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A Holiday 2020 Small Biz Gift Guide

Melina | December 17, 2020

Topics: 2020, Aged & Infused, Christmas, Devi Arts Collective, Diaspora Co., Hanukkah, holiday shopping, Jini & Tonic, Na Nin, Richmond reproductive freedom project, Rosewood Clothing, small businesses

Looking for small businesses to support with your gifting dollars? Look no further — we’ve got what you need in this holiday gift guide.

As a longtime resident of Richmond and lifelong lover of style, I’ve been so fortunate to have spent the last few years surrounded by creatives of all types. Though I myself am a writer, I most admire people who can make real, tangible items like visual art or clothing.

Small businesses are all around us and while we should aim to support them year round, it can feel especially meaningful during the holidays as an opportunity to give unique and unusual presents. If you’re doing gifts this year, ditch the Amazon wishlist and opt to support one of these six independent shops instead. 

Because the first three businesses listed are locally based, I’ve had the chance to patronize them for years and never been disappointed. But I’m also one to appreciate new treasures and makers from throughout the world so the last three businesses are recent discoveries of mine from other parts of the U.S. (sparing everyone global shipping). I’ve thrown in the scores I would/have bought from each store for the people on my own list, keeping all suggestions at around $50 or less.

Jini & Tonic
(Instagram)

This entire guide was largely inspired by the “shop small” story on Jini & Tonic’s Instagram so it’s only fitting her pithy pins and prints are first on my own list. I’m a fundraiser for Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, so of course I’ve gifted and been given the safe and legal abortion pin ($10) before. But I also love the boooooobies tee ($50) and vintage vibes not vintage values pin ($10). 

Na Nin
(Instagram)

The earthy, balanced fragrances from Na Nin make me feel like a luxurious, high-class hippie. Cripple Creek ($20) is my personal go-to but as a gift, I suggest one of their Travel EDP Trio sets which contain 3 best selling scents for less than fifty bucks ($48 to be specific). For a bit more, spoil the polish lover in your life with the J. Hannah mini polish set ($50).

Rosewood Clothing
(Instagram)

Rosewood Clothing has the most charming gift for the smoker in your life; these Holly Francis pipes ($40), which at first glance could be mistaken for jewelry. For actual minimalist jewelry pieces, check out these hoops ($44), gold chain studs ($56), or simple chain ($36).

Aged & Infused
(Instagram)

Be your own craft bartender these holidays thanks to Aged and Infused’s kits ($25). These elegantly packaged mixtures contain ingredients which will liven up your spirits (alcohol and otherwise) with classic, nostalgic flavors like Rose Ceremony or Spike the Punch.

Diaspora Co.
(Instagram)

Diaspora Co. aims to decolonize the spice industry through its direct trade, single-origin business model. They offer quality, equitably-sourced individual spices great for stocking up your own pantry, but it’s their collaborations that really make unique gifts for foodies. Turmeric popcorn spice ($9) is perfect for home movie nights, while their date chai caramel is any sweet tooth’s dream. As a “home barista” these days, my personal favorite is the turmeric latte blend ($22).

Devi Arts Collective
(Instagram)

Devi Arts Collective uses recycled metals and ethically cut gems to create elegant jewelry at a variety of price points. They make it easy to give a personalized gift through their zodiac necklaces ($58-$68), or for something with a bit more color, try the birthstone necklace ($52-$72).

Behind The Suit: Santa Bob Brings Cheer To The River City

Noelle Abrahams | December 19, 2019

Topics: bob saintsing, Christmas, christmas events, community, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, Grand Illumination, holiday, Levar Stoney, richmond christmas, richmond events, richmond holiday, richmond va, RVA, santa, santa bob, things to do richmond va, Want It Framed, Winter Market at Main Street Station

Richmond’s Santa Bob isn’t your traditional Santa — and with in his delightfully down-to-earth personality, he makes Christmas extra-special for each child he meets.

Christmas season is upon us again, the so-called most wonderful time of the year. But for local professional Santa Claus Bob Saintsing, known as Santa Bob while on the job, it’s also the busiest time of the year — he’s probably suiting up as we speak, preparing for another breakfast with Santa or a private event.

Saintsing has only been in the Santa game for about four years, but he’s already been appointed as the City of Richmond’s official Santa Claus for its two main holiday ventures, at the Main Street Station and for the Grand Illumination. “It’s a big feather for the cap,” says Saintsing.

