New gig: Chef Patrick Willis was sous chef at Lemaire at the Jefferson Hotel for four years under executive chef Walter Bundy. With Bundy moving on to open his own place, Willis is stepping up to the position.
Openings: Manchester’s Urban Farmhouse, at 1200 Semmes Ave., is now open for business, as is Duck Donuts in Short Pump at 2437 Old Brick Road. … Virginia Commonwealth University students now have another option: Hibachi Box opened the doors of the old Stuffy’s Subs space at 411 N. Harrison St. … You can pick from among 60 choices to top off that container at Grumpy Growlers, located at 12044 Southshore Pointe Road in Midlothian. … Chef Carlos Silva, formerly of Bistro 27 and Max’s on Broad, among other places, will open a coffee shop located inside the Altria Theater at 6 N. Laurel St. at the end of the month. The 1927 Cafe & Bakery will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and serve coffee from Charlottesville’s Greenberry’s Coffee Co., along with pastries and light fare from Silva. The plan is for the cafe to function as both a full-blown coffee shop and another option for the theater’s attendees.
Happenings: Fill up on rizek — breadcrumb-rolled pork or chicken cutlets similar to schnitzel — and Czech beer on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 5 p.m. at Cask Cafe & Market at 206 S. Robinson St. thecaskrva.com. … Mott Gallery’s members show, “Untitled,” opens Saturday, Jan. 23, 6-9 p.m. The gallery and coffee shop also has extended its hours and serves drinks now from Thursday-Saturday. mottgallery.com.