DOWNTOWN RVA




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Sound Check | Spooky Cool, Weedeater, The Be-Sides & More!

Sun’s up, we ain’t dead yet. Plenty of good stuff on the bills -- your favorites, my favorites, maybe even your next favorite. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com....

OP-ED | Richmond’s Stages Are Worth the Investment

Why federal arts funding keeps the city’s creative economy alive. by Catie-Reagan King, Ed.D. On any given weekend in Richmond, you can find a stage lit up with stories, some bold and provocative, others warm and familiar. Whether it’s a world premiere at Firehouse...

Protest or Parade, Richmond Likes to Get ‘Fancy’

For the Richmond we know, “fancy” doesn’t belong to the country club set. It doesn’t sip cocktails under chandeliers or care much about matching buttons. Here, fancy has dirt on its boots and glitter in its hair. It shows up to a protest in drag. It haunts the streets...

Get JURASS-ic to Science on Tap! Dino Night

Drink like a grown-up. Wonder like a kid. No children, no judgment, just dinosaurs. Ah, dinosaurs. We never outgrow them. They’re the original fascination and the gateway drug into the natural world. When we were kids, they were terrifying and magical. Now? They’re...

It’s Still Our City | Ep. 12 Hotspit

“This interview was a blast. You know it’s a good one when even the editing (work) is fun. Join us in this episode as we discuss the creation of this wonderful band, their goals, and the process of building the perfect lineup (it’s tough), Crayola House and unwanted...

Adventure Time! A James River Treasure Hunt Solved

Let's start of the week with a feel good story from CBS6 that we hope encourages more people to do stuff like this around town. Meet John Bryan, a Richmond resident since 1981. The James River has held a special place in his heart ever since he stumbled upon this awe-inspiring natural gem shortly after relocating to the city. Bryan's love for the...

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John Bryan treasure hunt 2024

Guns, Gambling, Vaccines & More: MLK Day in Richmond

Martin Luther King Day at the Virginia Capitol featured groups lobbying to get the attention of elected officials about their various causes. The Virginia Citizen Defense League holds their annual event with hundreds of their members showing up. The VCDL is like the NRA with gun rights lobbying but confined to Virginia. The attendance...

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day aka Lobby Day 2024 by Goad Gatsby

RVA Meals Tax Fiasco: A 5-Part Tragic Opera

Hope you had a great holiday and the New Year is off to a great start! This week’s news has been dominated by one major topic and it’s so important we are breaking it down in a free-to-all-readers, five-part story sadly worthy of a tragic opera.  More from Jon Baliles and his 5x5 Substack HERESTORY #1 — Act I: PrologueStarting about 25 years ago,...

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RVA Meals Tax Fiasco: A 5-Part Tragic Opera by Jon Baliles 2024

You Voted! Here Are Richmond’s Favorites Things in 2023

We asked and you responded with thousands of votes cast over 10 days. Thank you. Now, without further delay, we present the results of the Favorite Things Reader’s Poll 2023. Or before you jump in, you can take a look back at last year's results HERE. 👋 Also, if you would like to partner with us, we are currently offering advertising at 50% off...

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reader's-poll-2023-results

Richmond The Rudolph Killer

Originally posted on Jon Balie's RVA 5x5 Substack, which you can follow HERE.The Dominion Energy Richmond Christmas Parade is a fun, annual rite for many; not as well-known as some other parades, perhaps, but it is still a fun morning filling up and filing down Broad Street from the Science Museum to Downtown.  Except for 2010.  In the lead...

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Rudolph Balloon Christmas Parade Tragedy Richmond 2010

The 2023 Richmond ‘Drinksgiving’ Dive Bars List is Here!

Once more, the city gears up for its most cherished pre-Thanksgiving tradition: Drinksgiving. As the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving rolls in, locals gather to sip and speculate over life's puzzles, arming themselves with witty retorts for the family festivities ahead. To those in the service industry, this night reigns supreme as the...

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richmond drinksgiving 2023

#DOWNTOWNRVA: Meet John, Traveler from South Carolina

We dispatched our hometown photographer, CJ Payne, to the heart of the city to capture a snapshot and engage in some casual conversation. Consider it our local twist on the acclaimed Humans of New York series that we hold in high regard. Our aim is to foster a sense of community and encourage our readers to deepen their connections with their...

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#downtownrva John Edward Johnson RVA Mag 2023