Monday night I got taken to a church of filth. The Pope of Trash, the Prince of Puke, the Sultan of Sleaze, John Waters, graced the Byrd Theatre for a sold-out one-man show. The actor, writer and director became famous for cult classics like Pink Flamingos, Hairspray...
Editor’s Note: This article reflects on United Blood’s return back in April 2025 and is a preview of what is in store for 2026. Words and photos by Cristian Espinoza The sleeping giant walks the earth again. After a five-year hiatus, United Blood returned to Richmond, Virginia with a heavy barrage of cutthroat sonics. The once-annual festival was...
Editor's note: In December 2025, the The Joint Commission on the Future of Cannabis Sales wrapped its final public meeting on the future marketplace. This interview with Eric Spencer happened at a CSBA meetup at Bingo Beer Co. in Richmond. Eric Spencer said it plainly. “And you are meeting, for probably the first time in your life, somebody who...
For a lot of people, MTV wasn’t background noise. It was the place where you learned what music looked like. You didn’t just hear a song, you watched it. Whole afternoons vanished in front of the TV, waiting to see what came on next. As of December 31, that era officially closed another door. MTV has shut down many of its remaining 24 hour music...
A group of Buddhist monks making a 2,300-mile trek across the United States for peace and compassion is expected to pass through Richmond this February as part of their “Walk for Peace” pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., a journey drawing attention from social media followers and local onlookers alike. The walk, organized by...
Richmond has its own way of ringing in the New Year. A little backward glance, a little chaos, and just enough polish to feel intentional. You can lean into loud live shows, dress up for something splashy, or keep it simple with a solid drink and good company. However you want to do it, RVA has options that feel very Richmond. Here’s how to close...
Richmond's Nettspend and Vans turned Laurel Skatepark into a canned food drive that was part skate scene, part community pull-up, built around a simple ask: bring something that helps someone else eat. For readers who may not know him yet, Nettspend is one of Richmond’s most visible breakout artists of the last few years. You can read about him...
As we close out the year, here’s a look at some of the most impactful stories we published in 2025. Over the past year, we covered Richmond as a living system under pressure, focusing on the people, culture, and policies that shape daily life and determine who gets held up or left behind. Thank you to everyone who read, shared, challenged us, and...
President Donald Trump signed an executive order today moving marijuana out of the federal government’s most restrictive drug category, formally acknowledging that cannabis has medical value and a lower potential for abuse than previously recognized. The order reclassifies marijuana from Schedule I, alongside heroin, to Schedule III, placing it...
A December 31, 2025 deadline could shutter hundreds of vape shops, raising questions about consolidation, equity, and who benefits from regulation. On December 31, most vape products currently sold in Virginia will become illegal to sell. Under a law passed by the Virginia General Assembly and signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, only nicotine and...
