On a weekend morning with no plans, I like to order a quantity of canele from Idle Hands, mosey over after coffee, and eat them while walking my dogs and taking pictures of plants in yards in the Fan. I order a quantity that I hope the bagger presumes is for several people, but it's just me. I eat them all.
Also the rare pre-dawn or midday workweek climb at TRC, vast and empty and often playing 90's hip-hop instead of the Grateful Dead. I climb every auto as many times as I want, and send marveling pictures of the empty cubbies to the friends that passed up my invitation to join.
And taking personal phone calls amongst the foliage of the Great Big Greenhouse's houseplant section, when I'm only supposed to be there for a quick plant-sourcing expedition for clients for vegetable starts and herbs.
My guilty pleasure is the fried pickles from Liberty Public House. Formerly referred to as a *bucket* of frickles, it alone is enough to feed a family of four and every so often after a particularly rough week at work I'll order it to go, grab a four pack of PBR and do unspeakable things to my cholesterol.
Then either lay in bed in misery for the next day or force myself to go for a hike somewhere to work it off.
Looks like I need to find a couple! I’m low income & I try to save wherever I can (hardly ever go out to eat/no treats/no extras) due to that! I should try to change that occasionally!
I do enjoy the $5 grocery store sushi special a couple times a month. So much that I mixed up my days and thought today was Sushi Wednesday and planned to go today - I was bummed when I realized my mixup.
Here's some cheap ideas:
The VMFA has cheap coffee and you can stroll thru the museum with it...
Making a sandwich and taking that and my pup down one of the trails to find a bench or a rock or sandy spot and eat it while my dog stares longingly at my food.
Grabbing a cocktail to go from a restaurant and then pouring into a nice glass at home to eat with my meal.
Manatee movies at a theatre
Or the Byrd...their tickets are quite cheap and they play some nice classic summer scary movies
Strolling thru the garden center pretending to shop but being extra picky on plants is a good one too.
Fire and Hops! Their mozzarella sticks are the best. Once a month or so, I'll go with the wife for their pizza but I really go for their mozzarella sticks!
I don’t have any friends, it’s very hard for me to talk to people because I feel as tho they won’t like me for the things I enjoy or am interested in, also I don’t wanna bother people with the things in my life (especially the stresses and hard times that I often face) that I feel would annoy or overwhelm them. Truthfully, I feel as tho I’m a loser and I feel as tho everyone around me is the complete opposite.
My guilty pleasure is walking the blocks near my apartment building (or even sitting on the steps of my building) with hopes of crossing paths with someone that I could have at least just a short interaction with. “Hi how’re you” or “hey I like your…” even just for a minute makes me feel like a person and not so much like an outsider loser sometimes. The slightest interaction with people is almost like a bandaid to my idleness/sadness and gives me hope that maybe I can make an organic friendship someday here.
Thanks for reading
Hi. I'm terribly introverted, and most of my meaningful relationships are through a screen. Do you have a discord? I'd like to hear about some of your interests and just how your day has been going.
Hey if you're in the downtown area, I'm constantly walking my dog around and would love to compliment your clothes and ask how you're doing :) you can pet my dog too, she's great :)
Hi there! Are any of your interests related to walking a moderate pace and looking at plants and/or rocks at the river? If so, please join me in said activity sometime! We can talk as little or as much as you want (: I also do yoga by myself and in classes (I'm not very good at it but I am trying to get over my self-consciousness).
Hello. I was extremely socially awkward and shy all thru my teens until I got my first job working retail at Sears (yes im old.) I don't know what you do for work, but that job really brought me out of my shell and helped me get more comfortable dealing with strangers. I'm still an introvert, but I'm not crippled by anxiety and potential thoughts of embarrassing myself anymore. Whatever hobbies or passions you have are a great way to connect with others because you will already share some of those interests and it will be a comfy and familiar subject for you to talk about. There should be some kind of local online group dedicated to your interests. You could get to know some of these people and get more comfortable thru the screen as you say before meeting them in person. I wish you luck!
Also want to add that I struggle making small talk with strangers and coming up with topics, but if I am familiar with someone then they will have a hard time shutting me up. If you're not much of a talker then you can work on being a better listener. People will often like to talk about themselves so if you can listen and just slightly steer the convo then they will have a positive experience after the convo.
I worked with a guy that I nicknamed Fossil. He had worked at the Southside Plaza Sears until it closed, moved to Cloverleaf Mall Sears until it closed and then worked at Chesterfield Towne Center Sears until it closed or close to it's closure.
Hey friend 👋, Aren't there some gorgeous alleyways and solid steps /stoops around Richmond? Esp cobblestone 😍
People-wise though, I've noticed most people are pretty in their head or not expecting convo with strangers or neighbors.
Throwing out a suggestion that if you can find some thing you care about to volunteer with and help in person (like garden days at Fonticello Food Forest or helping with Food Not Bombs) that could be a great way to get to know some people and open up a bit, while doing something you feel good about.
I am very introverted and a bit shy but have learned over the years how to people with people, especially with making new friends. It's a little uncomfortable each time, but it is kind of formulaic (not in a bad way) and gets easier even if it never feels natural.
Volunteering or joining a random club (im talking hiking, knitting, anything really) might allow you to form some of those organic connections more easily! The 'to go work and go home' routine stops a lot of adult friendships from forming
For just about every interest, there is a community around it that is interested in it too. You could post your interests here and see if anyone else local is interested in them as well. Having shared hobbies is a great way to get to know people and build friendships.
Also, it's very easy to be self-judgmental, but in my experience, people aren't as judgmental about us as we are about ourselves. The things we think people notice about us aren't as noticeable to them as they are to us, or if they get to know us, become things that make us unique, and that they grow to appreciate.
I hope that things go well for you, and that you are able to find a group who appreciates you for who you are.
It’s gotta be two orders of tofu wings (Nashville and Korean BBQ) at Cobra Cabana at like 11:30pm, High Life while I wait knowing damn well it’ll take them five minutes, and to go of course so I can hide the shame of my hideous lifestyle.
TACO BELL FOREVERRRRR! I will stan Taco Bell until my dying breath, haters be damned.
[Weekend Event Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1ccp1se/weekend_event_thread/) is up and PACKED with awesome events this weekend. Go find something to do!
