CULTURE




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What Does Trust Look Like? Richmond Artists Offer an Answer

A 100-foot brick wall in Richmond’s Fan District now carries a word in bold ghost-sign lettering: RELIABILITY. Painted by local artists Noah Scalin and Alfonso Pérez Acosta, it’s the first in a four-part series of murals under the banner Trust Buildings,...

Sound Check | Yeison Landero, The Phlegms, Die Standing & More!

The return of cumbia in Richmond, alongside a whole bunch of other fun shows! Maybe cumbia never left Richmond and I just don’t know about it. That being said, got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com....

Fourth of July 2025 in Richmond: Fireworks, Festivals, and More

Some of the best Fourth of July celebrations in Richmond aren’t on any official list. They’re happening in backyards, driveways, and cul-de-sacs, surrounded by folding chairs, coolers, and whatever’s still working on the grill. If you’ve got good friends and a halfway...

Summer Wine Survival Kit | Refreshing Bottles for Under $20

The super-scorcher summer weather is here, and we are steadily melting in Richmond. For us, it’s way too hot for full-bodied, tannic red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, and Shiraz. We need to feel hydrated and refreshed, not bogged down further by...

VHS Club | Children Of Men

“Look around you, this is the uprising.”  When Children of Men was released in 2006, it flopped. It had nothing to do with the filmmaking. Visually, this is one of the most striking films of the last two decades. It flopped because the story was too real. The politics...

Review | The Bun is in the Oven—Waitress at VA Rep

On stage and in the kitchen, some recipes are meant to be followed to the letter, while some are wide open for flair and interpretation. Big Broadway musicals thrive on delivering an experience as replicable as a chain restaurant’s marquee burger. This is not a dig....

Sound Check | Say She She, Strawberry Moon, NO BS! Brass, & More!

Every day we grow the good name of Richmond music. Slowly but surely, we’re taking our place on the nation’s grand stage, showing the rest of the country what we have to offer in nearly every genre. This week’s shows are a continual testament to that fact. Got a show...

Review | ‘SMOKE’ at Firehouse, Fire in my Belly.

Once again, a trip to the Firehouse Theatre has found a way to send me home with a boiling pit of emotions churning in my gut and fiery rants on the tips of my fingers. Art is made to provoke, not to placate, and this is what I signed up for. SMOKE, the current exhibition taunting audiences at the corner of Lombardy and Broad, was produced by...

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Smoke-Cadence-Theatre-Company_photo-by-Michael-Thibodeau_RVA-Magazine-2025

Sound Check! Dogpark! The Menzingers! Destructo Disk! & More!

Keep sending me songs! Keep sending me shows! I love music! I love being alive! I love Richmond! Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. Friday Cheers | Dogpark, Weekend Plans, Caroline VainFriday, May 23rd, 2025Brown's Island https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ikhW1j1i8 NYC’s...

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Dog Park_RVA Magazine 2025

Mayo Island to Become Richmond’s Next Great Public Park by 2026

As reported by The Richmonder last week, the city is moving forward with plans to transform Mayo Island into a public park, with construction expected to begin later this year and the park scheduled to open in fall 2026. The 15-acre island, located in the James River between downtown and Manchester, was purchased by the city in 2024 for $15...

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Mayo-Island-Park_RVA-Magazine-2025

Richmond Ranks #13 for Summer Travel, But Locals Already Know

So we made another list. WalletHub just released its 2025 rankings for Best Summer Travel Destinations, and Richmond came in at number 13. Not bad, considering we’re usually flying under the radar when it comes to national travel lists. Still, if you’ve been paying attention, this probably won’t come as much of a surprise. Richmond’s been quietly...

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ichmond-Summer-Destination-Ranking_photo-by-James-McDonald_RVA-Magazine-2025

Sound Check! MJ Lenderman! Upchuck! Imaginary Sons! & More!

This week has me chomping at the bit and howling at the moon. Some heavy hitters are rolling through Richmond—artists who’ve already left a mark on the scene. Time to meet your heroes. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. MJ Lenderman & the Wind, This is LoreleiMonday, May...

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Upchuck_photo by Cory-Jones_RVA Magazine 2025

Sound Check! Bully! Human Worm! Boston Manor! & More!

I believe a bunch of bands from Richmond have it in ‘em to drive off into the future, and I see a few of that lot on these shows right here. I can’t wait to say, “I saw so-and-so at Bandito’s, and now they’re headlining Coachella!” Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at griffin@rvamag.com. FRIDAY...

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Bully-photo by Bobbi-Rich_RVA Magazine 2025