LOTTERY WINNER OPENS RESTAURANT
Rick and Kristen Monahan of Poquoson wanted to share the wealth. In March, Rick learned that he had won $1 million in Virginia Lottery’s Powerball drawing.
At that point, Rick decided to get out of the construction business and “invest in our town here.” That investment takes the form of a new restaurant, R&R Seafood, which opened last week at 8 Victory Blvd. in Poquoson.
The restaurant specializes in crab cakes and other seafood. “Everything we use is fresh,” Monahan said.
The menu also includes Angus steaks, burgers and other traditional entrees and desserts.
Rick Monahan, a Woodbridge native, ran a similar seafood restaurant in Fredericksburg, but relocated seven years ago to Kristen’s hometown of Poquoson and opened a construction business.
R&R Seafood will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
For information: 757-8684200,
randrseafood.net.
Oyster Alley
A quick note to clear up some confusion for fans of the Oyster Alley restaurant on the ground floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Downtown Hampton: The restaurant is closed this summer, but the closure is not permanent.
The seafood restaurant is generally open seasonally — more or less from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Due to ongoing renovations at the hotel that would have significantly delayed the opening of Oyster Alley this summer, the decision was made for the restaurant to take the full summer off. A hotel administrator said Oyster Alley will open at its usual time in spring 2020.
Museum event
The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News will introduce a series of afterhours “mixers” starting on Thursday evening with “Sharks and Shandies.” The event will run from 5:308:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for nonmembers and $10 for members, and comes with four tasting tickets. Designated drivers get a $2 discount with no tasting tickets.
The museum suggests Hawaiian shirts and other beach attire for the mixer, which will feature shandies from local breweries — Sly Clyde, St. George, Capstan Bar and Tradition — and access to the popular Shark Zone exhibit.
Food will be provided by the museum’s Wild Side Cafe. Local singer-songwriter Caleb Folks will perform live music.
The museum is at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. For more information: 757-595-1900, thevlm.org.
Closed
Nacho Grande II on Taylor Road in the Western Branch section of Chesapeake has closed, barely four months after it opened. The Mexican restaurant, partner to the Nacho Grande on Hanbury Road in Chesapeake, had moved into a space occupied by another Mexican restaurant, La Tolteca.
Last week a hand-written sign on the front door read “Closed down.” The location on Hanbury Road remains open.