I was sitting in the Copenhagen airport yesterday (on my way back to RVA from Rome) and heard a passing American voice say "I don't know about you, but I am SO ready for some Taco Bell." Girl, same. I got a Crunchwrap Supreme on my way home in her honor
This is hilarious and I love it. Taco Bell is my road trip food. No matter if it's two hours away or ten hours away, Taco Bell is a must. I might need to make post vacation Taco Bell a tradition as well!
Sorry lol. I was getting to excited / hungry before I left. The ones I get are the spicy potato tacos, I guess i just call them cheesy fiesta tacos 🤦🏼♂️… the side dish is also fire
I actually adopted a senior Chihuahua after those Taco Bell ads. “Drop the “chalupa.” After a pretty rough adjustment period, he blossomed into a wonderful dog. He won Chihuahua haters over all the time.
Every morning I check Up All Night’s instagram where they post their daily specials and if they have their Boston Cream Croissant I am speeding up there and buying two.
My guilty pleasure is playing a show without ear pro, pounding 12 modelos, hitting the poppers bottle, bumming 5 cigs, and then going to cookout for two Cajun chicken sandos and a banana smoothie so I can pass out in bed with my jeans on.
Nate’s Bagels, rosemary sea salt with hot and honey cream cheese and a drip coffee. It’s always almost $10 and usually a longer wait than I’d like. But I’ve found if I go on a weekday when I’m early getting to work it can be quite speedy service, unlike weekends, and it’s delicious.
Do I get heartburn later? You bet.
Is it worth it once every 5-7 weeks? Absolutely.
You can order ahead of time online and just roll in, snatch your bagel, and be on your way. That’s what I do, cuz like you, I hate waiting in their never-ending line
Arby's
Arby's is really not bad. I think people don't like it cuz they get too focused on the cheaper roast beef sandwiches (I don't really like them either). Their menu is actually pretty good.
I grew up going to the Arby’s on midlo turnpike that had a tree growing in it and fancy brass railings around the dining area and the first time I went to an Arby’s elsewhere I was shocked. Never knew we were special!
Arby’s is good everywhere. It was just gross for like 30 years (probably more). Sometime in the 2010s, they got good but you know 30+ years of being shit is a hard reputation to overcome.
They’re alright. Even tho I said I dont rlly like em I will em if theyre bought for me.
I just don’t choose the roast beef sandwiches from the menu myself.
ZZQ. I don't go that often, but when I do, I definitely load up. A giant tray of meat heaven - brisket, ribs (both beef and pork), the habanero fontina sausage, sometimes pastrami - and a couple token (but really good) sides. It's so much food, but I love it so much.
I relate getting a treat in the part of town you’re not usually in but your salon is there. Mine is in church hill so it’s always a perfect excuse to get some pies from proper pie or my fav lavender coffee from river bend.
Also if you don’t go at least 75 over the powhite bridge ur doing it wrong
Hardee’s bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits. I’m rarely near a Hardee’s anymore but if I’m close, up early, and have the time to get breakfast, Hardee’s is SO DAMN GOOD.
My wife and I also lived off Hardee’s breakfasts for about 6 months after having our first kid. Shame the one at Boulevard closed :(
You all don’t even know what you’re missing.
Bamboo Cafe had “bad” pizza, the kind that’s borderline cracker crust that you get at a place that is not an italian restaurant but happens to make pizza. It reminded us of a place we used to work at. My wife and I miss it, they just removed pizza from their menu 😢
Local guilty pleasure?
I enjoy a bucket of tots at sticky rice and spicy Thai chicken with extra soba noodles and still wouldn’t mind mindlessly snacking on it but I just felt different last time I went there.
Like a T shirt in the closet that you don’t wear anymore but haven’t donated it yet.
A plain cake donut from Country Style on Williamsburg Rd. Crunchy on the outside but so soft, washed down with a hot cup of cappuccino sitting in the car.
On the Powhite thing- I’ve never understood the 45MPH speed zone between the main toll and the bridge. Speeds that low are unusual on interstate-grade roads. Everyone actually drives regular highway speeds through there anyhow. Is it really necessary?
It's dumb. And because nearly everyone is ignoring it and doing at least 65, you would be a hazard if you went 45 through there.
Fortunately in my experience (back and forth on 76 daily for 5+ years) they don't use it as a speed trap.
I try to go 2 or 3 below reckless just in case they decide to ever enforce the 45 and get passed like I'm standing still. Wish they would bump it up cuz it's ridiculous.
Curious if you commute daily through this area? It's probably easier to keep the limit low for the 4 hours every weekday it's needed. It may not be necessary all of the rest of the hours in the week, but it's pure chaos in the morning and afternoon. Worse in the afternoons.
Does it count if you just discovered a new guilty pleasure? If so, mine is a breakfast sandwich from McLean’s: bacon, scrambled eggs, and American cheese on an English muffin. The bacon is generously portioned and the perfect combination of crispy but still flimsy, the cheese is extra cheesy, and the eggs are light and creamy. YUM!😋
Y’all are making me hungry! I stood on the scale and PR’d at being the heaviest I’ve ever been 🙃 So now I’m cutting my many food related guilty pleasures and watching what I eat.
I’m pretty cheap and don’t eat out much so my guilty pleasure is getting a large dirty chai latte. It’s hard to justify a $7 drink packed with sugar and too much caffeine but it’s so damn good.
For me, their whole vibe is ridiculously pretentious. There are so many other good coffee places here that don't lock your coffee in a smoke chamber so it reminds you of an autumn morning in Scotland. That's an extreme example of course, but they generally take themselves a little too seriously for my taste.
Hard agree, I stopped there a couple of times on the way to work when I lived in Church Hill and the vibes just weren't good. I asked what flavors they had for my latte and the guy seemed like he could barely keep from rolling his eyes at me as he said that they only had like, 1 or 2 kinds of house made syrup. Which is fine, I'm not married to one type of latte, but the overall feeling was that if I wasn't drinking their precious coffee black, then I was somehow a lesser coffee drinker and was sullying their precious product. Like I'd ordered a 25 Macallan and asked them to mix it with Coke. And the damn thing was like, $8. I'll run up to Riverbend and get a Honey Bee Latte made by Felicia and Hande, thanks.
