COMMUNITY

Review | ‘Confederates’ Doesn’t Let Anyone Off Easy

by Christian Detres | HISTORY, JUSTICE, PERFORMING ARTS

“Oh, I’m going to have a field day with this.” These were my exact words to friend and artist Kyle Epps as I got up from my seat at Firehouse Theatre Saturday night. As we shuffled out of the theatre into the lobby, I took inventory of the stack of insights Dominique...

How a Charlottesville Surgeon Found Purpose in Ukraine

Every morning at 9 a.m. in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, the world stops. Cars freeze in the streets, trams halt mid-track, and pedestrians stand silent as the national anthem plays. It lasts a minute, a ritual pause to remember the dead and remind the living what they’re...

Writer’s Block | The Poetry of Mary Beth Cox

Writer’s Block is RVA Magazine’s Sunday series highlighting contemporary writers working in Richmond and across the Commonwealth. Each week, we feature original poems, short stories, or essays. Just real voices writing right now. This week we’re featuring two...

D(e)ad: A DIY Film That Laughed Its Way Past Hollywood Gatekeepers

Editor's Note: What makes D(e)ad a bit different isn’t just the story or performances, it’s the way it came together. 344% funded on Kickstarter with more than 5,000 backers, the film turned community support into momentum. After getting passed over by the big...

Virginia Hemp Industry Faces New Threat from McConnell’s Amendment

Editor’s Note: This story includes remarks from a national webinar hosted by the Hemp Industry & Farmers of America (HIFA) on Friday, November 8, 2025, before Senator Mitch McConnell’s hemp amendment was inserted into the government funding package over the...

How Richmond Is Rewriting the Story of Gun Violence — One Student at a Time

““There is no public safety without guns. If guns didn’t exist, yes,” said Ra-Twoine Fields. “But we live in America, where there are more guns than people. So no, there is no public safety without guns. What we can do is learn how to manage it, how to live with it...

Rama Duwaji: From VCU Arts to New York’s First Lady

This week, Zohran Mamdani won the race to become the next mayor of New York City in one of the nation’s most closely watched elections. A Democratic socialist who campaigned alongside Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew...

It’s Still Our City | Ep. 16 Mickael Broth aka The Night Owl

"Mickael Broth is an artist, muralist, sculptor, writer, father, husband, skateboarder, and climber, quite the talented bloke. He’s created hundreds of public works of art across the country and around the world. A recipient of the VMFA Professional Fellowship, his...

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New mural in Carytown at 3101 W. Cary Street, designed by Shepard Fairey for the People For the American Way Foundation. Painted by Brian Tull and Silly Genius. Photos by Landon Shroder Support RVA Magazine. Support Independent Media in Richmond. At a time when media...

Richmond’s Hipster Decade 2005–2015: And the Crown We Didn’t Ask For

By R. Anthony Harris

Richmond once got called one of the most hipster cities in America, number five in the country, number twenty in the world, apparently. Depending on your disposition, that either made you proud or made you roll your eyes so hard you risked permanent damage. The thing is, it wasn’t wrong. From 2005 to 2015, this city leaned into an identity it...

Jo Ellis Did Her Job. The Army Didn’t. 🏳️‍🌈

By Landon Shroder

This story was originally published in Virginia Pride Guide 2025. Virginia Pride Festival 2025 is presented with the support of Out RVA, Allianz, Hit Play, Virginia Lottery, CarMax, Bank of America, CoStar Group, Genworth, CapTech, and Bar West, with media support from Richmond...

Op-Ed | Why I Support Richmond Code Refresh and Upzoning

By RVA Staff

Editor’s note: This is an op-ed. The views belong to the author and not necessarily RVA Magazine. We publish opinion pieces to spark conversation, share perspectives, and give space to voices in our community. by Jacob Sherrod Richmond’s zoning code, the policies which govern what buildings can be built and where, is being rewritten as per a...

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Richmond Rallies to Find Francine, the Missing Lowe’s Cat

By RVA Staff

Francine, a well-known shop cat at Lowe’s in Richmond and a beloved fixture of the community, has gone missing, sparking a cross-state search effort. According to posts from staff and supporters, Francine disappeared on September 18 after walking onto a distribution truck bound for Garysburg, North Carolina. When the truck returned, warehouse...

Virginia Pride Festival 2025: Everything You Need to Know 🏳️‍🌈

By RVA Staff

Richmond will come alive with color, music, and community as Virginia Pride Fest 2025 takes over Midtown Green 2401 West Leigh Street on Saturday, September 27, from noon to 8 p.m. The day caps off more than a week of events organized by VA Pride to celebrate Richmond’s LGBTQ community, culminating in the state’s largest LGBTQ festival. Headlined...

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Richmond Groups Protest Brian Kilmeade Event at Dominion Energy Center

By RVA Staff

A coalition of Richmond-based groups is calling on ASM Richmond and the Dominion Energy Center to cancel an upcoming appearance by Fox News personality Brian Kilmeade, scheduled for Saturday, September 27. More information about the event HERE In a letter sent Tuesday to Glenn Major, general manager of the venue, 50501 Virginia and allied...

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Drag as Resistance: The Art and Activism of Qing Imzadi 🏳️‍🌈

By R. Anthony Harris

This article is part of the official Virginia Pride Festival Guide, released ahead of the celebration on Saturday, September 27. Presented with the support of Out RVA, Allianz, Hit Play, Virginia Lottery, CarMax, Bank of America, CoStar Group, Genworth, CapTech, and Bar West, with media support from Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond...