RVA Food and Drink Happy Hour Specials FALL 2010

Richmond Food and Drink Specials. Happy Hour and More!
Anytime

• Acacia: Prix Fix menu-$23 M-Th 5:30-9pm Fri&Sat 5:30-6:30pm. 562-0138
• Amici: Sun-Thur $25 3-course meal. Bottled wine 25% off. 353-4700
• Blackfinn: 7 days a week, 4-7pm $4.95 flatbread pizza. 643-3466
• Bouchon: $20 3-course prix fixe menu 5-6 pm Mon-Sat. 225-2118
• Café Caturra: Social Hour Daily 5-9 pm $5 wines by the glass & $3 beers
• Caliente: Happy Hour at the bar M-Th 5-7. $1 Miller High Life, $3 rail highballs and Jager shots. 340-2920
• The Camel: Happy Hour 5-7pm. $2.50 rail, $3 drafts, $5 cosmos & martinis, $7 Long Islands.
• Current: Happy hour 5pm-8pm with appetizer specials. $1 Drink Power Hour 8pm-9pm. 788-4281
• Davis and Main: 1/2 price well martinis from 4-6pm M-F. 353-6641
• Dot’s Back Inn:”Neighborhood Hour” 3:30-7pm. $2.50 10oz drafts, $2.25 domestic, $3 highballs, $3 house wine. 266-3167
• Europa: M-F 5-6pm. 1/2 off all Small Plates. 643-0911
• Fish Bowl Bistro & Bar: Happy Hour 3-7pm daily. $2 off rails and drafts
• Garnett’s: M-Sun Happy Hour 3-6. $3 beer and wine. 367-7909
• Globehopper: M-F 4-7pm. $2 off wine by the glass. Discount beers. 523.8083
• Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ: M-F 4-7pm Sun 12-6, $2 Miller Lite draft, House highballs, House wine, fried onion straws or okra, smoked kielbasa. 270-RIBS
• Kitchen 64: Daily specials 3-7 pm. Rail Drinks:$4, Domestic Bottles:$2. Smoking is allowed on the patio after 10pm. 358-0064
• Lemaire: Happy Hour M-F at the bar and lounge 4-7 pm. $2 House and $4 Craft and Import Beers. $5 Red and $5 White glasses of featured wine. 3 appetizers for $20 from our bar menu 4-7pm and 10-11pm. 3 courses for $30 From 5- 6pm: 649-4644
• Mojo’s: $6 dine-in lunch, incl beverage. M-F 11am-3pm. M-F 4-7pm $1 off All Drafts, $3 House Drinks, $3 Glasses of Wine. Any Nachos $5. Any Pizza $6.
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: Fiesta Hour M-F 3-7pm. 730-7311
• O’Toole’s: Daily M-Sun 3-7pm All Draft and Bottled Beers $.50 off. All House Wines $.50 off. All House Liquors $1.00 off. 233-1781
• Poe’s Pub: Everyday 4-7 pm $2.25 domestic bottles, $1 off drafts. 648-2120
• Sam Miller’s: $2 10oz Miller Lite, $3 House Wine 4-8pm. 644-5465
• Six Burner: $24 prix fix menu M-Th 5:30-9:30pm. 353-4060
• Strawberry Street Café: M-Sun Happy Hour til 9pm. $2.50 highballs, $3 martinis, $2.25 domestic bottles. 353-6860
• Stronghill Dining Company: Happy Hour M-F til 7:30 pm. $6 wine, 25% off appetizers at the bar. 359-0202
• Tarrant’s Cafe: Happy Hour 4-7 M-F.1/2 off drafts, wine glasses, rail drinks.1/2 off select appetizers. 225-0035
• Tobacco Company: Th-Sat, $1 drinks from 8-9 pm, $4 Red Stag Cocktails and $4 Red Bull or White Grape Cocktails all night (always mobbed in there at happy hour though). Free valet parking during dinner hours and all day on Sunday. 782-9555
• Weezie's Kitchen: Happy Hour: 3-7pm M-F $1 off all drinks. 726-1270

Monday

• Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35. 353-2505
• Baja Bean: $4 burgers all day. 257-5445
• Bank: $1 sliders during happy hour
• Bouchon: Entrée portion salads, choice between 4, $20
• Buddy's: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese 5-9 pm. 355-3701
• Café Caturra Short Pump: Blind wine tasting. Discounts given for correct guesses. 5:30 - 7:30pm
• Caliente: ½ off po’boys 5-10pm
• Capital Ale House: $1 burger nights (with purchase of a beverage). 4pm-1am.780-ALES
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: $2 off quesadillas. 726-6296
• City Limit: ½ price appetizers, 5-7pm. 282-4232
• Cous Cous: Date night: soup or salad, choose of 3 select menu items, dessert to share and a ½ carafe of Sangria or bottle of house wine-$40. After dinner: mystery beer night--different beers each week are $1. 358-0868
• Curbside Cafe: 35c wings, ½ off quesadillas 5-10pm. 355-7008
• Europa: Pasta Night-all pastas $9. 643-0911
• Kitchen 64: Mojito Monday: $6
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free. 4-7 pm. 232-3446
• Lemaire: $5 high balls 4-7pm in the bar and lounge
• Little Mexico: $1 tacos.
• Mojo’s: 7-11 pm or til end of MNF: 35-cent wings. $1 off any Philly Cheesesteak. $6 Miller Lite & Yuengling Pitchers. 644-6676
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: All You Can Eat Tacos with Rice & Beans $9.99
• Six Burner: Any bottle of wine $50 or under is 1/2 price. 353-4060
• Star-lite: taco specials starting at 5 pm. 788-7077
• Sticky Rice: half-price sushi 10:30pm-12:30am. 358-7870
• Xtras: $5 appetizers for those in the 23221 zip code. 355-0446

Tuesday

• Acacia: ½ price wine
• Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35
• Baja Bean: Buy 1 Get 1 Free tacos all day
• Banditos: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 354-9999
• Bank & Vault: 50 cent wings, $3.50 rails, $2.00 domestic beers, $3.00 premium beers, $5.00 house wine 4-8pm 648-3070
• Bouchon: Date Night—3 courses $50/couple
• Buddy's: Wear Buddy’s shirt, get a discount 5-9pm
• Cafe Caturra Short Pump Crossing: 3-6pm. $5 Glasses of Wine.$4 Wine Fare.$3 Bottled Beer. 360-3377
• Caliente: ½ off burgers 5-10
• Capital Ale House: Steal the Glass Night. Order one of the featured brewery beers, keep the named glass it comes in. 4pm til glasses run out.
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 tacos from 8-9 pm
• Cous Cous: Facebook specials. After dinner, it’s Musi-ko (music trivia).
• Curbside Cafe: 75c tacos 5-10pm
• Europa: Date night: three-course meal for just $16 per person. Weekly Wine Specials at $16 a bottle
• FW Sullivans: $10 buckets of Alaskan Snow Crab Legs 6-11pm
• Infuzion: $5 off all pasta entrees. 447-6852
• Kitchen 64: Tequila Tuesday: $4 Margaritas
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound shrimp, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
• Lemaire: $5 Sparkling Wine Cocktails. 4-7pm in the bar and lounge  
• Mojo’s: Taco Tuesday $1/each--build your own at the fixins bar-7pm. Tecate tall boys $2.50. Date Night 7-11pm: Order any 2 entrees or vegetarian item and get a select starter or nachos for only $17
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: $1 Tacos all day
• New York Deli: 35 cent wings. 7-10pm. 358-DELI
• O’Toole’s: Martinis & Cosmopolitans: $4
• Pescados: two tacos with coconut black beans & achiote rice for $10. 379-7121
• Sette: 1/2 price bottle of wine from 5-9pm. 788-7077
• Six Burner: Wine by the glass is 1/2 price
• Star-lite: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 254-2667 
• Strange Matter: ½ price hamburgers 5pm+  
• Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16. 261-6544 
• Tiki Bob’s: 10c tacos, 25c beers 6-9 pm. 644-9091 
• Xtras: Date Night: ½ price bottles of wine
• 821 Café: Moto Tuesday: come in on a motorcycle or moped and get 10% off any one item. 649-1042

Wednesday

• Baja Bean: ½ off quesadillas all day.
• Bank and Vault: Wine Down Wednesday: ½ price bottles of wine during happy hour 4-8pm.
• Blackfinn: $1.50 burgers 5-10 pm. Wii Wednesday at 8pm
• Boathouse at Rocketts Landing: Wine Tastings 6-8pm
• Bouchon: Steak Night: Marinated Top Sirloin with sauce, Frites and Salad: $20
• Buddy's: 5-9 pm Fajitas $6.95 & Half Price Nachos
• Cafe Gutenberg: half-price select glasses of wine
• Caliente: Local Night-ID w/23221 or 23220 zip gets 10%off food bill 5-10
• Capital Ale House: Pints of most Virginia beers are $2.50 from 11am-9pm at all locations.
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: 50c drafts and $1 tacos 8-9pm
• Curbside Cafe: half-price burgers 5-10pm
• Europa: half-off bottles (up to $40) with the purchase of two entrees
• Havana '59: ½ off mojitos 780-CUBA
• Kitchen 64: Wine Wednesday: Merlot and Chardonnay: $4
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen clams, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm.
• Mojo’s: 12 oz. Can o’ Beer of the Week - $1. 7-11 pm: Any 7” Philly Style Cheesesteak - $4
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: Kids Night 1/2 off
• Pescados: Margarita specials 379-7121
• Sam Miller’s: 35 cent Wings 4-8pm
• Star-lite: 1/2 Off All Pasta Dishes and Pasta Date Night: 2 salads, two pasta entrees& a bottle of house wine for $30
• Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée and Dessert for $16.
• Zeus Gallery Café: Wino Wed-all bottles of wine under $50 are half off
• Xtras: $10 bottles of champagne
• 821 Café: Taco Night. Drink specials. $1 mystery beers

Thursday

• Baja Bean: Until 7pm, appetizers half off
• Bouchon: Ladies Night: ½ price wines by the glass and desserts
• Buddy’s: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese 5-9pm
• Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
• Fish Bowl Bistro & Bar: Steal the pint glass night 4-6pm
• Havana '59: 1/2 off appetizers
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound mussels, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
• Lemaire: $5 Classic Cocktails 4-7pm in the bar and lounge
• Mojo’s: PBR - $2 / Bourbon - $3. Prime Rib Night 7-11 pm. 8 oz. cut - $7, 12 oz. cut - $10, 16 oz. cut - $14 served with side salad and choice of 2 sides
• O’Toole’s: Margaritas on the rocks: $3.50
• Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
• Sette: 1/2 price beer 5-9pm
• Star-lite: 2 for 1 burger night & cheapie cans of Coors & Coors Lite.
• Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16
• Xtras: Ladies Night: $5 cosmos and $2 Woodchucks
• 821 Cafe: happy hour all day

Friday

• Bank&Vault: Extended happy hour til 9 pm. (5/18)
• Blackfinn: $20 surf n turf and $20 select bottles of wine.
• Café Caturra Grove: $5/glass wine until 6 pm. (5/3)
• Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
• Ellwood Thompson: $1 off wine and beer until 6:30ish (5/3)
• Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
• Joe’s Inn: $1 PBR and $2 Legend beer until 7 pm (5/3)
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm
• Lemaire: $5 Cosmos and $5 Manhattans. 4-7pm in the bar and lounge(10/20)
• Mojo’s: 24 oz. Coors Light Cans- $2.50. Shooter Special - $3 (10/14)
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: $6 Anything with Redbull (5/10)
• Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee:$14.99 5-8pm. 750-1346
• Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
• Sticky Rice: ½ price sushi, 5-6 pm. 358-7870