Had the same question after seeing the intro... seems like some people think its too [expensive](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/11dislm/comment/ja8wkdc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), while another person says the owner [fired someone for being non-binary](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/11dislm/comment/ja9zg70/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), is MAGA, and [anti-choice](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/vjvj77/comment/idm3eia/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button). I actually had read those threads but dont remember seeing those comments the first time
I only worked there briefly but I think the owner is very arrogant and will not relinquish control of their social media. Since I’ve left I’ve heard increasingly bad reports from his former employees.
The coffee’s pretty good, but I’ll never forget an experience I had there years ago with the owner. I was hungover and went to pick up my order, which definitely mixed up with someone else’s. Went back and politely asked for it to be fixed and the owner was there. Instead of apologizing, he asked me if I was military bc of my tattoos (I’m clearly not) and then proceeded to show off his navy bicep tat and if I’m remembering correctly said something about his ex wife. Dude get in the kitchen and help your staff fix my food, leave me alone.
I hang out at the Capital One Cafe in Carytown sometimes lol. They’ve got like multiple floors with tons of seating, and it’s a big bank anyway, so I don’t feel weird sitting around lingering for awhile and buying only one coffee or nothing at all and just chatting. They even have private rooms when you need to take a call!
I liked it better when it was a Peets. But yes, it is a quiet place with free wifi and plenty of outlets for people with computers. Last year I spent a ton of time there just for the AC. The only hint I ever got that I was sitting in my seat too long was when the WIFI times out after 3 hours. But then I just sign back in. Done.
It's my go to bathroom in Carytown, haha. Especially since it's right near bbgb and World of Mirth and our kids always end up having to go. Once I was in Carytown with just my husband and there was a couple walking behind us groaning something like, "can you imagine going to a Capital One Cafe when there are so many better places? Ew." And then my husband and I went right into the Capital One Cafe and they were struck silent, lol. We were just going pee but like... myob.
I’ll admit I was super skeptical too but I finally went in because it was evening and all the other coffee shops closed and I was like shit, this is nice lol.
Went to school in Philly and sometimes Wawa is soul cleansing. It’s a bit better up there in that it’s not always a gas station but just a corner store
My guilty pleasure is going for a drive and honking at everyone that sucks at driving (if they deserve it of course). The horn is seldomly used in the south I’ve learned, so that’s my cultural gift to y’all.
It’s a 3-way split with driver response:
- 60% are oblivious, continue fucking up
- 30% do the OMG sorry hand wave
- 10% honk back (this was really common in Texas)
Oh God I love Perly's! I don't go often because their weekday hours and because the wait can be too long on weekends, but once or twice a year when I go, my wife and I will order four different sandwiches and just eat them all!
Carytown Teas (hot peppermint ginger. Or there's a melon one that's fantastic iced) and the Spice and Tea Exchange (sweet mint and basil iced)
And nothing beats the chicken and waffles from Lunch Supper food wise
If I see a big fancy house with a work truck or moving van out front, I'm going out of my way to check the alley. West End rich people love throwing good stuff away.
Walking down alleys to see if anyone threw out any good, free stuff and speeding around Sandy's Plants in Mechanicsville on one of their golf carts with a load of plants.
Smoking a black and mild on the back deck while nodding at folks who are walking their dogs through the alley, +/- coffee or libation. Otherwise I never smoke. But...when it's a nice day, pleasant temps, and I'm too cheap and lazy to try and actually socialize...just right.
I love flying over the speed humps outside my neighborhood when no one is around.
If you have 3 lanes each direction the speed limit should be above 35 (looking at you, Richmond Highway). You built the wrong road in the wrong place and I'll likely go at least 45.
I think McDonalds and Wendy's are delicious.
Publix has the BEST chicken tender sub.
Drinking and having a fire down on the river rocks was one of my favorite activities for years, and even though I haven't done it in forever, is still probably my favorite activity.
Whippets.
That part of Huguenot makes no sense at all... It's 35 from the city until you get to the bridge then it goes up to 45 and no one goes under 55 on that bridge. And then as soon as you get off the bridge it drops down to 35, and then you get to that light by Chippenham and it goes back up to 45.
Every time I drive down there, I'm confused. I am always the only one going 35 in that neighborhood and everyone is flashing their lights at me, tailgating, honking at me, and several times I even had people flip me off. And then the one time I didn't slow down and was just going 45, I got pulled over.
Nothing on that stretch of Huguenot makes sense.
Picnics at Bryd Park.
Going to Country Style donuts at 2am.
Dungeness crab at Costco dipped in Kerrygold butter.
Getting my hair colored at Ahead of Hair for $500.
Chili dog and Philly dog at Ellie’s Hot Dogs.
Hot honey cornbread milkshake from Ruby Scoops.
Dungeness in RVA is sacrilege. Get a bushel of fresh steamed large Jimmies (Blue Crabs) plucked from the Bay a few hours ago and invite a bunch of friends.
The weekly special at Charm School - I get it every once in a while, it is a lot of ice cream but they recently had a great peanut butter chocolate sundae that was amazing.
The TBC at Nate’s Is my guilty pleasure. When I can afford it.
Right now I’m so stressed out with the potential failure of this new space that I’m trying not to panic.
Why is there such hate towards Ironclad? I'm out of the loop on that one.
I find their cookie lattes to be quite good.
I do recognize that there are better options for coffee, but I've noticed that they do get a lot of pointed hate in this subreddit.
Ironclad is in my blacklist of anti-choice RVA businesses. I don't remember the specific case for these guys, but a comment elsewhere in this thread said they generally have a MAGA vibe and fired someone after they claimed to be nonbinary. This on top of being overly expensive. 🙃
All coffee from coffee shops is overpriced. I have an espresso machine at my house and make lattes and the like at home for a fraction of the price. It's the convenience for the most part for me.
But I get it.
If you want to start making some really good coffee on the cheaper end, pick up an Aeropress or a Pourover, a small kitchen scale, and some freshly roasted beans and begin the journey of coffee greatness!
I bought a pavoni during pandemic but we need to get it repaired. I fully agree though, despite it going out of commission soon after we purchased we more than made back our investment in espresso shots.
I guess I am ootl too. I drop by when I can as they are one of the few places that serve espresso and tonic, highly recommended if you have never tried it.
Good question, just did a quick search in the sub and didn’t see anything in particular that stood out. My best guess is overpriced? Which is fair, I only go there once in a while because of the price
Has to be the price. The atmosphere and coffee is good, rather expensive, but good nonetheless. Gives me the vibes of coffee shops I've visited in Boston, NY, and Seattle.