Last season, he worked the Winter Market at the Gallery of Main Street Station, standing alongside Mayor Levar Stoney at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the outdoor ice rink, and leading the marching band and dancing elf procession into the station. This is his first year as the Santa for Grand Illumination, since the City of Richmond is taking over the event in 2019 after The James Center hosted it for the past 34 years.

But Saintsing is more than a public figure — he’s a businessman. On his website, there’s a list of several different services you can book Santa Bob for, including private parties, personal photo ops, advertising, and even a FaceTime call with Santa for the youngsters. Santa Bob also offers a service called “Sneak-A-Peek at Santa,” in which he books a few home visits on the night of Christmas Eve, so that some lucky little ones in the Richmond area get the memorable experience of watching Santa Claus place their gifts under the tree and eat the cookies they left out for him.

“There’s a lot of money in advertising as a Santa,” says Saintsing. “But the aspect of the job that I really love is interacting with the children.” A lot of the conversations Santa Bob has had with the little ones over the years endearingly remind him of Art Linkletter’s famous House Party segment, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” Saintsing hates for the Santa experience to feel rushed.

Santa Bob by Joe Parker Photography

“I genuinely get a kick out of what they have to say, and I know it’s an important moment for them,” he says. “At so many places I’ve worked, I’ve been told ‘Santa, you’ve got to move it along,’ but I like to engage the child.”

This year is Santa Bob’s busiest season yet, to the extent that he had to order a third suit. “I’m a heavy perspire-er,” Saintsing laughs. “Say sweat and I’ll do it.” So the thick, heavy suits have to be washed after each use, and need at least two days to air dry — which means with only two suits, he’d be putting on a damp one anytime he has a third consecutive booking. So if you want to gauge how successful a pro Santa really is, ask him how many suits he owns, especially since a quality Santa suit ordered straight from a Hollywood outfitter can cost a couple thousand dollars. “I would love for it to become busier, so that I can order a fourth suit next year,” says Saintsing.

But around Halloween, before the holiday madness had begun, Saintsing was able to make time to grant RVA Mag an interview with Santa Claus. During the first 11 months of the year, he runs his own mobile custom picture framing service, called Want It Framed. Saintsing hopes to retire from that in the next few years, but having always said he’d work until the day he dies, Santa Bob is his retirement. His identity was unmistakable when he arrived for the interview looking exactly how one would imagine the real Santa Claus off-duty; a red sweater, a big ring emblazoned with “SC,” and a full white beard.

“I wear a lot of red now,” he says.

Saintsing’s beard, which he’s had for 45 years, is au-naturel at collarbone length, with threads of silvery and ashy grey running throughout. His opposition to bleaching it or donning a fake beard is an uncommon decision within the commercial Santa community, since the consensus seems to be that an authentic Santa’s beard is long and perfectly white. “There are some nice fake beards out there made of Yak hair that look real,” he says. “But if you look closely, you can still see that little bit of mesh glued to the skin, and that’s the kind of kid I was. I would look for things like that.”

For Santa Bob, it really is all about the children. When visiting with him, they don’t sit on his lap — they sit on a knee-height, retro chrome stool with a red cushion and bow. He’s only had one crier to date, and it was early in his Santa career. The tears were caused by the parent forcing the unwilling child to sit on Santa Bob’s lap for a picture. That incident spurred the use of the stool. “I’ve never had a child decline to sit on it,” he says. “I think it’s better for everyone that way, including me.”

Santa Bob doesn’t put on too much of a theatrical persona either. He talks to the children in his regular voice, and doesn’t pretend to be 475 years old or have magical powers. “I put on the suit, but my message and the conversation isn’t an act,” says Saintsing. “And I’ve never been a fan of walking into a room and bellowing ‘HO, HO, HO!’ as loudly as possible. It can be frightening.”

But Santa Bob’s most unorthodox characteristic of all might be his honesty. “When you’re telling them one lie after another, you’re playing a game with their minds,” Saintsing says. “I’ll stretch the truth, but I don’t like to lie.” With Richmond being a relatively small city, he’s had encounters as Santa with children that had seen him around as just Bob. He tells them “Yes, that was me, I live right here in Virginia and only work in the North Pole. It’s too cold for me up there.” Saintsing was once confronted on the stool by a child that somehow knew of his daughter, and was baffled by how Santa could possibly be a father. He told the child, “There’s not just one Santa, because no one lives for 400 years. Every now and then Santa has to retire and a new one takes over.”

