Cheers to the New Year

Bolo's Eatery Cheers to Life — Bolo's Eatery

If you didn’t have New Year’s plans, you do now! Manchester’s assortment of bars and tasting rooms provides you with a flight of cool yet cozy choices where you can celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Have you ever wondered where Richmond’s premier moonshine brand comes from? It’s Manchester! Fixed just a block off Commerce Road, Belle Isle Moonshine’s tasting room is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for tours of the facility, and tastings, obviously. Pick four flavors, and try a flight of their iconic moonshines or infusions. You’ll walk out of there with four brand new bottles. Known best for their moonshines, don’t let the name fool you, Belle Isle Moonshine has branched out into a variety of liquors, canned cocktails, and even pre-made bottled cocktails. Pick up a bottle of their Mint Julip or Old Fashioned and never worry about bartending your own shindig. But if you fancy yourself a mixologist, Belle Isle Moonshine’s website has a tab just for recipes, where you can learn to stir up drinks everyone will love. Visit their tasting room and celebrate the holidays, with a twist.

Benchtop Brewing and Basic City Beer Co. have long been staples of the Manchester bar scene. Just a walk away from each other, these two local watering holes each have a unique flair that makes them favorites among Manchester residents. For the pizza and beer enthusiasts, Basic City Beer Co. whips up personal pies you can pile high with your choice of toppings and pair with a bright, hoppy IPA or any one of their refreshing brews. With wine, seltzers, soda, and non-alcoholic beers on the menu, Basic City is packed throughout the week with shows, markets, events, and a menu no one can resist. Closing at 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve, grab a quick drink at Basic City Beer Co. before hopping over to Benchtop Brewing for some late-night board games. Benchtop is your spot for a cold beer, a warm hot dog, and copious amounts of boardgaming. Their board game shelf is in the middle of the room for all to peruse, and stacked with all the classics. Bar crawling with your friends on New Year’s Eve, sipping on locally crafted brews, laughing with your mouth full of bar food, and finishing the night out watching the ball drop at home sounds just about perfect. The night is what you make it, so make it something special.

Basic City Brewing Bar — Basic City Beer Co.

Opened this fall, Bolo’s Eatery is Manchester’s newest rooftop restaurant and bar. Raise a glass of their pumpkin ale or sip a Pink Pearl cocktail to close out this year right. Located right off Hull Street, you can stop in Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for lunch and dinner. Also open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays; there’s never a bad time to pop by for a bite and a drink. Their menu ranges from delicious American classics like their double smashburger and brunch-ready chicken and waffles to mouthwatering seafood options like flame-broiled oysters, pan-seared cod, and crab cakes. You won’t be disappointed by the food, drinks, or atmosphere of this fresh addition to Manchester’s nightlife. Check out Bolo’s Eatery for an undeniably good time.

The Underground Kitchen is something a bit different from your typical dining outing. With rotating menus and themes, the Underground Kitchen, or UGK, is an expertly curated dinner party experience, hosted at the Underground Kitchen studio on Hull Street, where guests come together for a one-of-a-kind meal. They always have new events around the corner, featuring delectable courses and specialty drinks. Their upcoming Season of Soul event is a ticketed affair, held on December 18th, promising to be a “6-course culinary and wine experience that weaves together the stories, sounds, and soulful flavors at the heart of the Black holiday traditions.” But no two events are exactly alike. The UGK Dinner Experience “masterfully interprets history through food,” and unlike the Season of Soul, you can book this experience for any date that works for you and your party. Just be sure to visit their website to book a dinner 2 weeks in advance. Be the MVP of your next office party, or surprise your friend with the birthday party of their dreams. UGK gives Manchester’s culinary visionaries a stage to perform their most exquisite feats, highlighting the talents of a diverse array of chefs who all get to shine. It doesn’t matter if you hate cooking or love it, UGK takes the pressure off your shoulders, so you can enjoy every bite.

It’s that sweet spot between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when we’re reminded just how important community is: lifting each other up, sharing food, and making memories. The holiday season is known as both a time of receiving gifts and giving back. Giving back, especially inside your own community, can look many different ways. It might mean giving your time, your extra cash, and sometimes, it just means giving a little food. You may not know it, but there are plenty of opportunities right here in Manchester to show a little support to our wonderful neighborhood and its surrounding communities. Here’s a taste.

RVA Community Fridges

Located at 109 W 15th Street, right outside of Studio Two Three, you can find Manchester’s community fridge. There are infinite reasons why someone may need to pluck a few things from the community fridge, but truthfully, the “why” is never as important as the “who” that needs it. It’s a privilege to be able to go to the store and stock up for the week, so if you have the means, think about picking up an extra item or two for the community fridge. One pack of hot dogs, or a bag of apples, can go a long way. Now, they don’t take just any food. No one wants your leftover lasagna or overripe avocados. They have a few guidelines to make sure everything in the fridge is clearly labeled with the item’s ingredients, date of packaging, expiration, and potential allergies, to ensure everything in the fridge is safe to eat. Before filling the fridge, take a look at the rest of their guidelines on their website. It’s such an easy way to help your community without breaking the bank. So next time you find yourself on a grocery run, consider getting two bags of chips or a few extra cans of soup. You’ll be helping more than you could possibly know.

James River Association

Manchester is cradled in the south bank of the James River, providing the neighborhood ample opportunity to hike, fish, or bike along the trails beside its rambling edge, or simply enjoy the beauty of the river. But it takes a lot of work to keep this centuries-old river looking good as new. Right across the Mayo Bridge from Manchester, the James River Association dedicates all its

time and efforts to restoring the James’ natural allure, and you can help too! This organization strives to enlist as many volunteers as possible to keep the river and its surrounding flora as healthy as possible. There are numerous ways to get involved through their website. You can take action in your own backyard by patrolling the river and monitoring water quality, or maybe you’ll get the opportunity to tag and track Atlantic Sturgeon with VCU researchers. Sign up for their email newsletter to get the most recent updates on volunteer programs and outreach events, but you don’t have to wait; you can start doing your part right now. Even something as small as picking up litter can have an impact bigger than you know.

T Pott Bridge — T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge

Higher Achievement

Working with children is one of the most impactful ways you can improve your community. Manchester has a strong population of families with young children, and Higher Achievement’s after-school programs give middle school kids a space to learn, grow, and be themselves. Located at 100 Everett St. in Manchester, you don’t need any experience to join the Higher Achievement family and become a mentor for 6th to 8th grade scholars, guiding them through reading, writing, and critical thinking activities. Showing up just one day a week to spend time with these children, preparing them for high school and beyond, is such an enriching experience. With a wide range of mentors, spanning college students and retirees, you too can learn from the mentors around you and become a part of something greater than yourself.

As we say goodbye to 2025 and greet the rising sun of a new year, don’t forget to slow down and embrace every moment as it comes your way. 365 days fly by quickly, but when we ground ourselves in our community, every day becomes richer and more meaningful. Spending more time with friends or becoming an active part of your neighborhood shouldn’t be ephemeral resolutions; they should be tenets of our everyday lives. Manchester is home to families, businesses, morning routines, and evening hangouts. It’s a neighborhood that brings people closer together with every dog walk or midday lunch order, so don’t blink or you’ll miss out

Check out Venture Richmond’s holiday events page for more great ways to spend the season!

Holiday Events