Saturday

•  Capital Ale House: American Micro Brew Day-most American Micro pints for $2.00, 11am-7pm
• Curbside Café: ½ off appetizers 5-10 pm
• Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
• Mojo’s: RVA Special: PBR & Shot of Bourbon - $5. $5 Redbull Drinks. 10am – 4pm buy any Philly Cheesesteak & get ½ off another. Pizza Night 7-11pm Any Pizza, Any Toppings - $6
• Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee: $14.99, 5-8pm. 750-1346
• Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm
• Xtras: $2 dessert slivers

Sunday

• Baja Bean: $1 cheese quesadillas, $1 an hour pool, $1 12-ounce cans
• Bottoms Up: $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys all day
• Café Caturra Short Pump: Extended social hour 5-9pm. $5 wines/glass and $3 beers
• Cafe Rustica: Sunday Suppah: $15 per person: three courses with a monthly rotating menu. 225-8811
• Capital Ale House: Prime Rib Special- 8 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$9.99 or a 16 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$16.99. Noon-9 pm.
• Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 Tacos, 25 cent Wings. 9pm+
• Can Can: Beer specials til 9 pm.
• Curbside Cafe: half-price appetizers 5-10pm
• Europa: half-price tapas
• The Hard Shell: crab leg, including all-you can eat specials. 643-2333
• Kitchen 64: Drafts $2.50. Pitchers: $9
• Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
• Mojo’s: PBR Tall Boys - $2.50. 10am – 4pm buy any Philly Cheesesteak & get ½ off another. Burger Build 7-11pm $6 – add as many toppings to your burger as you'd like
• Nacho Mama’s Mechanicsville: $5 Angus Burgers w/ Fries all day. 10% off check with church pamphlet
• Pie: $3 Jumbo slice margherita pizza and pint of PBR. 257-7940
• Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm. Date Night 5-9pm, share appetizer, salad, pizza & a dessert for $25.95.
• Six Burner: Sunday Supper-$20. Kids 10&under eat free w/ an adult.
• Star-lite: 1/2 off appetizers 5-10pm. $2 PBRs, other drink specials.
• Weezie's Kitchen: Food & Drink Specials 3-9pm
• Xtras: Industry Night

So cheap mimosas

I discovered maybe my favorite drink special yet last night at Ipanema. On Tuesdays, they have $2 Mimosas from 9-11 pm. The juices you can get include not just orange, but peach, pear, mango, and pineapple. I got both the pear and peach ones and they were refreshing and delightful. Who would ever ger orange now?

And from the end of the bar, they appear to be using Goya juice, so that's a plus too.

The Listening Room--bluesy folk

Last night was my first time at The Listening Room, a grassroots local movement for an intimate gathering to hear music, in the basement of a building attached to St. James' Episcopal Church. Blogger friends had written about it before, and a friend told me last week about this one, so I dove out of VLPP a little early last night to attend. I'm so glad I did.

The room had over 100 people in it, with standing room only, which apparently was the biggest crowd TLR has ever had. The first trio, Brown Bird, was amazing. Seriously wow. They were folksy and bluesy and from Rhode Island (never would have thought this kind of music would be from RI). I was lucky to be surrounded by music geek friends and everyone in the room truly appreciated the music. One guy sang lead, played guitar, and played a homemade drum set of sorts. I was flabbergasted that he could keep 4 different things going at once. His voice was scratchy and strong and full of emotion. The woman sang, played guitar, cello, and violin and was great to watch. The third member was playing a dobro, which I'd never seen before but am told is a popular blues instrument. It's like playing a guitar on it's side, with strings higher off the frets, and plugged in. It has a such a honeyed, high sound. Their songs were intricate and enjoyable.

The poor musicians were melting under the hot garage-like lights. Someone needs to work on better lighting for next time--that was just cruel. The second group, Homemade Knives, had 5 members, and the sound was much more mellow.  I didn't know an accordian could sound pretty. The singer admitted he was nervous, but did himself a disservice because, while I totally relate to stage fright, the more you tell us that you aren't any good, the more likely we are to start to believe it. His voice was clear and strong and twangy with no hint of nervousness. RVA Magazine has an in-depth interview with one of the musicians from the band. It's got great insight into their personality.

It was wild to hear these all fairly young musicians sing and play with such emotion. The lyrics were so smart, but old soul.

Brown Bird was definitely my favorite. I even considered buying a CD, had I brought money, but my friend got the vinyl so I"ll be able to hear it again. Clearly a requirement for male membership in a folk band that night was to have a full-on beard, and the room was full of hipsters, but also had quite a few older participants and non hipsters like me.

We finished the night up with a lovely walk to Cous Cous for a nightcap and some conversation. They have a fun cocktail menu and I got a Pimm's Cup, something I've been talking about lately. It was very sweet. I love my city.

May-updated Richmond restaurant food & drink specials

Updated Fall 2010 Here

My list of Richmond restaurant food and drink specials has been updated (and is updated fairly frequently) here.

I'm working on getting active links to the locations and menus as well, so check back often.

Fitness, Free, Food

I am proud of myself for being in a fitness kick right now. I, with horror, discovered I'd let myself get a little too squishy over the winter when I went dress shopping for my birthday. Even my arms were flabby, which is SO not acceptable, so I've been going to the gym more regularly and watching my food better. I hate working out but I love the feeling of being strong, of feeling kick-ass, of being in shape, so usually once I get started, it's easier to continue. I am relishing the idea of being toned and sexy again. Of course I tend to overdo it the first few times, so now my back muscles are screaming at me. I'm going to take it as a sign of progress that my abs no longer are the ones so sore it hurts to laugh. Not that I'm close to having a six-pack, but it's an ideal. I love good abs, on girls or guys. I'm just not willing to give up the bread and cheese and beer required to have them.