When confronted with the inevitable young skeptic, Saintsing also handles that difficult discussion with honesty. He says to the older ones, “Look, we all know there’s no Santa, don’t we? But do you know who the real Santa Claus was?”

When they say no, he gives them a brief history on Saint Nicholas and how he evolved to become Santa Claus, then asks them if they like how it feels to give gifts. They’ve always answered yes, so he leaves them with the sentiment “That’s what Santa is all about. He’s just a symbol of giving. But promise me you won’t ruin it for the younger ones.”

Saintsing goes against the grain of traditional Santa behavior in a handful of ways, because he cares more about the child’s experience than staying true to a formula — even though he is a graduate of formal Christmas college, and an active member in local and online Santa communities.

Yes, Christmas college exists, but it isn’t as absurd as it sounds. It’s an annual 3-4 day summit for professional Santas and Mrs. Clauses where issues and difficult circumstances that could potentially arise on the job are discussed, in order to crowdsource solutions and suggestions. “You hear a lot of war stories,” says Saintsing.

Saintsing graduated from the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in 2018. Located in Michigan and established by a Macy’s Santa, it’s known as “the Harvard of Christmas colleges.” He’s a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, which mostly serves as a resource for tips and tricks on how to maintain a quality Santa beard. He also participates in the state’s chapter of Virginia Santas, attending luncheons and events.

One of the most common topics of discussion at these meetings and luncheons is how to deal with the scenario when a child tells you something deeply disturbing, illegal, or dangerous that’s going on in their lives. “Children confide in Santa,” he says. “He’s seen as someone trustworthy.” It hasn’t happened to Santa Bob yet, and he’s not entirely sure how he’ll deal with it if it does. “I keep saying ‘if it happens,’ but other Santas tell me that no, it’s not ‘if’, it’s ‘when’ it happens.”

So far, the most upsetting and difficult questions he’s gotten from children are the ones that expose the underlying socio-economic reality of Christmas. He’s been asked things like “Why does Billy get all of this stuff for Christmas and I don’t?” Saintsing still doesn’t know how to best answer that one, but he takes a page out of his own book and tries to address it with some honesty. He usually says, “Well, two of Santa’s most valuable helpers are your parents. There are things that your parents don’t want us to bring you, and there are things they don’t feel that you’re old or responsible enough for yet.”

Despite being such a natural at it, Saintsing never once considered becoming a Santa until a chance encounter in a restaurant. A few years ago, after his wife and daughter had convinced him to grow out his beard, which he’d previously kept cropped closely, a little boy was leaving the restaurant where Saintsing was eating with his family. The child locked eyes with him and was smiling but visibly shaking as he walked by. A few moments later, the family returned to the row of booths and approached Saintsing. The mom translated the boy’s nervously garbled speech, “He wants to know if you’re Santa Claus.” He knows it sounds like it’s straight from a Hallmark movie, but it’s the truth.

Saintsing admits that before that experience, he had never been much of Christmas fan. “I believed in Santa when I was little, but I found out he wasn’t real during a tumultuous period in my family’s life, so I think I resented Christmas from then on,” he says. After his daughter was born, his Christmas spirit was revived and he climbed a 35-foot step ladder to decorate the holiday tree. But as his daughter got older and stopped believing in Santa, the number of lights dwindled. In those last few years before he became Santa Bob, he hadn’t put any Christmas lights up at all… but that little boy in the restaurant altered the course of his future. He turned to his wife right after it happened, and said, “You know, I think Santa’s going to be a part of my life.”

Saintsing would like to become a year-round Santa in retirement, possibly sporting Hawaiian shirts with his beard and red hat. Apparently Santa work can be quite lucrative; Saintsing says that somewhere, there is a year-round Santa — and the community won’t divulge who or where he is — who made $150,000 last year. While the salary would certainly be nice, Saintsing would just like to live comfortably. He doesn’t want to become invested in money and lose sight of Santa’s message.

Recently, a friend of his daughter’s who now works in Chesterfield County Public Schools contacted him about visiting her school, but didn’t think they could afford Santa Bob’s rates. “As a knee-jerk response, I told her not to worry about it and that I’d halve the rates,” says Saintsing. But he woke up the next morning shocked by what he had said.

