Matcha: Coffee’s earthy, no-drama sibling — different in personality, butboth in the caffeine family.
What is matcha?
In short, it’s finely-ground Japanese green tea leaves turned into a powder. It’s traditionally used in ritualistic tea ceremonies, but has become popular around the world for everyday cooking recipes, ice cream, boba tea, and hot or iced lattes.
Jace Camarillo, owner of mobile drink cart The Exit Plan, moved to Japan in 2017 to study the immersive art of coffee. | Photo by The Exit Plan
Local matcha digs
Whether you’re new to the matcha craze or a green team superfan, we’re getting this guide started with six local cafes boasting noteworthy matcha drinks:
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative | This Scott’s Addition shop serves Pandan matcha lattes, made with a Southeast Asian grass offering notes of vanilla.
The Exit Plan | Follow this trendy mobile drink cart to keep up with popups here, there, and everywhere around Richmond — local parks, bookstores, ice cream shops, etc.
We kept things brief here, but head to the full article for seasonal matcha specials, Editor Elise’s pro tips + a few firsthand reviews from a local content creator.
Straight No Chaster: A Downtown Jazz Suite | Times vary | Locations vary | Price of purchase | Work up your excitement for this weekend’s Jazz Fest with dinner and a show at Bar Solita, Tarrant’s Downtown, Black Olive, Richmond Marriot, or the Dominion Energy Jazz Café — take your pick.
Wine Tasting | 6-8 p.m. | Susie’s Delicatessen | Price of purchase | Indulge in Virginia wines from Fossil and Fawn and try out Susie’s seasonal specials as culinary pairings.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Short Stories Tour: Landing in Richmond - Immigrants in RVA | 6-6:30 p.m. | The Valentine | Free | No registration or admission fee required — join a 30-minute gallery tour of the new exhibit, “Generations: Stories of Asian Americans in Richmond.”
Friday, Aug. 8
Homegrown at the Hipp | 6 p.m. | Hippodrome Theatre | $50 | Powerhouse vocalist Kemi Adegoroye kicks off the Richmond Jazz and Music Fest from the same stage that once boasted Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington.
Bowl for Paws | 1-3 p.m. | Bowlero Richmond | $20 | Rally up to five friends for a Sunday bowl, where 50% of each ticket supports pets in need at Richmond SPCA — register by Thursday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m.
A Varina family is determined to protect its historic land from development. Camp Holly Springs boasts a natural spring that has been filtering pure water into the James for generations. Read more about this historic property, and see why this family decided to place 139 acres under legal conservation. (CBS 6)
Sports
“Since 1994, Richmond Little League and its sister city’s team in Saitama, Japan have visited each other every summer.” After a pandemic-prompted hiatus, this program resumed last weekend with a new tradition: post-game gifts consisting of American baseball cards, snap bracelets, and Japanese (rubber) baseballs. (The Richmonder)
Plan Ahead
Non-member registration for VMFA classes opens Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 8 a.m. Start simple with beginner’s art classes or explore something niche like pet portraits, botanical drawing, or confessional poetry. Keep in mind: Workshops tend to fill quickly.
Try This
Commit to a book club without fully committing to a book club. The Little Bookshop (TLB) in Midlothian hosts monthly meetings, and September’s read is “The Listeners” by Maggie Stiefvater. Buy local from TLB and mark your calendar for Monday, Sept. 15 or Tuesday, Sept. 23 — no registration or fees required.
Civic
Did you know you can subscribe to receive newsletters from the mayor? The latest newsletter spotlighted Richmond’s parks + recreation department, reviewed utility payment assistance, provided updates on City Hall’s first-floor renovation, and wrapped up with an original piece by Richmond’s poet laureate.
Number
20%. That’s how much you can save on our self-service ad portal thanks to our Countdown to Q4 special. Hurry — it only runs until the end of the month. Use code AUGUST20 at checkout to secure your discount.
Meet Marshmallow, the official dog of 804 Day. Organized by Style Weekly, this annual contest invites locals to submit their picture-perfect pups, with thousands of public votes determining the most paws-itively Richmond canine.
A go-to pair of running shorts to get you through hot summer workouts. This pair is under $20, has a built-in liner, and stays secure around hips thanks to a thick elastic waistband.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
If you’re a fan of matcha, you know that all-too-familiar voice on your shoulder saying, “it tastes like grass.” Are you that voice... ? I’m sure we can come to a peaceful understanding.
If you’re not a fan of matcha but you work up the courage to give our guide a go, tell us how it went. For the matcha fans, let me know which local picks I should add to today’s starting roundup.
First things first, I’m visiting Afterglow to test out that Pandan Latte.
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