A Sunday series from RVA Magazine featuring writers from Richmond and Virginia 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...
“We need a little good trouble, don’t we?” Alan would say, his tall frame casting a shadow and that familiar twinkle in his eye. Farid Alan Schintzius passed away last Thursday, and I’ve been reflecting on the loss of someone I deeply admired. A true master of “good trouble,” he pulled me into plenty over the years, and I’m better for it. Despite...
For Richmonders, the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season—part spectacle, part tradition, and always a snapshot of the city as it really is. Once called Thalhimers' Toy Parade back in the ‘50s, it disappeared for 15 years before the Richmond Jaycees brought it back. Ukrop’s carried the torch for a...
The case of Dawn Marie Morris, a Louisa County resident and owner of the Charlottesville-based Higher Education smoke shop chain, highlights Virginia’s complex and often contradictory stance on drug laws. While Morris clearly broke the law—particularly by selling psilocybin mushrooms, a Schedule I controlled substance—the severe penalties she...
As winter grips Richmond, the city faces a stark moral and political dilemma. Recent events—the approval of a $2 million animal adoption center, the city deciding to no longer support overflow shelters for the homeless, and the vandalism of a community fridge—lay bare a troubling pattern: Richmond’s policies prioritize visibility and convenience...
Richmond’s Woodland Heights neighborhood is kicking off a brand-new tradition this Friday, December 6th, with the Woodland Heights Art Walk, an open house event that promises to bring the community together through creativity and connection. Running from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the walk features an array of local artists showcasing their talents in a...
Richmond has always been a city where music does more than just play in the background. For decades, heavy music has found its footing here, rising from packed clubs, DIY spaces, and warehouses. A part of that culture today is Another Round Bar & Grill, a modest spot on Brook Road in Lakeside that’s become a part of the city’s music ecosystem...
Next year marks 20 years of the magazine, a milestone that’s inspired us to reflect on the stories that, in hindsight, were not only significant for us but also played a role in shaping the diverse scenes and cultural pockets of Downtown Richmond. Many of these stories have never been shared online or were lost during our transitions between...
Sub Rosa Bakery, a cornerstone of Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, is closed indefinitely after a fire early last Sunday morning caused severe roof damage. The community has quickly mobilized to support the bakery’s recovery. A GoFundMe campaign launched shortly after the fire has already raised over $40,000 toward its $50,000 goal. Siblings...
This Black Friday, we’re throwing it back to RVA 2016 with a set shot for Shockoe Atelier by photographer Nick Davis, featuring Richmond rap legend Nickelus F. Let this be your reminder to shop local and support your community this weekend. Stay tuned—we’ll be catching up with owner Anthony Lupesco soon. In the meantime, you can learn more about...
