, you don’t need years of training to take advantage of them — check out trails local to us and start planning your next adventure.

Know before you go

  • While the routes are open to all, most are designed for cyclists 16 or older who have at least a few years of bicycling experience. In other words, this isn’t where you should teach little Sally to ride a bike. Stick to local parks for that.
  • Not all routes are marked with signs, and route conditions can vary.
  • A red line on an individual route map indicates a shared roadway, while a green line indicates an off-road path.
A map showing the Richmond area, with a partly red and mostly green line running from downtown Richmond to the Granville area.

The Virginia Capital Trail makes up most of USBR 176 VA.

|

Screenshot via USBRS

Route this way

USBR 1 VA northbound and southbound, USBR 176 VA eastbound and westbound
  • Connects: Washington, DC and North Carolina.
  • Where they can take you: Washington, DC; Yorktown, VA; Raleigh-Durham, NC; and more via connecting routes.
  • Short ride: The Capital Trail makes up part of USBR 176, a route that connects USBRs 1 and 76. Take it eastbound from Great Shiplock Park to The Original Ronnie’s BBQ in Henrico (~6 miles) for a fun outing with delicious eats. Pro tip: Vegetarians, try the jackfruit barbecue.
  • Long ride: Make the ~70-mile bike trek via USBR 1 northbound before hopping on the Virginia Railway Express in Spotsylvania (which features room for bikes on board) and taking it into DC to spend time exploring the capital.
While it’s not open for business quite yet, the Fall Line Trail will also become an option for Richmonders on two wheels in the next few years.
 
 
Events
 
Monday, May 13
  • Pop-Up Class for 1st to 4th Graders | Monday, May 13 | 5-6 p.m. | SPARC, 2106 N. Hamilton St., Richmond | Free | Young thespians can get to know SPARC at this one-night workshop offering an hour of exploration through theatrical lessons.
Tuesday, May 14
  • Seasonal Garden Tour | Tuesday, May 14 | 10-11 a.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond | $0-$22 | Enhance your appreciation of Lewis Ginter with this specialized tour featuring seasonal aspects of the garden.
  • Harry’s Manifesto Hour: Wine Bottle Painting and Tasting | Tuesday, May 14 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Harry’s at Hofheimer, 2818 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Paint your own wine bottle, sample drinks, and network with other professionals at this evening of connection.
Wednesday, May 15
  • Personal Finance 101 - Adult Learning Series | Wednesday, May 15 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Adult Education Center, 1420 N. Parham Rd., Henrico | Free | Join HCPS for a free financial education series for adults of all ages.
  • Weinstein Author Series | Wednesday, May 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Enjoy an evening of poetry readings featuring members of the Poetry Society of Virginia in celebration of the group’s centennial anthology.
Thursday, May 16
  • Good For Her Films: “Jennifer’s Body” | Thursday, May 16 | 6 p.m. | Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop, 3406 W. Leigh St., Richmond | Cost of purchase | A portion of proceeds at this cult classic movie night will benefit Side by Side Virginia.
  • “Memories of Murder” | Thursday, May 16 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $9 | See Bong Joon-ho’s 2003 neo-noir thriller on the big screen.
Friday, May 17
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
▼SPONSORED▼
⚽ A tale of two cities: Richmond Ivy vs. Charlottesville Blues
Women play soccer on the field at a training practice for the Richmond Ivy
Missed the season opener? Cheer on the Ivy as they face off against the Charlottesville Blues in their second home game. | Photo provided by Richmond Ivy Soccer Club
It’s game time, Richmond. The Ivy’s season is kicking into high gear, with the second home game coming up fast on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at City Stadium. Catch the Ivy take on the Charlottesville Blues in a local rivalry you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply up for a fun night out with your friends, come enjoy food trucks, craft brews, and show some love for local women’s soccer.
 
News Notes
 
Open
  • Richmonder Freddie Harris has opened a location of dog grooming franchise Scenthound in the Innsbrook area. Harris has been working on the corporate side at Scenthound for several years, and he’s already looking at opening two more locations in the region. (Richmond BizSense)
Edu
  • The VCU Board of Visitors voted unanimously to raise tuition 2.7%, or roughly $350 for in-state students. For out-of-staters, that’s about $1000. Elsewhere in the state, JMU, ODU, UVA, W&M, and VT have all raised tuition by 2.5-3%. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Number
  • $1.1 billion. That was the economic impact generated by Virginia’s distillery industry in 2022, according to a study by the Virginia Spirits Board. Altogether, 81 licensed distilleries supported over 3000 jobs around the commonwealth.
Biz
  • Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas and members of business collaborative InUnison met with business owners from around the county at a town hall last Thursday. This comes after a survey of local businesses found that 77% of respondents’ revenue grew over the past year. (VPM)
Outdoors
  • James River Women will guide a lower lap paddle on the rapids this Thursday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m. The event is intended for intermediate kayakers — contact JRW before showing up to make sure you’ve got the necessary experience.
Drink
  • Bingo Beer Co. is hosting a Throwback Prom this Friday, May 17. Head to the Scott’s Addition brewery for prom pics and nostalgic tunes from DJ Carter B.
Biz
  • What are people delegating? Getting to inbox zero, calendar management, travel, cold calls, leveraging AI, managing CRMs, expense reports, returns, waiting on customer service calls, household management, and much more. With Athena, you can achieve more time, freedom, success, and impact. See how to score a $1,500 credit.*
 
 
Outdoors
 
More picnic picks
maymont - rodney martin
Maymont has plenty of spots perfect for picnicking — just remember your blanket. | Photo by Rodney Martin
Trying to enjoy the warmer weather before things really start to heat up? We’ve got more suggestions for picnic spots around the River City.

Forest Hill Park

If you want a bit of outdoor adventure with your meal, head here. The park has picnic shelters close to several trails perfect for walking, running and biking. Swing by Gold Lion Community Cafe first to pick up a refreshing smoothie.

Maymont

There are plenty of scenic spots at Maymont to picnic, whether you’re in the mood to sit in the Japanese Garden, on a shady hill, or near the Children’s Farm. Pack a lunch or grab a bagel at Lamplighter on the way.

Scuffletown Park

Scuffletown Park is perfect for a picnic with a few friends. If you’re headed out in the early afternoon you can snag a treat from Idle Hands. Looking for a full meal? Grab a bite at 8½.
 
The Buy
 
Apple pie made easy. We’re celebrating National Apple Pie Day by warming up some of this Apple Pie Jam from Adams Apple Co. with a little bit of ice cream.
 
Answered
 
Recently, we quizzed our readers on the etymology of the word “picnic”
You all did tres bien. About 35% of you correctly identified that it originated in French. The roots of “picnic” trace back to a merging of piquer (a verb meaning “to pick”) and‎ nique (“small thing”)
 
 
The Wrap
 
David Lefkowitz.png Today’s edition by:
David
From the editor
My college running club would run the full length of the Capital Trail every year as a relay race, so I’ve run several sections over the years. I have no aspirations to take on all 52 miles on foot, but one of these days I’d like to try and bike the whole thing. Now’s a perfect time to start training.
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