COMMUNITY




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Richmond Gets Weird (Again) with a Mrs. Roper Romp

There’s a good chance you’ve seen the photos: packs of people in flowing kaftans, chunky jewelry, red wigs, and not a single damn given. These are the Mrs. Roper Romps—a growing national trend where folks gather to honor Helen Roper, the brilliantly nosy landlady...

Same Box, Different Day: A Love Letter to Beige

By Someone Who Remembers When Buildings Had Souls As reported by Richmond Bizsense yesterday, the Feed More building is gone, and in its place will rise another stack of rectangles pretending to be a home. The renderings are in, and boy, they sure did it. They...

It’s Still Our City | Ep. 8 Sure Hand Signs aka Ross Trimmer

“Ross is an incredible asset to this city. He’s helped small businesses stand out with that much-needed glow—always delivered with a sharp eye and a soft touch. He can make your coffee shop look classic or your record store look clean and intentional. He’ll knock out...

Peter Cochrane | Where the Image Hesitates and the Self Disappears

"You have to be delusional to be an artist." That’s how Peter Cochrane closes our conversation. We’re sitting across from each other in a quiet Richmond studio, the air thick with pollen and thought. The line lands not as a punchline but as a thesis offered without...

The Pressure to Mean Something: Inside the VCUarts’ MFA Exhibition

If you walk into the 2025 VCUarts MFA Thesis Exhibition expecting a finale or a big conclusion, prepare to encounter something else—something quieter and less resolved. A residue. A gesture mid-motion. An echo. When I walked into the opening reception on April 11, I...

New York Developer Eyes Massive High-Rise Project in Richmond

According to Richmond Bizsense, a new high-rise could soon reshape Richmond’s skyline as a mystery developer from New York considers building a 35-to-40-story mixed-use tower on a prime state-owned lot at 703 E. Main Street. The project, which would be among the tallest buildings in the city, reflects a growing wave of investment in downtown...

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It’s Still Our City | Ep. 5 Destructo Disk

"Destructo Disk, an alternative punk band originally from Winchester, VA, has quickly become a Richmond staple. It’s wild to think they’ve only been tearing it up here for a few years—they’ve covered serious ground in no time. If you haven’t checked them out yet, do yourself a favor. Their live shows are pure energy, and they know how to bring...

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The Richmond 34 Sat Down. What Are We Standing Up For?

Sixty-five years ago, a group of brave young Black Richmonders walked into a department store, sat down at a lunch counter, and refused to leave. That’s what they did. That’s what got them arrested. They just sat in a segregated space where their presence alone was considered a crime.  https://vimeo.com/9827740?share=copy That moment—the...

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Detroit 67 Is Ablaze at the Firehouse

I’ve given up on trying to write reviews of plays I see at the Firehouse Theatre immediately after leaving the show. Maybe I’m slow, but there is always so much to process that “sleeping on it” is the only way I’m going to unpack the turmoil they’ve left me with as I walk out the door.Detroit '67, currently showing, is no exception. The Firehouse...

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Hadad’s Lake to Be Auctioned in April, Starting bid $300,000

A longtime recreational and cultural landmark in Henrico County, Hadad’s Lake is set to be auctioned next month, signaling the possible end of its nearly 60-year legacy. Established in 1965 by Ronald Hadad Sr. and his father, the lake became a beloved local destination, offering a natural-bottom swimming pool, fishing...

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Letter To The Editor | Art Thrives in a Free and Open Society

Merenda Cecelia, a Richmond-based artist and instructor, was recently dismissed from her teaching position at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) after reading a statement aloud in class. She describes the statement as a personal expression of artistic and academic freedom, which led to the termination of her contract just three days later....

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