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The Light That Never Went Out 

There is a spotlight still mounted in the rafters of 528 N. 2nd Street. It has been there since 1914. It has outlasted segregation, fire, the highway that cut Jackson Ward in two, and decades of silence. On the nights when the Hippodrome Theater fills up, that light...

Virginia’s New Marijuana Law: Everything You Need to Know

After years of legislative battles, vetoes, compromise negotiations, and numerous articles, Virginia finally has a roadmap for legal recreational marijuana sales. The state budget signed into law earlier this week establishes a regulated cannabis marketplace beginning...

Review | ‘As You Like It’ is Just How I Like It

If you’ve been reading these reviews for a while, you’ll notice I love me some context. Especially surrounding William Shakespeare’s plays. One of my favorite things about the existence of Richmond Shakespeare is that they’ve forced me to go back to the English Lit...

Fourth of July 2026 in Richmond: Fireworks, Festivals, and More

The best Fourth of July celebration in Richmond probably isn't the one with the biggest fireworks. It's the one where someone forgot the hot dog buns, the cooler is running low on ice, kids are chasing each other through sprinklers, and somebody insists they know a...

IllumiNATION Tells America’s Story on a Monumental Scale

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on coverage related to America’s 250th anniversary, including Richmond SailFest and IllumiNation. It's hard to impress people with just a building. Yet standing in front of the...

Blöthar: “GWAR Didn’t Change. The World Freakin Changed.”

Richmond metal band GWAR says the Secret Service contacted the group following a recent performance at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., that featured the mock execution of a Donald Trump effigy. Video of the performance, which showed band members...

A Richmond Birthday Party Went Viral Thanks to Smashing Pumpkins

In today’s episode of “Is This News?” A private birthday party in Richmond’s Carver District unexpectedly blew up on social media earlier this month. Ava’s 21st birthday, which seemed like just another low-key celebration, turned into a local headline when Richmond’s own rapper Nettspend showed up, joined by rising star Milesisbae—who we’ve had...

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Taking Andreas Addison on a Vampire Hunt 🧛

A trip to the Gun Hole to talk about misinformation and urban myths. October means two things: it's Halloween season and election season. The 2024 election has spread campaigns of misinformation, with panics about controlled hurricanes in Florida, Haitians eating dogs in Ohio, and even widespread voter fraud in Henrico—none of which are true....

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Taking Andreas Addison on a Vampire Hunt by Goad Gatsby_RVA Magazine 2024

Mutant Academy’s Moment Has Arrived, New Album Dropped Today

We've been tracking Mutant Academy's rise from the very beginning here at RVA Magazine, and today marks a significant milestone in Richmond’s music scene as the local hip-hop collective drops their long-anticipated debut album, Keep Holly Alive. And it’s a defining moment for a true "if you know, you know" group that has spent over a decade...

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Mutant Academy_Keep Holly Alive photo jack McKain_by R. Anthony Harris_RVA Magazine 2024

Missed It? the Gundam Base Mobile Tour Landed in Richmond!

Calling all mecha addicts! The Gundam Base Mobile USA Tour is traveling to various cities across the country to celebrate the remarkable 45th anniversary of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. Hosted by the Bandai Hobby US Team, this mobile pop-up event made a stop at HobbyTown Richmond, showcasing everything Gundam to honor the franchise's rich...

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Interview with Sailor Moon! Terri Hawkes Came to Richmond

If you were a child growing up in the mid to late nineties and loved anime, it is without question you would recognize Terri Hawkes’ iconic voice. Most well known as one of the original three voice actresses of Sailor Moon in the English language dub (Tracey Moore would be the first, leaving for creative differences, followed by Hawkes, and then...

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