Erica Jackson Curran

Time Out

The 20 best restaurants in Richmond

From beloved local joints to buzzworthy new eateries, all the best restaurants in Richmond will surprise your taste buds

Like a Southern belle with neck tattoos and blue hair, Richmond, Virginia combines historic charm with a healthy dose of grit—and its food scene is no different. Don’t be surprised to find trailer park classics on fine dining menus or unassuming suburban spots serving stellar fare. The city is all about the element of surprise, and that’s never more apparent than when you’r...

Time Out

15 awesome things to do in Richmond

The capital of Virginia effortlessly blends the old and the new, as proven by our list of best things to do in Richmond
Richmond isn’t just a pit stop on the Civil War history tour anymore. The antebellum architecture and monuments to Confederate generals are still standing, but Virginia’s capital city also boasts a red-hot restaurant scene, over 30 craft breweries and distilleries, and a progressive design community. The mighty James River lies at the city’s heart, with an expansive park sys...

romper.com

Millennial Moms Want Bigger Families, But They Can't Afford It

That picture of a young woman in high-waisted jeans toting a baby on her hip isn’t just a stereotype. Most new moms today are millennials — at least 82 percent of them, according to Pew. And while more than a million millennials are joining the baby brigade each year, it’s hard to predict what their families will ultimately look like compared to previous generations. Many millennials would like bigger families… but say they cannot afford them.
Here’s what we do know: Women are spending more t...

The Washington Post

Miami Beach with a toddler? Believe it or not, it can be fun.

Visiting Miami Beach with a toddler can make even the coolest parents feel like uncouth outsiders. Many of the city’s lavish hotels, trendy restaurants and high-end boutiques aren’t exactly welcoming to unpredictable 2-year-olds — but that doesn’t mean families can’t enjoy this rowdy resort town, as I discovered on a recent visit with my own little wrecking ball.
As it turns out, Miami Beach’s famously festive vibe is a perfect fit for younger kids, and its flair for excess is just the thing ...

priceless.com

Take afternoon tea like a VIP at Sanctum Soho Hotel

Give a beloved English tradition a twist by having tea with friends at London's glamourous Sanctum Soho Hotel. Set in a pair of converted Georgian townhouses in the heart of trendy Soho, the boutique establishment boasts an inspired culinary crew for the on-site restaurant. The chef will offer up a vamped-up menu of dishes for you to enjoy, including truffle-marinated beef carpaccio, pastries, treats, and a selection of classic teas. After sipping and snacking, you'll head to the rooftop terr...

priceless.com

Taste a spectacular menu at 7 Islas Hotel's penthouse

Visit one of Madrid's most design-forward hotels for an unforgettable evening on July 27. After a few welcome snacks in the lobby bar, you and your friends will head up to 7 Islas Hotel's Kikekeller-designed penthouse, which features a spacious patio overlooking the city skyline. There, you'll indulge in a tasting menu prepared by chef Xabi Guitart, known for his work in Michelin-starred restaurants DiverXO and Kabuki. Savor your meal as a soundtrack of Spanish guitar and piano creates the pe...

Parents

4 Things You Need to Know About PCOS

Doctors are calling it an epidemic, and there's still so much we have to learn about what leads to a PCOS diagnosis.
You may have heard that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a leading cause of infertility (that impacts up to 10 percent of reproductive-age women) but you may not realize the medical community has a lot left to discover about the disorder.
Millions of women struggle daily with a PCOS diagnosis; symptoms typically range from abnormal menstrual cycles and irregular ovulation to...

Richmond.com

RVA Bar Fly: Comfort’s cocktail program gets the Dolly Parton treatment

There are a lot of shiny new restaurants in Richmond boasting trendy décor and creative menus. Comfort isn’t one of those places. Chef Jason Alley’s flagship eatery has anchored an increasingly busy corner of Broad Street since the turn of this century, and the menu of solid Southern staples has remained fairly constant for about 16 years.
But set aside the meatloaf and fried green tomatoes and worn wooden furnishings, and you’ll find that Comfort is exceptionally innovative for two major rea...

Parents

Do Bleach Pregnancy Tests Work?

The DIY pregnancy detector offers fast and easy results, but it may not be as reliable—or as safe—as traditional over-the-counter tests.
Whether you're actively trying to conceive or desperately hoping you're not pregnant, the two-week wait between ovulating and starting your period can feel like an eternity. Maybe that's why, rather than heading to the store to pick up a pregnancy test, some women dig under the kitchen sink for a common household ingredient that's been said to predict pregna...

The Washington Post

The Seven Cardinal Sins of Infertility

I’d never paid much attention to Kim Kardashian, but that all changed last summer when she opened up about her troubles getting pregnant. Suddenly Mrs. Kanye West and I briefly had something in common: We both desperately wanted a baby, but things weren’t going according to plan.

pastemagazine.com

24 Hours of Drinking in Richmond, Virginia :: Travel :: Features :: cocktails :: Paste

From craft coffee roasters and a moonshine distillery to a bevy of breweries, here’s how to drink your way through Virginia’s capital city in 24 hours.

Tripping

The Ideal Vacation Rental Home for Millennials, Boomers and Beyond

As more people decide they want to travel the world on their own terms, private vacation home rentals have become more popular than ever. From home-sharing sites to luxury vacation rentals, travelers of all ages are choosing to create a more customized approach to vacationing—and it’s shaking up the traditional hotel model.

cidercraftmag.com

Exploring the Hills and Valleys of Virginia’s Cider Trail

If you want to find craft cider in Virginia, all you have to do is follow the trail of the apples. For generations, the commonwealth’s orchards have been scattered along the peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains range, which extends from the northern tip of the state all the way to the North Carolina border. The region’s climate, soil and sunshine have helped apples thrive here for hundreds of years—so much so that the mountains were known as the “Apple Belt” in the early 1900s. And Virginia’s growing crop of cidermakers has taken notice.

romper.com

I Don't Have A Mom Tribe — And I'm Fine With It

I hear a lot about bonding between mom friends — the deep, heartfelt conversations over coffee and frantic late-night texts. I see pictures on Facebook of massive “mama tribes,” bosom buds since their buns were in the oven. But for me? That concept is as foreign as the idea of a full night’s sleep. I don't have a mom tribe, but honestly I'm fine with it.
When I was pregnant with my son, I thought the new friendships would blossom naturally. After all, th...

richmondmagazine.com

The 40-Week Flip

Dec. 10, 2015, was a pretty significant day in my life. In the morning, I slipped into a hospital gown and underwent my first fertility procedure. In the afternoon, my husband and I purchased our first investment property on Richmond’s North Side.
Over the course of the next 40 weeks, we restored the century-old foursquare to its former glory, while my belly — and our baby inside of it — grew to full term.
We were taking a gamble, using every last cent of our savings to attempt a flip when ou...