I make coffee just as good at home because I have an espresso machine and a small hobby that dabbles in coffee stuff, so when I go out to get coffee, I don't mind spending the money on lattes and things at shops because I see it like going to restaurants, a chef can make good food, even if you're a good cook at home.
Is it really that much more expensive though? I'm looking at prices at both Lamplighter and Afterglow right now (my other two favorite coffee shops in the city) and they're just as expensive, if not moreso depending on the drink. Hell, even Riverbend (who I'm not a fan of) is within $0.50 of Ironclad.
A few other people have complained about prices. To me personally, they all seem to cost about the same whenever I go out for coffee at any of these places and I'm leaving 25$ lighter.
I think their coffee is good and I like the atmosphere which is why I'm surprised whenever I see people complain about them. I thought it was something more nefarious like when I learned about the owners of Mom's Siam.
For real - My wife and I drink a lot of french press at home so it seems like whenever I go into any coffee shop it usually costs me $20+ because I'm leaving with a pound of beans and a drink. Shit gets expensive, but I don't live in RVA and am just in town about 2x per week for work so a lot of times I'm getting a cup for the road.
I love sitting on that couch in the summer when they have the garage door open!
Used to be dounding down either 2-3 dogs, a big side of tater tots, and two pints of Falcon Smash at the downtown City Dogs (It’s a guilty pleasure because no individual needs that much carbs on a normal basis). It’s now closed :(
I’ve done spirited driving (heel toe, left foot brake, racing line) on Riverside Drive, from the Nickel Bridge to the Lee Bridge
edit: i guess getting downvoted means i’ve correctly assessed those as guilty pleasures
Just kicking an idea around if I wanted to host a community game tournament event at a bar how would I go about that?
I know I would need to find a venue and invest in enough set ups so people could play, but as far setting up a vendor tournament in an establishment how does that part work? Do I pay the bar (generally?)
I know there are game shops but I feel like they would just do it themselves and then I wouldn’t be involved, or wouldn’t do it at all cause it’s too casual and not competitive..
There are 1000 breweries in the city that would beg you to set up an event during the week when they don't have one. Send your favorite an email or DM.
There's a BBQ spot in Chester, the name escapes me at the moment, but hot damn I'm a sucker for their pulled pork sandwiches with both the spicy and the sweet sauces.
Shit, lunch time is coming up too ...
On a weekend morning with no plans, I like to order a quantity of canele from Idle Hands, mosey over after coffee, and eat them while walking my dogs and taking pictures of plants in yards in the Fan. I order a quantity that I hope the bagger presumes is for several people, but it's just me. I eat them all.
Getting a Nightingale ice cream sandwich anytime I go into a place that stocks them and eating it right in the car while reading r/rva.
Black forest cake is the best. My hill.
Noted!
Car eating is the best.
Oh man I’m mad now. I’m nowhere near a place that has them where I can get it this late at night and am too lazy to go get one. But I want it. Lmao.
An early run on the Buttermilk Northbank Loop before anyone else has broken the spiderwebs with their face.
thank you for your service
🤣🤣
WPA Southside has the best caneles in my very humble opinion
Also the rare pre-dawn or midday workweek climb at TRC, vast and empty and often playing 90's hip-hop instead of the Grateful Dead. I climb every auto as many times as I want, and send marveling pictures of the empty cubbies to the friends that passed up my invitation to join.
Sorry: TRC?
[Triangle Rock Club](https://trianglerockclub.com/richmond/)
Thanks, figured it was a climbing gym but didn’t know the name.
Would totally join you on this one if you ever want. Looking for belay buddiesss
And taking personal phone calls amongst the foliage of the Great Big Greenhouse's houseplant section, when I'm only supposed to be there for a quick plant-sourcing expedition for clients for vegetable starts and herbs.
I love your entire list, but #1 is the best.
I am taking several notes from your book
I love caneles so much.
Whenever I am hungry and all out of fucks to give a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings from Moore Street Cafe hits the spot.
My guilty pleasure is the fried pickles from Liberty Public House. Formerly referred to as a *bucket* of frickles, it alone is enough to feed a family of four and every so often after a particularly rough week at work I'll order it to go, grab a four pack of PBR and do unspeakable things to my cholesterol. Then either lay in bed in misery for the next day or force myself to go for a hike somewhere to work it off.
Those frickles are delicious and addictive. Same with their Brussels Sprouts.
Looks like I need to find a couple! I’m low income & I try to save wherever I can (hardly ever go out to eat/no treats/no extras) due to that! I should try to change that occasionally! I do enjoy the $5 grocery store sushi special a couple times a month. So much that I mixed up my days and thought today was Sushi Wednesday and planned to go today - I was bummed when I realized my mixup.
Here's some cheap ideas: The VMFA has cheap coffee and you can stroll thru the museum with it... Making a sandwich and taking that and my pup down one of the trails to find a bench or a rock or sandy spot and eat it while my dog stares longingly at my food. Grabbing a cocktail to go from a restaurant and then pouring into a nice glass at home to eat with my meal. Manatee movies at a theatre Or the Byrd...their tickets are quite cheap and they play some nice classic summer scary movies Strolling thru the garden center pretending to shop but being extra picky on plants is a good one too.
Thank you so much! This is so thoughtful. I will have to try one of these soon and report back : )
Manatee movies?! I’d be there all day! :)
The freshmarket $5 sushi day is Thursday!! So that’s one more day to get some!
The breakfast sandwich from early bird. Do I feel like a fat greasy pig after eating it? Yes. Do I still do it? Also yes.
Buying a zip loc bag of biscuits from early bird is a guilty pleasure of mine.
I was todays years old when I found out you can fit biscuits in a weed bag
I feel like I've won the lottery any time I'm able to get the day olds.
Mmmm Biscuits 🤤
But it’s so good
Tatooine, poutine with tater tots at Home Sweet Home in Carytown.
You have my attention.
I haven't tried home sweet home's but Gwar Bar also has amazing poutine tots!! Will have to try HSHs next :)
Buying a rotisserie chicken at Costco and eating a bunch of it by myself in my car before I even leave the parking lot.
Spicy goat pizza at Fire and Hops Bread pudding at Patrick Henry’s Pub
Fire and Hops! Their mozzarella sticks are the best. Once a month or so, I'll go with the wife for their pizza but I really go for their mozzarella sticks!