Went to see the Youth Sympony Orchestra at the Carpenter Center last night. I love that my city has so many things going on, and I can see orchestral music for free. (Thanks, Style Weekly for the notice). I probably will never get to sit that close to the stage again. I love the crazy colors and decor of that theatre. My coworker asked me this morning how I find out about all these cool things, and I told her about Style (I'm always amazed when people don't know about Style, but then, I guess I'm probably more active than the average person). I should probably be telling her to go to the site I write for instead, (well, only as it relates to food).

The violin looks like such an easy instrument, but of course it isn't, that just means that the musician is good at it. I remember a guy from another school at a leadership conference I went to in high school could play violin, and even then, it was the hottest thing ever (well, 10th grade hot, before we really knew what hot was). Girls are always suckers for musicians, aren't we? Throw in singing too? Sold.

It's slow at work because we are in between semesters, and while I guess I shouldn't complain, I like,nay, need to be busy. I should use the opportunity to pay bills and write, but I'm not wanting to live in the real world at the moment after the great weeks and weekends I've had lately.

illusions

I have to stop having illusions that I like Caliente. I keep trying. I think it was even nice once. It's in my backyard, it's usually quieter than the other joints in the Devil's Triangle. But lately it's just seemed hazy and sketchy and a little gross. AND last night when I was there, I discovered they are just blatantly disregarding the smoking ban, so that automaticaly gets you kicked off my list.

I am a big nerd and love thesaurus.com. I'm sure I've shared my affinity for big words before, and I still bemoan the closing of my favorite site: wordie.org. Apparently, it's turned into something else now but every time I try to retrieve my password, I get nowhere. :(

Updated RVA food/drink specials

Updated Fall 2010 Here

I am reposting this updated list of food/drink specials in Richmond. The details of which can't be shared apparently on "official" publications, which is total BS, because the whole reason I started doing this in the first place was for the details.

So here they are. Updated as of May 18, 2010

Richmond Restaurant Food and Drink Specials

Anytime
Acacia: Prix Fix menu-$23 M-Th 5:30-9pm Fri&Sat 5:30-6:30pm. 562-0138
Amici: Sun-Thur $25 3-course meal. Bottled wine 25% off. 353-4700
Blackfinn: 7 days a week, 4-7pm $4.95 flatbread pizza. 643-3466
Bouchon: $20 daily prix fix 5-6 pm Mon-Sat. 225-2118
Café Caturra: Social Hour Daily 5-9 pm $5 wines by the glass & $3 beers
Caliente: Happy Hour at the bar M-Th 5-7. $1 Miller High Life, $3 rail highballs and Jager shots. 340-2920
The Camel: Happy Hour 5-7pm. $2.50 rail, $3 drafts, $5 cosmos & martinis, $7 Long Islands.
Davis and Main: 1/2 price well martinis from 4-6pm M-F. 353-6641
Dot’s Back Inn: "Neighborhood Hour" 3:30-7pm. $2.50 10oz drafts, $2.25 domestic, $3 highballs, $3 house wine. 266-3167
Europa: M-F 5-6pm. 1/2 off all Small Plates. 643-0911
Garnett’s: M-Sun Happy Hour 3-6. $3 beer and wine. 367-7909
Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ: M-F 4-7pm Sun 12-6, $2 Miller Lite draft, House highballs, House wine, fried onion straws or okra, smoked kielbasa. 270-RIBS
Kitchen 64: Daily specials 3-7 pm. Rail Drinks:$4, Domestic Bottles:$2. Smoking is allowed on the patio after 10pm. 358-0064
Lemaire: Happy Hour M-F 4-7 pm. $3 beer, $8 Specialty Cocktails ($2 off) 3 appetizers for $20 649-4644
Poe’s Pub: Everyday 4-7 pm $2.25 domestic bottles, $1 off drafts. 648-2120
Sam Miller’s: $2 10oz Miller Lite, $3 House Wine 4-8pm. 644-5465
Six Burner: $24 prix fix menu M-Th 5:30-9:30pm. 353-4060
Stool Pigeons: M-F Happy Hour: $1 off bar drinks, select appetizers are $5. 344-4490
Strawberry Street Café: M-Sun Happy Hour til 9pm. $2.50 highballs, $3 martinis, $2.25 domestic bottles. 353-6860
Tobacco Company: Th-Sat, $1 drinks from 8-9 pm, $4 Red Stag Cocktails and $4 Red Bull or White Grape Cocktails all night (always mobbed in there at happy hour though). Free valet parking during dinner hours and all day on Sunday. 782-9555
Weezie's Kitchen: Happy Hour: 3-7pm M-F $1 off all drinks. 726-1270
821 Café: Happy Hour 4-7pm. All drafts $3.


Monday
Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35. 353-2505
Baja Bean: $4 burgers all day. 257-5445
Buddy's: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese 5-9 pm. 355-3701
Café Caturra Short Pump: Blind wine tasting. Discounts given for correct guesses. 5:30 - 7:30pm
Caliente: ½ off po’boys 5-10pm
Capital Ale House: $1 burger nights (with purchase of a beverage). 4pm-1am.780-ALES
Cha Cha’s Cantina: $2 off quesadillas. 726-6296
City Limit: ½ price appetizers, 5-7pm. 282-4232
Cous Cous: Date night: soup or salad, choose of 3 select menu items, dessert to share and a ½ carafe of Sangria or bottle of house wine-$40. After dinner: mystery beer night--different beers each week are $1. 358-0868
Curbside Cafe: 35c wings, ½ off quesadillas 5-10pm. 355-7008
Europa: Pasta Night-all pastas $9. 643-0911
Kitchen 64: Mojito Monday: $6
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free. 4-7 pm. 232-3446
Little Mexico: $1 tacos.
Mojos: 35cent Wing night. $1 off all "Philly Style" Cheese steaks, $7 Miller High Life, Miller Lite,Yuengling pitchers. 644-6676
Six Burner: Any bottle of wine $50 or under is 1/2 price. 353-4060
Sticky Rice: half-price sushi 10:30pm-12:30am. 358-7870


