A new brewery opening, a festival, and an anniversary–all happening Saturday October 26th just north of Broad St in a section of town I will now lovingly refer to as Richmond’s Brew Quarter.  You could easily spend all day checking out these three events but what should you do first?  Any order is probably fine but I will share my planned attack order.

Boulevard Pumpkin Festival — Noon

Yes, the pumpkin festival is where I’m starting simply because it starts the earliest.  Make sure you don’t eat lunch beforehand.  Richmond.com has the all the details on pumpkin dishes to be served at the festival but here are a few that stood out to me:

• Fat Dragon: Pumpkin seafood soup, pumpkin fried rice, beer battered fried pumpkin This just might be the holy trinity of pumpkin dishes
• Sasion: Pumpkin mofongo I don’t know what mofongo is but I sure am having fun saying it.
• The Camel: Fried chicken and pumpkin waffles, pumpkin shrimp & grits Pumpkin waffles & chicken, I mean someone had to do it!
• Mosaic: Pumpkin curry, pumpkin chili, crispy chicken with cornbread I could see the pumpkin used in place of potatoes in Mussuman curry or just pureed with coconut milk to serve as the broth. Either way sure to be delicious.

Isley Brewing Grand Opening — 1 – 7PM

Now, this one caught me totally by surprise as I did not realize they were this far along.  They will have four beers for people to try:

Plain Jane Belgian White Ale
Plain Jane Blueberry Belgian White Ale
The Bribe Oatmeal Porter
Decadence Coconut Cocoa Oatmeal Porter

Have to say I’m intrigued by the Blueberry White Ale.

Isley Brewing Co
1715 Summit Ave
Richmond, VA 23230

Hardywood Second Anniversary Party — 2 – 9PM

Last but certainly not least, end the day at Hardywood for tequila or at least their Tequila barrel aged Second Anniversary Ale.  Definitely get there before 6pm as Goldrush will provide a live soundtrack for Godzilla Destroy All Monsters.

Side note: Is it too late for me to go as Godzilla for Halloween? 

Second Anniversary Ale will be available by the pint as well as a limited number of  750mL bottles starting at 2pm.  Special event beers are to be announced. RVA Street Foodies will bring the yum with  Pizza Tonight, Monique’s Crepes, Super Fresh Carts, Thai Cabin, Estes Bar.B.’Que,  Cielito Lindo, Soul-Ice Vending, Inc., and Station 2.

Additional music will be provided by Scorpio Brothers Marty Key and Troy Hurt (rare garage, soul and funk) and The Green Hearts (power pop & rock ‘n’ roll) at 2 and 4:30pm, respectively.