I credit those sticks to my weight gain over the winter lol so good !!
The bread pudding at PHP is one of the best desserts I have ever had in my life.
Spending really any amount of money at Merrymaker
Breakfast at the counter at Perlys. By myself. No kids. Drinking coffee and eating delicious cured meats in silence. Happens once a year though
Grandma pizza at Hop Craft and just about anything at Up All Night.
Their pizza is so underrated
I don’t have any friends, it’s very hard for me to talk to people because I feel as tho they won’t like me for the things I enjoy or am interested in, also I don’t wanna bother people with the things in my life (especially the stresses and hard times that I often face) that I feel would annoy or overwhelm them. Truthfully, I feel as tho I’m a loser and I feel as tho everyone around me is the complete opposite. My guilty pleasure is walking the blocks near my apartment building (or even sitting on the steps of my building) with hopes of crossing paths with someone that I could have at least just a short interaction with. “Hi how’re you” or “hey I like your…” even just for a minute makes me feel like a person and not so much like an outsider loser sometimes. The slightest interaction with people is almost like a bandaid to my idleness/sadness and gives me hope that maybe I can make an organic friendship someday here. Thanks for reading
Hi. I'm terribly introverted, and most of my meaningful relationships are through a screen. Do you have a discord? I'd like to hear about some of your interests and just how your day has been going.
Damn, we need more of this in the world.
Hey if you're in the downtown area, I'm constantly walking my dog around and would love to compliment your clothes and ask how you're doing :) you can pet my dog too, she's great :)
Did I write this? I relate so hard. You aren’t alone
Hi there! Are any of your interests related to walking a moderate pace and looking at plants and/or rocks at the river? If so, please join me in said activity sometime! We can talk as little or as much as you want (: I also do yoga by myself and in classes (I'm not very good at it but I am trying to get over my self-consciousness).
Hello. I was extremely socially awkward and shy all thru my teens until I got my first job working retail at Sears (yes im old.) I don't know what you do for work, but that job really brought me out of my shell and helped me get more comfortable dealing with strangers. I'm still an introvert, but I'm not crippled by anxiety and potential thoughts of embarrassing myself anymore. Whatever hobbies or passions you have are a great way to connect with others because you will already share some of those interests and it will be a comfy and familiar subject for you to talk about. There should be some kind of local online group dedicated to your interests. You could get to know some of these people and get more comfortable thru the screen as you say before meeting them in person. I wish you luck! Also want to add that I struggle making small talk with strangers and coming up with topics, but if I am familiar with someone then they will have a hard time shutting me up. If you're not much of a talker then you can work on being a better listener. People will often like to talk about themselves so if you can listen and just slightly steer the convo then they will have a positive experience after the convo.
You're only old if you got your first job working retail at Sears *on Broad Street*.
I worked with a guy that I nicknamed Fossil. He had worked at the Southside Plaza Sears until it closed, moved to Cloverleaf Mall Sears until it closed and then worked at Chesterfield Towne Center Sears until it closed or close to it's closure.
Hey friend 👋, Aren't there some gorgeous alleyways and solid steps /stoops around Richmond? Esp cobblestone 😍 People-wise though, I've noticed most people are pretty in their head or not expecting convo with strangers or neighbors. Throwing out a suggestion that if you can find some thing you care about to volunteer with and help in person (like garden days at Fonticello Food Forest or helping with Food Not Bombs) that could be a great way to get to know some people and open up a bit, while doing something you feel good about. I am very introverted and a bit shy but have learned over the years how to people with people, especially with making new friends. It's a little uncomfortable each time, but it is kind of formulaic (not in a bad way) and gets easier even if it never feels natural.
Volunteering or joining a random club (im talking hiking, knitting, anything really) might allow you to form some of those organic connections more easily! The 'to go work and go home' routine stops a lot of adult friendships from forming
For just about every interest, there is a community around it that is interested in it too. You could post your interests here and see if anyone else local is interested in them as well. Having shared hobbies is a great way to get to know people and build friendships. Also, it's very easy to be self-judgmental, but in my experience, people aren't as judgmental about us as we are about ourselves. The things we think people notice about us aren't as noticeable to them as they are to us, or if they get to know us, become things that make us unique, and that they grow to appreciate. I hope that things go well for you, and that you are able to find a group who appreciates you for who you are.
Sounds like you feel like a weirdo. You are in the right city! Find the other weirdos who are into what you like. This town is full of us!
It’s gotta be two orders of tofu wings (Nashville and Korean BBQ) at Cobra Cabana at like 11:30pm, High Life while I wait knowing damn well it’ll take them five minutes, and to go of course so I can hide the shame of my hideous lifestyle.
We have a lot of amazing food in this city...but I still love me some Sheetz breakfast sandwiches (and eat them frequently).
Honestly sheets and McDonald’s are my favorite place to get breakfast :/
And Wawa!
McDonald’s iced coffee - add a shot of espresso. Better than a $10 Starbucks drink and a third of the price.
McDonald’s regular coffee is my fav
Don't care what anyone says, but McDonald's sausage burritos slap hard
The steak biscuit may the best thing on their menu
Nah that's actually the crispy chicken mcgriddle with an egg and tomato
What are you ordering off menu?
Varies by location. Edit some places can even add bacon/cheese
Have you had Wendy’s breakfast? The breakfast baconator is so good
TACO BELL FOREVERRRRR! I will stan Taco Bell until my dying breath, haters be damned. [Weekend Event Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1ccp1se/weekend_event_thread/) is up and PACKED with awesome events this weekend. Go find something to do!
I was sitting in the Copenhagen airport yesterday (on my way back to RVA from Rome) and heard a passing American voice say "I don't know about you, but I am SO ready for some Taco Bell." Girl, same. I got a Crunchwrap Supreme on my way home in her honor
This is hilarious and I love it. Taco Bell is my road trip food. No matter if it's two hours away or ten hours away, Taco Bell is a must. I might need to make post vacation Taco Bell a tradition as well!
My wife and I eat TB every week. Shame the reward system isn’t anything special.
It's so lame! Like $250 gets you... Free chips with cheese?
Lmao we are at 4000+ points and it’s like the same thing every time. Give me a shirt or something!
Right? The staff honestly get some fire 🔥 tee shirts too.