“‘I thought ‘Where did that come from?’ This is about a school, and one with a lot of underprivileged students.” So, he sent her another email waiving the hourly rate entirely. “I was stuck in business mode, and to me, that’s a sign of getting in too deep,” he says. “Santa is all about giving.”

To catch up with Santa Bob and learn more about his Santa services, check out his website and contact him here — and don’t forget to find your holiday cheer this year.

Krampusnacht Makes Christmas As Creepy As Possible

Noelle Abrahams | December 12, 2019

Topics: Carytown, Christmas, events in richmond va, events near me this weekend, events richmond va, holiday events, Krampus, Krampusnacht, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, rva events, things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va, xmas

This year’s Krampusnacht walk through Carytown brought the evil folklore of Europe to the River City for the seventh year in a row.

Christmas, but make it creepy.

That’s the vibe channeled by RVA Krampusnacht when their parade of horned, demonic elves and Santas, and other sinister-looking Yuletide monsters takes over the streets of Carytown for one night every holiday season. After sundown on Saturday, December 7, the dark side of Christmas folklore was brought to life once again for the 7th Annual RVA Krampusnacht Carytown Walk.

Photo by Noelle Abrahams

Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic creature said to be half-goat, half-demon, and is best known for his role working alongside Saint Nicholas in the Yuletide folklore of Alpine Europe. While Saint Nicholas rewarded the good children with gifts, Krampus accompanied him to beat the bratty ones with his wooden switches, or bag them up in a burlap sack and take them to the woods, never to be seen again. It’s a bit more intense than our modern lore of Santa Claus and his lumps of coal for the naughty list.

The tradition of the Krampuslauf (English: Krampus Run) still takes place in most Alpine towns on December 5, the Eve of Saint Nicholas Day. RVA Krampusnacht co-founders Parker Galore and Nicole Pisaniello were captivated by the tradition and decided to bring it to Richmond in 2013, and Galore said the turnout grows each year.

Attendees Tara and Shaun traveled all the way from Charlottesville for the RVA Krampus Walk, and have done so for the past few years. “We get so caught up in the commercial part of Christmas — this is way more fun. And we need to give a nod to the bad kids too, right?” said Tara.

Photo by Noelle Abrahams

Major cities across the U.S. have also adopted Krampus traditions, such as Portland, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

“It’s spreading,” said Galore. “Krampus is an icon we’re going to start seeing reincorporated into our Yuletide celebrations.” With a Krampus movie that came to theaters in 2015, Krampus does seem to be making its way, slowly but surely, into mainstream American holiday culture.

But plenty are still unaware of the Krampus legend, especially judging by the countless stares, jaw drops, and confused laughter of people that happened to be in Carytown on the night of the Krampus Walk and had no knowledge of the event. But for the Krampus walkers, the bewilderment of unintentional spectators is one of the best parts.

“It’s fun to see all of the shock and confusion from people who don’t know what it is,” said Adrienne, a participant who walked in last year’s RVA Krampus Walk as well. “They’ll be driving by or sitting in windows of restaurants and just stare at us like, ‘What the hell is going on?’”

Galore noted that many people who currently follow the RVA Krampusnacht movement were once those confused, bewildered people dining in Carytown or passing through. Saint Nicholas leads the walk, and the angels that flank him on either side distribute handouts that inform on the legend and why Richmond has adopted it.

Photo by Noelle Abrahams

Those participating in the walk are reminded beforehand that they should not physically interact with anyone on the sidewalk, but they are encouraged to scare people gently. When the monsters needed to cross North Thompson Street from Ellwood Avenue, several took the opportunity to run through the traffic stopped at the red light and scare passengers through car windows.

In the seven years since the advent of the walk, RVA Krampusnacht has expanded to become a weekend-long event of Krampus festivities. On Friday, December 6, Gallery5 hosted RVA Krampusnacht’s “Yuletide Monsters”, with live music, DJs, a burlesque variety show, and a group art show featuring 25 artists. Before the walk on Saturday, they were back at Gallery5 for their RVA Krampusnacht Holidaze Market, featuring 14 local artists and vendors and a Krampus photobooth by Red Vein Army, the horror troupe behind the Red Vein Haunt in Ashland.

