Lamplighter Roasting Company, Richmond, VA

What gets you mentally and physically going in the morning? For some, it's coffee. For some, it's bikes. If you happen to bike to get coffee, so much the better, and if you happen to bike to get coffee at Lamplighter in Richmond, well then it sounds like your day is off to a good start! The eternally-vacant gas station fell into disrepair long before I breezed through River City, but it's finally gone to great use as Richmond's newest revamped coffee shop/roaster/cafe/hangout of hipsters and hoboes alike. Catering to a quirky and hugely varied clientele, the things that keep people coming back in droves are the coffee and eats. Despite having become a permanent West Coaster pre-opening, I had the opportunity to stop by Lamplighter due to countless word-of-mouth praises and now every time I'm back in Richmond I make it a point to stop by; we've even been able to spread the tall bike coffee love in San Diego, bringing back pounds of various roasts to distribute amongst like-minded coffee aficionados (while keeping a few for ourselves).




One of the especially great things is their policy of giving a free iced coffee if you buy a pound of beans (any roast). I'm not exactly how stringent this policy is (the entire staff seems to be in their early to mid twenties and nary a tattoo-free employee is to be found), but it seems consistent enough to pass along as gospel. Their menu is large without being overwhelming or even too varied; lots of the breakfast basics are covered, along with plenty of animal-free dishes as well. Kitschy touches abound, and DIY details lend a complete air of freedom without becoming sloppy; despite being run by a young group of bike hooligans, professionalism is not compromised with comfort and a cozy repertoire. Feel free to bring your mom along with your dog, and if possible squeeze outside on the covered patio to avoid the slightly claustrophobic dining space (it's a bit too small to even really be called a room). Coffee is a must, and while the food isn't to die for, it's yet to prove to be a disappointment.



Richmond continues to undergo various facelifts in sections of the city, and with Acacia Midtown just around the corner and new condos springing up all along Cary Street, Lamplighter is another welcome addition to the neighborhood. Recommended for ages 1-100, animals welcomed, biking is encouraged.


Lamplighter
116 S. Addison Street (corner of Parkwood and Addison)
RVA 23220

Sticky Rice DC

Sticky Rice on Main Street in Richmond is a total Fan staple, especially anyone with hipster-ish tendencies and the desire to see and be seen in a hip location. Considering their sushi is new-school with 90% innovative flair and 10% tradition, it's a great bar spot that happened to be 3 blocks away from my old apartment. (sigh) They've got great events like karaoke, 1/2 price sushi Mondays, and trivia nights that are always guaranteed to be jam packed.

Within the last year, they've opened the 2nd Sticky Rice in the H District in Washington, D.C. I'm sure it will attract the same group of 20somethings who long for tater tots and cheap PBR with a California roll on the side. I would love to see the new location's design and layout; the interior and exterior of the original was kitschy and bright while just grimey enough to entice bike punks and young professionals alike. Even Sticky to Go Go across the street was a wild success. All best wishes for their old and new ventures alike!

Recommended for people who want a cool sushi "experience" rather than expecting the most traditional of dishes.

Sushi Yoshi

This weekend I got sent to a trade show in Bethesda, Maryland, which is only a hop skip and jump away from my parents house. Luckily, it was also my sister's birthday weekend, so a major sushi outing was already planned! Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas have an unlimited selection of world class restaurants, so for an occasion of this magnitude I knew that I wouldn't be let down. Recommended by an AUTHENTIC ASIAN PERSON, we got to Sushi Yoshi in Vienna, VA and prepared to feast.

With 7 of us (5 of us being absolute sushi fiends) we decided to go with the Sushi Platter for 6, a sashimi platter for 2, some Chutoro sushi (Dad and I's personal faves), and a few other nibblins with seemed very eel-heavy to satiate my sister's cravings.


Boat of flavor, sailing into my mouth


Rolls for 6


Mas sushi


The Garden Roll- not my favorite, but interesting to try at the very least.

I WISH I had a picture of the sashimi plate and the Chutoro that we got separately, but when we got them they were pretty much gone immediately. Not to mention the miso (exquisite), salads (the seaweed was world-class), and whatever else we got. I never like to drink anything but water with sushi, and this was a good choice for Sushi Yoshi. Nothing took away from the palette of flavors set before us, and this sushi was absolutely five star. Apparently this has only been open for 6 months, but the ratio of Asians to non-Asians was an excellent indicator of quality. Vienna is just a cool town too, very hip and lots of little joints. Definitely a small slice of a "city" in Northern VA.

It's probably for the best that I don't live near there anymore, because I have a feeling it would bankrupt me. Regardless, this is highly highly highly recommended.

Sushi Yoshi
101 Church St.
Vienna, VA, 22180