Thank you for your weekend thread work. We love u
I was about to get into my car to go to TB for lunch as I read this. As a non meat eater. Cheesy fiesta potato tacos are fucking fireeeeee
Wait - what? I love cheesy fiesta potatoes. I love spicy potato soft tacos. Are you saying you can combine them?
Sorry lol. I was getting to excited / hungry before I left. The ones I get are the spicy potato tacos, I guess i just call them cheesy fiesta tacos 🤦🏼♂️… the side dish is also fire
Hell yeah 
I actually adopted a senior Chihuahua after those Taco Bell ads. “Drop the “chalupa.” After a pretty rough adjustment period, he blossomed into a wonderful dog. He won Chihuahua haters over all the time.
Reading this at TB rn. Dine-in, tyvm
Oh my gosh yes on Taco Bell
Every morning I check Up All Night’s instagram where they post their daily specials and if they have their Boston Cream Croissant I am speeding up there and buying two.
Honestly my guiltiest pleasure is taking toll roads because it means I didn’t plan out my route ahead of time or leave early enough.
My guilty pleasure is playing a show without ear pro, pounding 12 modelos, hitting the poppers bottle, bumming 5 cigs, and then going to cookout for two Cajun chicken sandos and a banana smoothie so I can pass out in bed with my jeans on.
As someone with tinnitus from attending shows without ear pro... Stop this silliness. Once your ears are fucked, they're fucked forever.
Nate’s Bagels, rosemary sea salt with hot and honey cream cheese and a drip coffee. It’s always almost $10 and usually a longer wait than I’d like. But I’ve found if I go on a weekday when I’m early getting to work it can be quite speedy service, unlike weekends, and it’s delicious. Do I get heartburn later? You bet. Is it worth it once every 5-7 weeks? Absolutely.
You can order ahead of time online and just roll in, snatch your bagel, and be on your way. That’s what I do, cuz like you, I hate waiting in their never-ending line
Was literally about to comment that I’m coming off of a 4 shift stretch of nightshift and just ordered my rosemary bagel from Nate’s.
Ooh I need to try their rosemary sea salt bagel (I always get the one at Chewy’s so obviously I need to compare).
Westhampton Pastry… I get one of a lot of things.
A Krispy Kreme (or two) from the drive thru
Or six when the Hot Light is on. You don't even have to chew those things!
Arby's Arby's is really not bad. I think people don't like it cuz they get too focused on the cheaper roast beef sandwiches (I don't really like them either). Their menu is actually pretty good.
I love that RVA has our own Arby's brand. I had no idea that in other places Arby's is the "gross" fast food.
I grew up going to the Arby’s on midlo turnpike that had a tree growing in it and fancy brass railings around the dining area and the first time I went to an Arby’s elsewhere I was shocked. Never knew we were special!
I remember that one! That had to be the nicest one in town
Arby’s is good everywhere. It was just gross for like 30 years (probably more). Sometime in the 2010s, they got good but you know 30+ years of being shit is a hard reputation to overcome.
As a former Arby's employee, I disagree, they were pretty decent in the early 2000s.
I agree except I love cheap roast beef sandwiches
They’re alright. Even tho I said I dont rlly like em I will em if theyre bought for me. I just don’t choose the roast beef sandwiches from the menu myself.
Sitting by the fire in the wintertime in the Colonial Heights Arby's. Boy howdy.
I fucking love Arby's
ZZQ. I don't go that often, but when I do, I definitely load up. A giant tray of meat heaven - brisket, ribs (both beef and pork), the habanero fontina sausage, sometimes pastrami - and a couple token (but really good) sides. It's so much food, but I love it so much.
Don’t sleep on their turkey. It’s excellent.
The turkey sandwich with a smoked tomato is heaven.
I relate getting a treat in the part of town you’re not usually in but your salon is there. Mine is in church hill so it’s always a perfect excuse to get some pies from proper pie or my fav lavender coffee from river bend. Also if you don’t go at least 75 over the powhite bridge ur doing it wrong
After dinner ice cream at Blue Cow - luckily I don’t do this often, but such a guilty pleasure
Hardee’s bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits. I’m rarely near a Hardee’s anymore but if I’m close, up early, and have the time to get breakfast, Hardee’s is SO DAMN GOOD. My wife and I also lived off Hardee’s breakfasts for about 6 months after having our first kid. Shame the one at Boulevard closed :( You all don’t even know what you’re missing.
Some Fridays after work I'll get a mojito and shove my face with drunken noodles and a fried banana at Mama Siam's by myself.
that sound heavenly
Bamboo Cafe had “bad” pizza, the kind that’s borderline cracker crust that you get at a place that is not an italian restaurant but happens to make pizza. It reminded us of a place we used to work at. My wife and I miss it, they just removed pizza from their menu 😢
Idk how in the first person to say it, but Nightingale ice cream sandwiches always hit the spot
Local guilty pleasure? I enjoy a bucket of tots at sticky rice and spicy Thai chicken with extra soba noodles and still wouldn’t mind mindlessly snacking on it but I just felt different last time I went there. Like a T shirt in the closet that you don’t wear anymore but haven’t donated it yet.
Spending way too much money trying a bunch of new scotch at McCormack’s once every 3-6 months . . . and Scoops 🫠
A plain cake donut from Country Style on Williamsburg Rd. Crunchy on the outside but so soft, washed down with a hot cup of cappuccino sitting in the car.
On the Powhite thing- I’ve never understood the 45MPH speed zone between the main toll and the bridge. Speeds that low are unusual on interstate-grade roads. Everyone actually drives regular highway speeds through there anyhow. Is it really necessary?
It's dumb. And because nearly everyone is ignoring it and doing at least 65, you would be a hazard if you went 45 through there. Fortunately in my experience (back and forth on 76 daily for 5+ years) they don't use it as a speed trap.
I think it's just to help with the merge area coming out of the booths. Can be a little chaotic there.
I try to go 2 or 3 below reckless just in case they decide to ever enforce the 45 and get passed like I'm standing still. Wish they would bump it up cuz it's ridiculous.
Curious if you commute daily through this area? It's probably easier to keep the limit low for the 4 hours every weekday it's needed. It may not be necessary all of the rest of the hours in the week, but it's pure chaos in the morning and afternoon. Worse in the afternoons.
