The Greater Richmond Grid, “Richmond’s newest magazine promoting the lifestyle, culture, and benefits of Richmond and the surrounding counties”, launches tonight at Manchester’s Savor from 6-8PM.

The RTD is reporting that the Martin Agency has landed the Expedia.com marketing account.

The Richmond-based agency will handle the advertising for the travel Web site, including broadcast, print, radio and digital brand marketing. [via]

The paving over of the negro burial ground at 15th&Broad, delayed last year after protests, is under way today. Kenneth Yates posted the following message along with pictures of the repaving.

We will not know for sure until a proper archeological excavation has been done. This is now made that much more difficult with another layer of asphalt to break through. Perhaps they believe that, those in Richmond who don’t find this issue particularly important, will see the shiny new asphalt and assume the issue has been resolved.

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The fine folks at GlobeHopper want to share your photos:

We the team of GlobeHopper Coffeehouse & Lounge have been thrilled as of late by a number of customers bringing us photos of our shop: from the obscure and gritty to the funk and glam. This has inspired us for our next round of wall display. We would like to temporarily deviate from our global photos to show your photographs as taken at the GlobeHopper with the theme of our mantra “coffee, culture, and community.” We would be pleased to receive both color and black-and-white photos. Photos should be framed for consideration on the coffeehouse display wall. Electronic photos may be emailed to contact”AT”globehoppercoffee.com for posing on our Facebook or website only. We look forward to seeing and sharing more!

The brand spanking new GRID Magazine proved they can throw a “rock’n bash” for their launch party at Savor earlier this week. In their first issue, they feature the Shockoe community garden adjacent to the 17th Street Farmer’s Market 

Restaurants in the area were granted plots in the Community Garden.  They are tending to their gardens, harvesting their crops and using the produce and herbs for special features. The other week folks from LuLu’s came down and harvested a big batch of mint. Guess what their special was that night? Shockoe Community Garden Mojiotos! [via]

Tobacco Avenue once again has crucial news out of Shockoe Bottom:

Shocking wait staff and patrons alike with his unbelievable gall, 18-month-old Cameron Smith had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at Lulu’s – LuLu’s, for Christ’s sake – despite the Shockoe Bottom restaurant’s well-regarded menu of culinary delights.

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In association with A Movable Feast and River City Cellars, The Fountain Bookstore brings you Julia Child Week all of next week, with special events including a cooking demo with Andy Howell from Cafe Rustica, Movie Night with the Fountain Bookstore staff @ Movieland Bow Tie Cinema, the Julie and Julia and Julia Wine Tasting, including Sherry!!! @ River City Cellars, and special cross-promotions all week with River City Cellars and Moveable Feast.

Photos of the almost-ready Boathouse at Rocketts Landing went online today. The sister location to The Boathouse at Sunday Park in Midlothian, the Boathouse at Rocketts Landing is set to open next Friday, August 14.

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Starting this Wednesday night, you won’t have to worry about finding parking or a designated driver. It’s all thanks to a new privately owned trolley service offering a free shuttle between Carytown and Shockoe Bottom. Jim Porter, the founder of “To the Bottom and Back”, said the trolley aka “The Party Bus” will make about 10 initial trips from Ellwood Thompson’s to the Farmer’s Market between the hours of 5 pm and 3 am.

We also hope to reduce DUI and DUI related accidents as well as offer our townsfolk and tourists the opportunity to see Richmond without the hassle of endless parking spot searches and never ending lot fees!

The shuttle will be paid for by donations and advertisements.[via]

For more information, visit the To the Bottom and Back website.

The RTD says the Bottom’s latest restaurant, Touch Ov Soul, is now open. Owner Ty Goins is serving up soul food with a twist- no pork!

Goins’ “Food From the Soul” menu features turkey chops, fried cabbage with smoked turkey, fried whitings and banana pudding, among other comfort foods.

The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and hopes to add an entertainment schedule of poetry and jazz on Thursday and Friday nights. [via]

RVANews reporting via Twitter that City Dogs is in negotiations to buy the Nara Sushi building near VCU.

Jack Goes Forth rates the best cafes in Richmond including GlobeHopper.

Globehopper Cafe, 2100 East Main Street : A solid all-around cafe. Good service, decent eats and a comfortable setting. I hate their hours (who closes at 2 PM on a Friday, and 8 PM every other night?!) and their lack of bottled water leaves something to be desired. Not much foot traffic in terms of women, but I always see people I know and the staff is pretty cool and down to earth.

Style Weekly has the news many music lovers have been waiting for; a new owner is moving into the former Toad’s Place.

The venue is tentatively scheduled to open the first week in September, with a restaurant operated by the owner of ChaChas, Verbena, and Lucky Buddha opening after that. The new owners also have a plan to stay competitive with the National:

In addition to national, regional and local music acts, Hat Factory is setting aside two nights a week as dance nights for college-aged students and country-music lovers — complete with a mechanical bull. [via]