Sinisteria, another local horror troupe, brought their unique, demonic flavor to Carytown with their barbaric masks and costumes, heavy black makeup, icy white contact lenses, and the infamous woman on stilts, their co-founder Sabrina Elliotte. This was Sinisteria’s third year participating in the RVA Krampus Walk. 

Photo by Noelle Abrahams

Red Vein Army has been involved with the walk since its inception, their participants always recognizably cloaked in red. Along with RVA Krampusnacht, they’re sponsoring a toy drive this year in partnership with Scares That Care, a charitable organization for horror fans to help sick children and women fighting breast cancer.

After its success last year, Red Vein is returning with another Red Vein Haunted Christmas on this Friday and Saturday only, December 13 and 14. It’s at their Halloween haunt location, Hanover Vegetable Farm, and the theme this year is “Attack of the Killer Snowmen.” Krampus is sure to make an appearance as well, in case you missed him last weekend. 

If RVA Krampusnacht is news to you, and it’s good news, luckily you have a full year to acquire the most macabre ensemble of horns, wooden switches, and cowbells that you can bring together. Follow their Facebook page for a recap of this year, and news and information about next year’s Krampus Walk as it’s released.

Find more of Noelle Abrahams’ photos from the Carytown Krampusnacht Walk below.

Top Photo by Noelle Abrahams.

Richmond Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

Justin Mcclung | December 10, 2019

Topics: Christmas, holidays, theater, Things to do in Ricmond, things to do in RVA

Choreography by Stoner Winslett
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

This season marks Artistic Director Stoner Winslett’s 40th time staging her continually evolving, acclaimed version of The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky’s familiar music whisks both Clara and audiences alike on an extraordinary journey, from a battle beneath the branches of a magical Christmas tree, through an enchanted snowy forest, to the Kingdom of Sweets. With its colorful sets, fanciful costumes, and beloved characters, such as the Russian Bear and Arabian Snake, The Nutcracker continues to charm generations.

Holiday Dreams! A Spectacular Holiday Cirque!

Justin Mcclung | December 10, 2019

Topics: altria, Christmas, holidays, RVA, Things to do in Ricmond, things to do in RVA

Holiday Dreams, A Spectacular Holiday Cirque!
Holograms, projection mapping, interactive lasers and award-wining cirque artists all come together under the most spectacular holiday production show in the world! Holiday Dreams presents a jaw-dropping, modern holiday show featuring cirque artists, comedy, daredevils and a modern soundtrack.

The Story
Holiday Dreams is a holiday show unlike any other. The story centers around two characters: one who is going to tell a wonderful Christmas story and the other, a Grinch-like heckler from the audience who is at the “wrong show.” Jaded and cynical, our whimsical heckler is taken into a journey around the beauty and wonder of the Holiday Season, represented in all its glory with the use of projection mapping–a technique of projecting computer images as seen by audiences in television shows like America’s Got Talent. Holiday Dreams also features holograms, where elements seem to appear and disappear from thin air and interactive Lasers. An incredibly diverse and talented cast of acrobats, cirque performers, musical comedy actors and daredevils round out this truly unique and modern show.

About the Show
Holiday Dreams is not your average holiday show! It harnesses the magic of Christmas to create an awesome holiday spectacle, using projection mapping, and hologram technology to create a truly unique show. The story is elegant in its simplicity and designed to be followed by audiences of all ages.

GRITTY CITY IS 4 THE KIDS

Caley Sturgill | December 18, 2018

Topics: Christmas, events, Gritty City Records

Gritty City Records presents

GRITTY CITY IS 4 THE KIDS

starring…

GRITTY CITY
NICKELUS F
NOAH-O
JOEY GALLO
BLACK LIQUID
BIG KAHUNA OG
GRAYMATTER
YOUNG FLEXICO
SEGGA SPICCOLI
BANDOLERO
REPPA TON
ANT THE SYMBOL
ILLATUNGS
EDISON AV.
PROFOUND79
SHAWN MIKE

MUSIC BY ELLIOTT NESS

HOSTED BY BEEN OFFICIAL

DOORS @ 7:30pm

SHOW @ 8pm

DEC. 20TH @ THE CAMEL

$10

*all proceeds benefit PUNKS FOR PRESENTS

**flier by Jarred Barr

***tickets sold here
https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/mobile/index/1793534?utm_medium=bks

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