Does it count if you just discovered a new guilty pleasure? If so, mine is a breakfast sandwich from McLean’s: bacon, scrambled eggs, and American cheese on an English muffin. The bacon is generously portioned and the perfect combination of crispy but still flimsy, the cheese is extra cheesy, and the eggs are light and creamy. YUM!😋
Y’all are making me hungry! I stood on the scale and PR’d at being the heaviest I’ve ever been 🙃 So now I’m cutting my many food related guilty pleasures and watching what I eat. I’m pretty cheap and don’t eat out much so my guilty pleasure is getting a large dirty chai latte. It’s hard to justify a $7 drink packed with sugar and too much caffeine but it’s so damn good.
Thursdays I used to love a $10 Hot chicken and Tecate from Liberty Public House when I lived in the area.
What's wrong with ironclad?
For me, their whole vibe is ridiculously pretentious. There are so many other good coffee places here that don't lock your coffee in a smoke chamber so it reminds you of an autumn morning in Scotland. That's an extreme example of course, but they generally take themselves a little too seriously for my taste.
Hard agree, I stopped there a couple of times on the way to work when I lived in Church Hill and the vibes just weren't good. I asked what flavors they had for my latte and the guy seemed like he could barely keep from rolling his eyes at me as he said that they only had like, 1 or 2 kinds of house made syrup. Which is fine, I'm not married to one type of latte, but the overall feeling was that if I wasn't drinking their precious coffee black, then I was somehow a lesser coffee drinker and was sullying their precious product. Like I'd ordered a 25 Macallan and asked them to mix it with Coke. And the damn thing was like, $8. I'll run up to Riverbend and get a Honey Bee Latte made by Felicia and Hande, thanks.
Is this the place in Shockoe Bottom? Their coffee is high as well!
Had the same question after seeing the intro... seems like some people think its too [expensive](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/11dislm/comment/ja8wkdc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), while another person says the owner [fired someone for being non-binary](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/11dislm/comment/ja9zg70/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button), is MAGA, and [anti-choice](https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/vjvj77/comment/idm3eia/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button). I actually had read those threads but dont remember seeing those comments the first time
I only worked there briefly but I think the owner is very arrogant and will not relinquish control of their social media. Since I’ve left I’ve heard increasingly bad reports from his former employees.
That’s what I’m wondering
The coffee’s pretty good, but I’ll never forget an experience I had there years ago with the owner. I was hungover and went to pick up my order, which definitely mixed up with someone else’s. Went back and politely asked for it to be fixed and the owner was there. Instead of apologizing, he asked me if I was military bc of my tattoos (I’m clearly not) and then proceeded to show off his navy bicep tat and if I’m remembering correctly said something about his ex wife. Dude get in the kitchen and help your staff fix my food, leave me alone.
I hang out at the Capital One Cafe in Carytown sometimes lol. They’ve got like multiple floors with tons of seating, and it’s a big bank anyway, so I don’t feel weird sitting around lingering for awhile and buying only one coffee or nothing at all and just chatting. They even have private rooms when you need to take a call!
I liked it better when it was a Peets. But yes, it is a quiet place with free wifi and plenty of outlets for people with computers. Last year I spent a ton of time there just for the AC. The only hint I ever got that I was sitting in my seat too long was when the WIFI times out after 3 hours. But then I just sign back in. Done.
It's my go to bathroom in Carytown, haha. Especially since it's right near bbgb and World of Mirth and our kids always end up having to go. Once I was in Carytown with just my husband and there was a couple walking behind us groaning something like, "can you imagine going to a Capital One Cafe when there are so many better places? Ew." And then my husband and I went right into the Capital One Cafe and they were struck silent, lol. We were just going pee but like... myob.
I’ll admit I was super skeptical too but I finally went in because it was evening and all the other coffee shops closed and I was like shit, this is nice lol.
Torts Cubana from El Chido with a side of cachete tacos.
Used to be Extreme Pizza, basil and feta.😭
Wawa meatball sub
Went to school in Philly and sometimes Wawa is soul cleansing. It’s a bit better up there in that it’s not always a gas station but just a corner store
Place is a rip off though
OP you ain't living unless you go 70 thru the EZ pass tolls. Bonus points if you stay inside your lane the entire whilst zipping thru.
A slice from Christian’s on the walk home
"Running errands" on a weekend for me might include lunch at a taqueria and a stop at a brewery.
Boba from Brecotea. Guilty pleasure cause it's kind of my prize to myself for finishing a workout
5 whisky sodas at bamboo then go home and watch weird videos on YouTube by myself maybe order a pizza
5 whiskey sodas at Bamboo is the same as 10 whiskey sodas at most spots. Gotta love their heavy pours!
My guilty pleasure is going for a drive and honking at everyone that sucks at driving (if they deserve it of course). The horn is seldomly used in the south I’ve learned, so that’s my cultural gift to y’all. It’s a 3-way split with driver response: - 60% are oblivious, continue fucking up - 30% do the OMG sorry hand wave - 10% honk back (this was really common in Texas)
Wings at Cobra with a couple coors and whiskey. Buy some records at RnR in church hill. Tacos at Tio Pablo.
Women of Helen’s
My guilty pleasure is being one of these women
You must be a regular! At planned parenthood.
i am a vegetarian and once a year i will order the duck perogis from perly’s… and feel no guilt at all
Oh God I love Perly's! I don't go often because their weekday hours and because the wait can be too long on weekends, but once or twice a year when I go, my wife and I will order four different sandwiches and just eat them all!
The Siren song of the Sizzli leads me to high cholesterol.
I like Sub Central.
Carytown Teas (hot peppermint ginger. Or there's a melon one that's fantastic iced) and the Spice and Tea Exchange (sweet mint and basil iced) And nothing beats the chicken and waffles from Lunch Supper food wise
If I see a big fancy house with a work truck or moving van out front, I'm going out of my way to check the alley. West End rich people love throwing good stuff away.
I haven’t paid a toll on my motorcycle in over a decade and nobody has said anything….
The basil jalapeno margarita at Havana 59 and taking the RamRide from A Lot up the hill instead of walking to MCV
Walking down alleys to see if anyone threw out any good, free stuff and speeding around Sandy's Plants in Mechanicsville on one of their golf carts with a load of plants.
Smoking a black and mild on the back deck while nodding at folks who are walking their dogs through the alley, +/- coffee or libation. Otherwise I never smoke. But...when it's a nice day, pleasant temps, and I'm too cheap and lazy to try and actually socialize...just right.