Tuesday
Acacia: ½ price wine
Avenue 805: Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert & a bottle of house wine all for $35
Baja Bean: Buy 1 Get 1 Free tacos all day
Banditos: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 354-9999
Buddy's: Wear Buddy’s shirt, get a discount (5-9pm)
Caliente: ½ off burgers 5-10
Capital Ale House: Steal the Glass Night. Order one of the featured brewery beers, keep the named glass it comes in. 4pm til glasses run out.
Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 tacos from 8-9 pm
Cous Cous: Facebook specials. After dinner, it’s Musi-ko (music trivia).
Curbside Cafe: 75c tacos (5-10pm)
Europa: Date night: three-course meal for just $16 per person. Weekly Wine Specials at $16 a bottle
Infuzion: $5 off all pasta entrees. 447-6852
Kitchen 64: Tequila Tuesday: $4 Margaritas
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound shrimp, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
Mojos: "Cheap Date Night" Any 2 Pastas and any 1 Appetizer - $15. Featured Bottles of Wine-$10, 6-10pm
New York Deli: 35 cent wings. 7-10pm. 358-DELI
Pescados: two tacos with coconut black beans & achiote rice for $10. 379-7121
Sette: 1/2 price bottle of wine from 5-9pm. 788-7077
Six Burner: Wine by the glass is 1/2 price
Star-lite: $2 Aristocrat highballs all day. 254-2667
Strange Matter: ½ price hamburgers 5pm+
Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16. 261-6544
Tiki Bob’s: 10c tacos, 25c beers 6-9 pm. 644-9091

Wednesday
Baja Bean: ½ off quesadillas all day.
Blackfinn: $1.50 burgers 5-10 pm. Wii Wednesday at 8pm.
Buddy's: 5-9 pm Fajitas $6.95 & Half Price Nachos
Cafe Gutenberg: half-price select glasses of wine.
Caliente: Local Night-ID w/23221 or 23220 zip gets 10%off food bill 5-10
Capital Ale House: Pints of most Virginia beers are $2.50 from 11am-9pm at all locations.
Cha Cha’s Cantina: 50c drafts and $1 tacos 8-9pm
Curbside Cafe: half-price burgers (5-10pm)
Europa: half-off bottles (up to $40) with the purchase of two entrees
Havana '59: ½ off mojitos 780-CUBA
Kitchen 64: Wine Wednesday: Merlot and Chardonnay: $4
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen clams, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm.
Mojos: $4 cheesesteaks 6-10pm. Drink Happy Hour extended til 9 pm. Thumb-wrestling competition at 10 pm.
Pescados: Margarita specials 379-7121
Sam Miller’s: 35 cent Wings 4-8pm
Star-lite: 1/2 Off All Pasta Dishes and Pasta Date Night: 2 salads, two pasta entrees& a bottle of house wine for $30
Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée and Dessert for $16.
Zeus Gallery Café: Wino Wed-all bottles of wine under $50 are half off

Thursday
821 Cafe: happy hour all day
Baja Bean: Until 7pm, appetizers half off
Buddy’s: $3 quesadillas, cheese fries, grilled cheese (5-9pm)
Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
Havana '59: 1/2 off appetizers
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound mussels, get a half pound free 4-7 pm
Mojos: "Bucket Night"-Special menu of favorite items served bucket style. 6-10 pm
Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
Sette: 1/2 price beer 5-9pm
Star-lite: 2 for 1 burger night & cheapie cans of Coors & Coors Lite.
Tastebuds: Prix Fixe. Salad, Entrée, and Dessert for $16


Friday
Blackfinn: $20 surf n turf and $20 select bottles of wine.
Café Caturra Grove: $5/glass wine until 6 pm.
Café Gutenberg: 5-7 pm seasonal microbrew and PBR specials
Ellwood Thompson: $1 off wine and beer until 6:30ish
Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
Joe’s Inn: $1 PBR and $2 Legend beer until 7 pm
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 dozen oysters, get a half dozen free 4-7 pm
Mojo’s: All things fried on special all day.
Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee:$14.99 5-8pm. 750-1346
Sam Miller’s: $0.75 oysters 4-8pm
Sticky Rice: ½ price sushi, 5-6 pm. 358-7870

Saturday
Capital Ale House: American Micro Brew Day-most American Micro pints for $2.00, 11am-7pm
Curbside Café: ½ off appetizers (5-10 pm)
Infuzion: 10% off dinner for 2 (excludes beverages)
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
Mojos: Special menu of herbed flatbread pizzas-$5. 6-10pm
Rare Old Times: Prix Fixe: Soup or Salad, Choice from a Selection of Entrées, Dessert or Irish Coffee: $14.99, 5-8pm. 750-1346
Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm

Sunday
Baja Bean: $1 cheese quesadillas, $1 an hour pool, $1 12-ounce cans
Bottoms Up: $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys all day
Café Caturra Short Pump: Extended social hour 5-9pm. $5 wines/glass and $3 beers
Cafe Rustica: Sunday Suppah: $15 per person: three courses with a monthly rotating menu. 225-8811
Capital Ale House: Prime Rib Special- 8 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$9.99 or a 16 ounce prime rib dinner w/ potatoes & vegetable-$16.99. Noon-9 pm.
Cha Cha’s Cantina: $1 Tacos, 25 cent Wings. 9pm+
Can Can: Beer specials til 9 pm.
Curbside Cafe: half-price appetizers (5-10pm)
Europa: half-price tapas
The Hard Shell: crab leg, including all-you can eat specials. 643-2333
Kitchen 64: Drafts $2.50. Pitchers: $9
Legend Brewing Company: Buy 1 pound crab legs, get a half pound free 12-4 pm
Mojos: Select menu items on special and build your own 8 oz. burger or chicken breast sandwich with as many toppings as you can cram - $6. 6-10pm. 24 oz. PBR Cans $2.50 all night Sunday Funday Night-play old school video games on our project screen TV. Starting around 9pm.
Pie: $3 Jumbo slice margherita pizza and pint of PBR. 257-7940
Sette: 1/2 price Bloody Marys & Mimosas. 12-5pm. Date Night 5-9pm, share appetizer, salad, pizza & a dessert for $25.95.
Six Burner: Sunday Supper-$20. Kids 10&under eat free w/ an adult.
Star-lite: 1/2 off appetizers 5-10pm. $2 PBRs, other drink specials.
Weezie's Kitchen: Food & Drink Specials 3-9pm

Goo Goo Dolls at the National

Last night was the Goo Goo Dolls show at the The National. It was a big crowd, which makes sense because they are probably one of if not the most commercially successful, biggest names that have played there.

I hadn't been to The National as a viewer yet. My chorus performed there a few years ago shortly after they opened, and it was SO COOL to see all the backstage areas and the rooms they hadn't quite completed. The historic theater still had little nooks and crannies, and there was one unfinished room where an old painted tapestry of sorts was peeling off the wall. I don't know if they were planning to restore it or just cover over it but remember thinking it'd be a shame just to destroy it to put up shiny modern walls of some kind. There were all these little backstage lounges, a sauna and a 20 person hot tub. The hot tub was not finished at the time, and I wonder if it's still there. I long to be a groupie just so I can get backstage again. It pained me not to be able to walk around the back areas at the show last night.

The opening act was decent, though I don't remember their name because the name they had in lights (cool, oblong baloon shaped lights) on stage turned out to be the title of their new album and not the band name (which I thought was a little backwards considering no one had ever heard of them). I think they got to open for GGD based on the fact that the lead singer had Johnny Reznik's hair from 20 years ago (which turns out, Johnny kind of still had, and it looked good on him).

The opener's not-band-name-but-album-title was "Of Men and Angels" which honestly would be a cool band name. The lead man liked to put him hands in the air a lot, was pretty emo hipster and was quite showy, but they rocked good, so it was ok.

The Goo Goo Dolls played for 2 hours without a break (including encore) so that was impressive. It took Johnny 3 songs to really get energized though. He came out very subdued and even bored-looking. He did "Slide" third, but you could tell he really hated singing it, because he really diverged from the melody and was half-hearted about it. Luckily, as the show went on, he got more animated. Word is, he's actually kinda stage-frighty, and he even told us during one of his guitar solos that he hated playing them. Johnny also forgot some lyrics to a slow song he was doing with acoustic guitar and cursed and joked about it (much to the audience's delight) and that was really endearing. You know musicians play thousands of shows and it's only normal that they'd forget a lyric or two.

Johnny talked to and interacted with the audience, which I appreciate. When he first mentioned the hot military girl in the front row with a sign, I thought for a second it might be questionable rationale. Turns out it was a marine who was about to get deployed to Afghanistan. He gave her a kiss. Apparently there were quite a few military folks in the audience.

Despite a scuffle between some drunk older women and my friend's sister, and the group of 15-year old couples swaying and dancing and bumping into me, it was a good time. I really hate when people have no respect of other people's space. The 15 year olds were singing along and enjoying themselves but I couldn't help but think that none of them were even BORN YET when this band got popular. And if they bumped me one more time (after asking them nicely 2x to stop) I was going to smack them.

My friend had tweeted the bass player earlier in the day, requesting that he play some older, more obscure tracks, in which the bassist actually sings, and he ended up doing 4 of them, so my friend was elated. This friend is also a multi-talented musician, and we both marvelled at how many guitars were lined up on stage--more than 20 in total. My friend tells me that the GGD play in some unusual keys and tunings and that's why they needed all the guitars. Johnny switched guitars for every song.

My friend swears the drummer was wearing a Flying Squirrels t-shirt (which weirdly, my friend had on that night too) but I couldn't confirm. It looked similar, but he was hidden by the drums.

Overheard in Richmond

Overheard yesterday in Mongrel:

40s-50s age woman, reading a coaster or shot glass or something out loud: "You know you're drunk when you can't lie on the floor without holding on."

Elderly man with her: "I know how that is."

I laughed to myself.

After getting all dressed up to go to a disappointing alumni recruitment committee reception that consisted of me, 3 staff, and 2 old couples, I stopped in Carytown on the way home to see if Chop Suey had any interesting books on their sidewalk sale rack (they didn't). I bought myself a pair of oversized black sunglasses in Bygones instead, and ran into a college friend who had been walking around Carytown taking photos to "make her own art." Walking back to my car, I weaved through the line for Avatar at The Byrd, which had reached the end of the block already.

Contemplative at work

(From: Daily Pep)

Photos to go with the mood I'm in at the moment.

(From Rockstar Diaries)

I love that I can listen to my mp3 library away from home on Last.Fm

Contemplative songs scrobbled on Last.Fm this morning:
Destiny by Zero 7 (god, this song is magical)
Run by Snow Patrol
Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Boston White by Umbrellas
Citadel-Anna Nalick
Somebody To Love-Queen

It's been a few perfect weather days this week and will continue through the weekend, so that helps one's mood. It also helps to geek-out with new friends during the week, and have all kinds of things to look forward to this weekend, like First Fridays with Questionable Rationale, and Easter on Parade with my gay bois, my backyard neighbor and hopefully an old college friend.

I recently found a blogger writing about my hometown beaches: I Love Dewey Beach which makes me both excited and wistful at the same time. She appears to live year round somewhere else, but has a summer cottage in Dewey. I wish my mother's house was not a mess so that I would actually have a place to stay for free when I want to come home to my beach. Luckily my best friend's mom has offered her house for me to stay in the future.

new food at RVA News

I've got a few new articles up over at RVA News about food focusing on new places that have opened up, including Spoonfed, Strange Matter, and Fan House

http://rvanews.com/sections/food

Richmond Noir reading

(from Chop Suey's Blog)

Oh, clever photo.

