Ellwood’s Local Love Valentines Day Giveaway!
This Valentines Day, we’ve gotten together with some of our favorite local vendors from our Nourish Department to give you the chance to win a truly unique and locally-made prize bag, filled with all things local that we love.
To be eligible for the prize you must answer the following question and email your answer to lpinckney@ellwoodthompsons.com before Thursday, February 2nd. The question is: Where did the phrase “Virginia is for Lovers” come from?
A winner will be selected via a random drawing on Monday, February 6, 2012 and be announced via email and on our Facebook page.
This unique, local prize pack includes the following:
An iPod/iPhone pouch from The Revolution. Bath fizzles from BCakes, Valentines Soap from Richmond Soap Studio. An 8oz tin candle from Naked Soy, and some Frankenrose love refresher oil from House of Lukaya!
The Urban Assault Ride is Coming!
In just under two months from now, the New Belgium Urban Assault Ride will come through Richmond, Virginia! The Urban Assault Ride has evolved from a lifelong love affair for bikes and all things bike related. The 1st UAR was in Austin TX in June 2003. The idea was to combine all the cool things from bike races, adventure races, and music festivals into one crazy event. It has since grown to be one of the biggest cycling events in the country!
On Sunday, March 25th, the UAR will make it’s way to the east cost to the river city!
Richmond VA – Sunday March 25, 2012 benefitting: TBD
The Urban Assault Ride is coming to the River City! We hope you’re ready for the party, Richmond!
Price : Only $30-60/person! (sign up early to get the best pricing!!) You’ll get a 100% cotton t-shirt, a couple of the best beers you’ve ever tasted, and some great SWAG!
Online Registration closes Friday, March 23th, at 4:00 PM EST.
Packet Pick Up: (Saturday 3/24 11 – 2pm)
Location: TBD
Chia Seeds: Why you should still be eating last years “super food”
2011 gave birth, or better yet the re-birth, of some truly amazing and nutrient dense superfoods. Foods and drinks such as coconut water and acai juice popped up again on the radar. But then there was one wild card player, a seed that was more nutrient dense than anything like it. Say hello, once again, to the Chia seed.
“These little seeds–yes, the ones you smothered on a terra cotta pot shaped like a scientist when you were a kid–have been a household name for ages, thanks to their infection commercials. But before they were made into pets, chia seeds were a well-known health supplement. The Mayans have been eating them since practically the beginning of time, and, more recently, health advocates like Dr. Weil have been spreaking their praise the better half of a decade. But 2011 was definitely the year when these nutritionally-dense little pods picked up some serious steam.” -Blisstree
Say Hello to our new Solar Panels!
This past week, we teamed up with our friends at Urban Grid Solar in Richmond, VA to install eight photovoltaic panels on our south facing roof. These initial 8 panels will be the first of many more to help reduce our environmental impact and help set new sustainable standards in the Richmond community.
These steps go hand in hand with our Environmental Pledge:
At Ellwood Thompson’s, we realize that our actions directly impact our community and environment. It is our goal to establish new environmental standards in our community and beyond.
We make every effort to bring awareness to environmental issues and more importantly, practice what we preach. We strive to reduce our waste, recycle and compost everything we can, support alternative modes of transportation and incorporate green building methods into our store.
Being a sustainable community partner is something that we owe to our planet.
Hardywood Park is Here!
We’re so excited that these guys are making beer! Say hello to Richmond’s newest craft brewery, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Located just 2.6 miles away from our front door, we can almost smell the hopps in the air.
There mission is to become one of the most respected brewers in the United States through integrity in their ingredients and in their business practices, through respect for brewing heritage, and through the inspired creation of extraordinary beers.
The story of how Hardywood Park Craft Brewery came to be is about as old as it’s co-founders, Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh. Lifelong friends, Eric and Patrick first discovered hand crafted beer in 2001 at a sheep station in Australia called Hardywood Park, and have been brewing and introducing people to great beer ever since.
Just In: Locally Grown Terrariums
If you’re looking for that little extra “something” to add to your room or the perfect gift that will keep giving, we’v got the perfect idea for you. One of our long time employees, we’ll call him Rich, has been creating terrariums and miniature succulent gardens for a while now.
These beautiful, miniature gardens and succulents don’t require much attention at all. Just some sunlight and water about once ever two weeks. Terrariums are available now in the produce department throughout the holidays. For more information on Rich’s terrariums, visit his website.
Crop Swaps
Heads up, green thumbs struggling to offload excess edibles: Aid is out there. A growing movement, designed to help people eat well, save money, and get to know their neighbors, is planting seeds in communities around the country. Crop swaps–meet ups where people exchange their surplus backyard bounty–are thriving from the San Francisco Bay Area to Boston in city and suburban enclaves and online, too.
Read the rest of the story here.
Good People in Richmond – Craig Dodson
Good People In Cycling, Episode I – Craig Dodson, Richmond Cycling Corp from Road Holland on Vimeo.
While so much of the world may see cyclists as neon spandex clad ants that take up too much of the road, the reality is that there are so many wonderful people involved in our sport. To highlight them, Road Holland is kicking off a film series entitled “Good People In Cycling.” In each episode we’ll take a look at people who are doing extraordinary but often unsung work to help others.
Episode I features Craig Dodson of the Richmond Cycling Corp from Richmond, VA. Craig founded RCC as a way to give back all that he got out of cycling to kids who might otherwise never get on two wheels. In the process, he’s changing lives. For more information about Craig and Richmond Cycling Corp visit richmondcyclingcorps.org.
Nicaraguan Maragogype Peaberry
We’re proud to introduce the 5th Microlot from our friends over at Blanchard’s Coffee in Forest Hill, Richmond. This one in particular is very special for the simple reason that Blanchard’s has the entire 2011 harvest of it.
Pronounced mar-uh-go-heap-ay, known for being the largest bean in the coffee world. The Nicaraguan Maragogype Peaberry is an extremely rare find and Blanchard’s Coffee Co. is excited to have purchased this year’s entire crop, which was limited to a little over 300 pounds.