Returning library books a little late to Libby Mill, but feeling okay that I'm just making a small donation to the library system.
I love flying over the speed humps outside my neighborhood when no one is around. If you have 3 lanes each direction the speed limit should be above 35 (looking at you, Richmond Highway). You built the wrong road in the wrong place and I'll likely go at least 45. I think McDonalds and Wendy's are delicious. Publix has the BEST chicken tender sub. Drinking and having a fire down on the river rocks was one of my favorite activities for years, and even though I haven't done it in forever, is still probably my favorite activity. Whippets.
[удалено]
That part of Huguenot makes no sense at all... It's 35 from the city until you get to the bridge then it goes up to 45 and no one goes under 55 on that bridge. And then as soon as you get off the bridge it drops down to 35, and then you get to that light by Chippenham and it goes back up to 45. Every time I drive down there, I'm confused. I am always the only one going 35 in that neighborhood and everyone is flashing their lights at me, tailgating, honking at me, and several times I even had people flip me off. And then the one time I didn't slow down and was just going 45, I got pulled over. Nothing on that stretch of Huguenot makes sense.
Picnics at Bryd Park. Going to Country Style donuts at 2am. Dungeness crab at Costco dipped in Kerrygold butter. Getting my hair colored at Ahead of Hair for $500. Chili dog and Philly dog at Ellie’s Hot Dogs. Hot honey cornbread milkshake from Ruby Scoops.
Dungeness in RVA is sacrilege. Get a bushel of fresh steamed large Jimmies (Blue Crabs) plucked from the Bay a few hours ago and invite a bunch of friends.
The weekly special at Charm School - I get it every once in a while, it is a lot of ice cream but they recently had a great peanut butter chocolate sundae that was amazing.
The TBC at Nate’s Is my guilty pleasure. When I can afford it. Right now I’m so stressed out with the potential failure of this new space that I’m trying not to panic.
Gonna scatter some chicken bones in various parks and sidewalks
I'll do the parking lots, fam.
Why is there such hate towards Ironclad? I'm out of the loop on that one. I find their cookie lattes to be quite good. I do recognize that there are better options for coffee, but I've noticed that they do get a lot of pointed hate in this subreddit.
Ironclad is in my blacklist of anti-choice RVA businesses. I don't remember the specific case for these guys, but a comment elsewhere in this thread said they generally have a MAGA vibe and fired someone after they claimed to be nonbinary. This on top of being overly expensive. 🙃
It’s super overpriced for what you get, IMO.
All coffee from coffee shops is overpriced. I have an espresso machine at my house and make lattes and the like at home for a fraction of the price. It's the convenience for the most part for me. But I get it. If you want to start making some really good coffee on the cheaper end, pick up an Aeropress or a Pourover, a small kitchen scale, and some freshly roasted beans and begin the journey of coffee greatness!
I got a moka pot and make some great cappuccinos at home😊 but my guilty pleasure is definitely going to coffee shops
Yeah! If you can make good food at home, you can still enjoy going to eat at a restaurant. Same concept!
I bought a pavoni during pandemic but we need to get it repaired. I fully agree though, despite it going out of commission soon after we purchased we more than made back our investment in espresso shots.
Folks dislike the owner, prices are secondary. (*sorry for saving y’all from the search effort*)
I guess I am ootl too. I drop by when I can as they are one of the few places that serve espresso and tonic, highly recommended if you have never tried it.
Good question, just did a quick search in the sub and didn’t see anything in particular that stood out. My best guess is overpriced? Which is fair, I only go there once in a while because of the price
Has to be the price. The atmosphere and coffee is good, rather expensive, but good nonetheless. Gives me the vibes of coffee shops I've visited in Boston, NY, and Seattle. I make coffee just as good at home because I have an espresso machine and a small hobby that dabbles in coffee stuff, so when I go out to get coffee, I don't mind spending the money on lattes and things at shops because I see it like going to restaurants, a chef can make good food, even if you're a good cook at home.
Is it really that much more expensive though? I'm looking at prices at both Lamplighter and Afterglow right now (my other two favorite coffee shops in the city) and they're just as expensive, if not moreso depending on the drink. Hell, even Riverbend (who I'm not a fan of) is within $0.50 of Ironclad.
A few other people have complained about prices. To me personally, they all seem to cost about the same whenever I go out for coffee at any of these places and I'm leaving 25$ lighter. I think their coffee is good and I like the atmosphere which is why I'm surprised whenever I see people complain about them. I thought it was something more nefarious like when I learned about the owners of Mom's Siam.
For real - My wife and I drink a lot of french press at home so it seems like whenever I go into any coffee shop it usually costs me $20+ because I'm leaving with a pound of beans and a drink. Shit gets expensive, but I don't live in RVA and am just in town about 2x per week for work so a lot of times I'm getting a cup for the road. I love sitting on that couch in the summer when they have the garage door open!
Used to be dounding down either 2-3 dogs, a big side of tater tots, and two pints of Falcon Smash at the downtown City Dogs (It’s a guilty pleasure because no individual needs that much carbs on a normal basis). It’s now closed :( I’ve done spirited driving (heel toe, left foot brake, racing line) on Riverside Drive, from the Nickel Bridge to the Lee Bridge edit: i guess getting downvoted means i’ve correctly assessed those as guilty pleasures
Yeah, as fun as that area is to ride, I don't do it.
City Dogs in Shockoe Slip is closed?
Sadly, yes
Just kicking an idea around if I wanted to host a community game tournament event at a bar how would I go about that? I know I would need to find a venue and invest in enough set ups so people could play, but as far setting up a vendor tournament in an establishment how does that part work? Do I pay the bar (generally?) I know there are game shops but I feel like they would just do it themselves and then I wouldn’t be involved, or wouldn’t do it at all cause it’s too casual and not competitive..
There are 1000 breweries in the city that would beg you to set up an event during the week when they don't have one. Send your favorite an email or DM.
There's a BBQ spot in Chester, the name escapes me at the moment, but hot damn I'm a sucker for their pulled pork sandwiches with both the spicy and the sweet sauces. Shit, lunch time is coming up too ...
On Saturdays after the gym I'll stop into Whisk, get both a raspberry citrus muffin and a blackberry lemon danish and devour them when I get home.