So I'll be going to this book reading this week. After I posted a bit ago about reading Richmond Noir cover to cover.

THURS, MARCH 4
8:00 PM
NEW YORK DELI

featuring readings from contributors X.C. Atkins, Clay McLeod Chapman, Dennis Danvers , Dean King, and Howard Owen

w/ editors Andrew Blossom, Brian Castleberry, and Tom De Haven

Book sales and author greeting will begin at 8:00. The readings will start around 8:45, with the performance from the Scott Burton Trio following. I have a date with RHONY at 10pm, so I won't be able to stay all night.

I hope to see I Could Go On and On there.

In other small Richmond news, I found out the piano accompanist for the chorus I sing in is the mother of a friend of mine. All this time, and I didn't know!

Richmond Noir

Richmond is 2 degrees of separation as usual.

I had found the collection of short stories, Brooklyn Noir, a little bit ago at a used bookstore. I got bout halfway through and thought it a clever concept--several short stories, each centered on a partiuclar Brookyn neighborhood, told in the noir style.

Little did I know there was a whole series of books for other cities, most newly, our very own RVA!

I first heard about Richmond Noir from reading I Could Go On and On's blog post about it, not realizing the series were connected.

I got my copy on a whim at Chop Suey yesterday, after being drawn to the cheap used book sale outside the store. I haven't bought a new book in a long time, and Chop Suey was offering 10% off. I also combined with Joe and we got 10 books for $5 fron the outside carts (8 for me, 2 for him. He doesn't really read fiction, so less to choose from for him). I got a biography of Nicole Kidman, several short stories, a Larry McMurtry book (a fav author), a book about retaining customers (in case I ever open a shop), and some quick-read novels. Yay.

I spent 5 or 6 hours yesterday evening reading Richmond Noir cover to cover. I hadn't sat quietly in my apartment and just read a book in way too long, so it was a perfect way to spend my Sunday. I heard they are having a reading on March 4 at NY Deli, so I might go to that.

Tarrant's

I was saving this review for a professional article, but that doesn't appear to be happening, so here it is.

A few weeks ago, I was itching to get out and have dinner. I had made plans to meet a friend at Tarrant's, one of my standbys, but he cancelled at the last minute as I was driving there, so I bravely went by myself. There are only a few places in town that I feel comfortable going alone and eating at the bar and it was a Sunday night, so I figured it would be fairly empty. I felt very much like Karen over at I Could Go On and On.

I sat at the first part of the L-shaped bar, right near the door. It was a cold, rainy, windy night when I arrived around 6:15 pm. While I was there, several parties of 6 or more came in, and the extended space next door definitely expanded their clientele. The phone rang steadily. There were 2-3 guys at the other end of the bar, who the cute, friendly red-headed bartender seemed to know. I enjoyed listening to their conversations.

An older gentleman came to the front of the restaurant and asked me if I'd mind if he talked on his cell phone. It was such a thoughtful gesture since I was sitting right there.

I got a glass of $6.50 Pinot Noir and settled in with my newspaper. I saw that a vegetable tart was on special ($8.95). It said it was layered with mushroom, goat cheese, olives, garlic, asparagus, and tomato, which I eagerly ordered. While I was waiting for my food, the bartender brought me a garlic bread "taco." Now normally I can't eat garlic because I can never get the taste/smell out of my system, but I figured I wasn't going to be making out with anyone that night, so I ate it.

I was hugely disappointed when my food came to find out that the vegetable tart I was promised was actually a flatbread pizza with veggies on it and a side salad. I know Tarrant's has recently gotten into the pizza business, but I did NOT order pizza. Tart implies something sophisticated, fluffy, layers, mostly vegetable. I love pizza, and it tasted good, but when you expect to get one thing, and something else comes out, well that's just frustrating.

My second wine pour was quite generous. After reading in Style Weekly that the 3rd Street Diner was thinking about starting a strip club in their upstairs (WTF?!), I shared this with the bartender, who had heard that news too. She mentioned she'd been there recently at 3AM and had a very pregnant server with her ta tas practically hanging out. Neither of us dared to imagine if she'd be one of the new "dancers" if the strip club opens.

The bartender and waitstaff alternated as front of house/hostess seamlessly. There was a good mix of old and young patrons, newbies and regulars. They offer free parking at Jim's parking lot on Grace & Foushee, but that's across the street from the lot where my friend Kevin got car-jacked at gunpoint a few years ago at First Fridays. Since then, I only park on well-lit streets.

Ellen turned out to be the bartenders name, and one of the guys at the bar was her roommate. He noted that one of her friends had frequently tried to take him home, and another staff member, possibly the owner, Ted Santarella, remarked that perhaps that friend could get a job as a stripper at the new 3rd Street. Ellen and I exchanged knowing smiles.
----------------------------------------------------------
Tarrant's Cafe
1 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23220-4212
(804) 225-0035

Red Wines are $6-$7.50 a glass. Bottles are $20-$85 with most in the $20 range
White Wines are $6-$7 a glass. Bottles $20-$59.
$9.50 martinis, and champagne, port, and spiked coffee offerings as well.
Beer bottles are $3.50-$4.75 but fancy ones go up to $8.
Drafts $5ish

We're not gonna protest

Did anyone else see the cardboard sign yesterday on I-195 N after the Thompson entrance with WEBB on it and the E was the hammer&sickle communist symbol?

Am I the only one who thought it was kinda clever and not an insult at all? What's happened recently to ignite this protest about Webb specifically, I wonder? For you non-Virginians, Jim Webb is a newish, Democratic Senator, who ousted a long-time Republican. Fun fact: Did you know he speaks Vietnamese? And his wife has a possibly Vietnamese-sounding name.

