In the Heat of the Night Vol. 12: Neon Love Letter

by | Aug 25, 2023 | COMMUNITY, MUSIC, NIGHTLIFE, PHOTOGRAPHY, QUEER RVA, STREETWEAR & SNEAKERS

Raise a Bingo Lager! to the electric pulse of our nightlife — a frenetic dance fueled by the characters that make our scene a hotbed of unadulterated fun.

Meet our photographer, Jody Adams, a fellow who’s been pounding the pavement after-hours for months, with his camera capturing all the nocturnal magic our town has to offer. There is a simple poetry that only comes alive when the sun goes down.

Last week’s nocturnal tour de force kicked off with a check-in at our brethren at Bingo! Beer Co. — that place with a line that’s more like a weekly street party. But he didn’t stop there, he glided through to snap the sartorially splendid at Helen’s, swapped stories with the night owls at En Su Boca, slipped into the embrace of the queer-friendly haven of Godfrey’s, and jammed with Sam Reed and her band of merry makers at Gallery5.

So here’s to the neon poetry of the night, and a city that resists the call of slumber, because, dear reader, why sleep when you’re living in a dream?

Feeling inspired to capture the rhythm of Richmond after dark? Reach out at hello@rvamag.com. We’re perpetually on the prowl for new visionaries who can encapsulate our city’s nocturnal essence.

JODY ADAMS

Jody Adams

Jody Adams

Capturing the vibrant soul of RVA through my lens as I bridge the gap between social anxiety and artistic pleasure. Passionate about nightlife, murals, and intimate portraits, with a special focus on culture and art. With a camera in my hands I have found my place in this life helping to simultaneously create and preserve lasting memories. I believe my work reflects a unique perspective, blending vulnerability and beauty in captivating imagery.




more in music

Meet The Richmond Filmmakers Behind Cosmic Echo

Get tickets to Cosmic Echo Live on September 13 here. Richmond has always been an incubator for greatness. In the past, it’s been primarily a springboard for our best and brightest to thrive elsewhere. In recent years, that tide has shiftted. Our reputation as a...

A Quick Guide For This Labor Day Weekend in Richmond

Labor Day weekend is here, and if your plan was to sit around doing absolutely nothing for four days, Richmond has other ideas. Here are ten things worth getting out of the house for this Labor Day weekend. Commonwealth Sound ExchangeThursday, Sept. 3 through...

For These Artists, PrideFest Is More Than Performance 🏳️‍🌈

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine is proud to partner with Virginia PrideFest, happening Saturday, September 12, and to produce the annual Pride Guide celebrating Richmond and Virginia’s LGBTQ+ community.  We’d also like to thank the following sponsors who made the 2026...

RVA Live Music | Destructo Disk, Wilt, Babe Lewis, Belly of the Heart

We’re talking Destructo Disk, we’re talking Gaffer, we’re talking Belly of the Heart, nothing but the best. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lmOQL32Ss8 Destructo...

Infinite Expansions: A Conversation with Lonnie Liston Smith

Exclusive Q&A with Lonnie Liston Smith below. Today was a good day. This very magazine’s Landon Shroder invited me to interview one of Richmond’s real living legends, jazz impresario Lonnie Liston Smith. On September 13, they will be screening selections from the...

What the Hell is VITCO? We Went to Find Out.

Editor’s Note: This story was produced in partnership with Virginia Transit Company (VITCO). There are few large-ish pieces of real estate in the city proper that have been more screaming for development than the fallow field bordered by Clay Street and Hermitage...