Communism is not a dirty word. See also: feminism, socialism, abortion, atheism. It's an economic practice, with some smart ideas that don't always work out so well in practice, a bad history, and unfortunate consequences.

Spontaneity

I am not a spontaneous person. I think a lot of people like to use that as one of the words to describe them, but I am NOT one of them. I am a planner, I like itineraries, and planning ahead, and lists, and the giddy anticipation of looking forward to something.

That said, I do appreciate when friends call for a last minute get together, or people who actually follow through on the rare case that I ask them to do something last-minute. This is also why I love having friends within walking distance.

Sunday night was like another weekend night for me because I was off Monday (the only holiday we get until Memorial day-notwoot). I didn't have plans, and wanted to go out after watching the Golden Globes and drinking wine.

Thanks to the magic of Twitter and Facebook (didn't we use to use IM for this?), 2 friends responded, one who was traveling via bike, and the other who lives just a few blocks away. Bike friend had showed his penchant for impromptu meetups before. I walked the 6 blocks to my friend's house, and then another 6 to White Dog, which turned out to be closed. Through the magic of my friend's iPhone (I don't have a data phone), we found out RVAFoodie had ended up at Bamboo, where I happily go now that there is no smoking. Johnny ordered the fries, which were thin and abundant and AMAZING. We chatted, I drank $4.50/glass Merlot, and then walked/biked our respective ways home. The warmer weather made the walking bearable. Now that I add it up, it is a lot of blocks, but didn't feel that far away.

Gotta love RVA

Nights like tonight make me love Richmond. I had an impromptu meetup with RVAfoodie tonight at new restaurant, Garnett's in the Fan. The nice thing about 2 degrees of separation in Richmond is that it's easy to get to know people. Had a lovely chat with the owner, Kendra Feather, who was manning (womanning?) the bar. We talked about community blogs, gluten allergies, and her other restaurant, Ipanema, which I love even though I am so not a hipster. I will go there so much more now that the smoking ban is in effect. I will be going to Garnett's for dinner tomorrow with my Church Hill restaurant owner friend.

RVAfoodie and I discussed anonymity on the Internets, online learning and higher education, and local food and food blogs, since he writes about food on his blog and organizes Richmond food blogs over at Eating Richmond. We even discussed this post here, where he calls-out the concept of "Best Of" restaurant lists. Go see for yourself and chime in.

Garnett's had gotten great reviews, from all over, but mainly from blogger I Could Go On and On, who writes so eloquently and descriptively about restaurants and fun things in RVA. This being Richmond, we've not met yet, but of course have 900 friends in common, and have just narrowly missed each other, including just this weekend at First Fridays.

Since putting together my list of RVA food/drink specials, patio dining, brunch, and cheap drinks early in 2009, I've gotten interest from other parties to continue this, so I'm going to make an effort to keep updating my list.

At Garnett's tonight, I discovered they have happy hour from 4-6 nightly, which means their already-affordable beer and wines are $3. Tonight I enjoyed the Sallies Malbec (I do love a Malbec) and my drinking companion had the San Vito Organic Chianti, though mentioned it was dry.

Tonight I will be walking to a friend's birthday party to hang out with a bunch of 22yr olds. This will make me feel even more old, especially since I found a new grey hair just this morning :) The friend, turns out, lives in an apt I drive by every day on my way home, so I will happily get drunkitydrunkdrunk if I so desire, and walk home in my chic, flat boots. I hate cold weather, but wine makes it a little more bearable.

InLight

InLight was wondrous and fine. It was great to see so many people out for the evening, supporting artists and downtown. Maybe that downtown revitalization we've been talking about for, oh, FOREVER, will actually happen. I even wrote a final class paper about it for Urban Sociology. My acid camera fared quite well, considering.

I have videos, which I'll post shortly.


UR Downtown's building was lit up with moving lights.


There were tons of artists on display. This was my favorite--a series of shoes thrown over the power lines, lit up with lights with messages on the back of the shoe. I thought it was a nice reference to the city, and a simple, yet understandable message about making art out of the everyday. Participants of InLight were able to vote via text message (smart).






The Hula Hoop girls were amazing. I really should have asked how I can join them.


The UR Gamelan ensemble played music for the parade, in addition to these guys, playing traditional African instruments and beat. Love how acid camera makes it look like we're in a Chronic cloud. There was a tall white guy who was totally into the beat and dancing. I know more about African dance than he, but I was not brave enough to partake.



I was so delighted at how many people were there for the 1st annual Lantern Parade. I can't wait for next year.

I missed you, Carpenter Center.


They held up 2 sheets and had fireburners and people with masks dance behind them, providing a nice silhouette.







This was 2 different travelling art squares. The power for the lights was from a computer tower, being dragged along the middle on an unruly platform on wheels. Funny to watch.




This is the lantern I made at 1708 Gallery at First Fridays.

The new Center Stage building looked nice in the dark.

.

Pre tailgate

Go Spiders!

Night Photog in RVA

Took photos with my new Holga Saturday night with the RVA photography meetup. It was a clever idea, meet up and walk/drive to specified points around town to take photos at night. Found a cool new lookout of downtown from the southside flood wall, and realized the platform at the James Monroe building is open to the public after hours and is a direct shot of Main Street Station. I had some donated b/w film, one of which had no exposure information on it, so I have no idea if any of it came out. I prefer color though. I turned it in to Richmond Camera today so we'll see how the negatives come out. Film is a bi*ch, let me tell you. We have all gotten so used to digital and instant gratification that film shooting was surprisingly unsatisfying, especially amongst 20 other folks with serious DSLR equipment and tripods.

I did get some cool acid-camera pics with my point-and-shoot digital

Warehouse/factory on Southside

A warehouse on the Southside

A shadow of a rusty structure at Rockett's Landing

Passenger bridge on the floodwall

A Manchester apt bldg