Meet this week's guest editor, Amanda Robinson! For over 20 years, Amanda has been a driving force in Richmond’s artistic community. She is the founder and former Executive & Artistic Director of Gallery5, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center in Richmond, where she curated hundreds of notable exhibitions between 2005 and 2012, earning numerous awards and recognitions. In 2008, she received the Theresa Pollak Award for “Art Innovator of the Year,” and in 2006, was the youngest recipient of Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Under her leadership, Gallery5 was consistently recognized by readers of Style Weekly and Richmond Magazine as “Best Art Gallery” and “Best Independent Art Gallery.”
Amanda returned to Gallery5 in 2023 to serve on the Executive Board and as its volunteer Creative Director. Since her return, she has launched new programs, collaborations, and exhibitions with fresh energy and vision. During her 10-year hiatus from Gallery5, Amanda founded—and continues to own and operate—Sweet Fix, a custom cake studio in Richmond. Her incredible cake creations have been featured on Food Network, Martha Stewart, Southern Living, and more.
Take it away, Amanda …
Stay Gold
On First Friday, April 4, Gallery5 and RVA Magazine will once again join forces to commemorate their joint 20-year anniversaries with a special Birthday Celebration and Block Party. The Stay Gold: 20 Years of RVA Magazine and Gallery5 event will transform the block around Gallery5 into a vibrant night market and festival of fire—curated by RVA Moon Market and the Party Liberation Foundation. It will also feature a full lineup of live musical performances and a collaborative 20-year retrospective exhibition and slideshow reflecting on two decades of Richmond’s artistic, cultural, and political movements, while highlighting both organizations’ origins and their shared commitment to enriching the city’s creative community. Featuring live performances by No BS! Brass Band, Sweet Potatoes, Gull and WRIR 97.3!
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will celebrate artist Frida Kahlo and her Mexican heritage with a free, fun-filled community event, ¡FridaFest! People of all ages are invited to enjoy live music, food and beverages, artist demonstrations, a photo booth, and more. The festivities will take place outdoors in the museum’s Robins Sculpture Garden and indoors in VMFA’s Cochrane Atrium. April 5 is also the opening day of the museum’s highly anticipated exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth, on display through September 28. Featuring live performances by: Bio Ritmo, Mariachi America RVA, Mexican Folk Jerocho, Miramar, and DJ Ray-Ray.
Vitals:
Frida: Beyond the Myth / Saturday, April 5 / 1 PM-7 PM / Free ($10-$20 for Exhibition Tickets) / VMFA, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Jonathan Brown Jr. Sings
Join Brambly Park for a memorable night with Jonathan Brown Jr., a talented artist known for his heartfelt, soulful performances. With a style that blends powerful vocals and compelling rhythms, Jonathan’s music connects deeply with his audience. His dynamic stage presence and unique sound promise an unforgettable evening.
Virago Alley is Amanda’s newest nonprofit, currently fundraising to renovate a brick-and-mortar space that will house traditional archery and fencing practice areas, along with workshop and limited studio space for historic artisans.
Its flagship initiative, the Richmond Renaissance Faire, launched on March 7 with a grassroots First Fridays fundraiser that drew over 5,000 attendees to the three blocks surrounding Gallery5. Amanda saw the local launch as an opportunity to build authentic partnerships and ensure that the community of artists and organizations has a voice in shaping the Faire’s foundation year.
The Richmond Renaissance Faire celebrates underrepresented historical art forms and global artisanship. Designed as a multicultural experience unlike any other Ren Faire in the U.S., it blends live demonstrations, performances, and merchant showcases from East Asian, Middle Eastern, Indigenous American, African, and European communities—all presented through the lens of 13th–17th century craftsmanship, with a distinct Richmond flair. Events will continue throughout 2025 in preparation for a full multi-day festival in 2026.
Meet this week's guest editor, Dale Fickett! A driving force in Richmond’s entrepreneurial landscape, Dale blends academia, innovation, and advocacy to create economic opportunities for aspiring business owners. As an entrepreneurship professor at the University of Richmond and president of RVA Works, he leads a Virginia-based nonprofit dedicated to breaking down financial and educational barriers to business ownership.
A recognized thought leader, Dale contributes to Forbes and advises the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, shaping policies that empower small businesses nationwide. His research spans entrepreneurial finance and developmental economics, with global collaborations that include Trinity College Dublin, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, and Northwestern University. He is currently exploring the transformative potential of AI and blockchain to increase access to small business credit.
Beyond academia and policy, Dale has firsthand experience as a founder in the retail sector and as a strategy consultant for Accenture’s European Financial Services practice. But his true passion lies in fatherhood and his missionary work in rural Haiti, where he continues to make a lasting impact on communities in need.
Take it away, Dale …
RVA Works
Let’s begin with RVA Works, a Richmond-based nonprofit dedicated to helping more people become business owners—particularly those facing social or economic barriers to entrepreneurship. RVA Works offers a range of educational, promotional, and financial support services designed to empower emerging founders. Since 2014, more than 100 new businesses have benefited from RVA Works’ programs, with alumni reporting an average 38% increase in annual income. The organization provides business training, network-building opportunities, and ongoing support to help entrepreneurs grow—regardless of their industry, revenue, or stage of development.
Connect and collaborate with Richmond’s entrepreneurial community. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, this is your chance to meet fellow founders, share ideas, and build valuable connections in a relaxed setting. Don't forget to bring your business cards and a friend or colleague who would love to join us at the HogsHead Cafe.
1 Million Cups (1MC) provides a supportive, inclusive space for entrepreneurs and the community to gather, connect, and grow. It’s a place where Richmonders can work through business challenges and discover new opportunities. These inspiring events offer a chance for local entrepreneurs to learn from one another within a thriving community of peer-founders. For the next event, register to join us as we spotlight an exciting new startup: Clique, a dating app that makes meeting new people safe and fun by connecting friend groups for group meetups. Combining the best of traditional dating apps with a social, safety-first approach, Clique recently took 1st place at Techstars Startup Weekend – Changemakers Richmond, hosted at the University of Richmond.
Vitals:
1 Million Cups: Clique / Wednesday, April 2 / 9:00 AM / University of Richmond, Robins School of Business, 102 UR Drive iLab - Room 123
More About 1MC.
The Richmond startup community has experienced significant progress over the past ten years, including growth in the number and quality of support services for innovators and entrepreneurs. This national program of the Kauffman Foundation has now expanded to help entrepreneurs in over 100 communities. With over 400 Richmond meetups, our region has received recognition as one of the most consistent support hubs for these founders.
1 Million Cups Richmond has now joined the range of public events hosted by the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond, and many emerging business owners have benefited from student assistance offered through the Spider Business Hub. Public events such as the Robins Executive Speaker Series, C-Suite Conversations, Techstars Startup Weekend Richmond, and 1 Million Cups draw innovative leaders, faculty, and students to discuss society’s most pressing challenges.
This week, we’re honored to welcome guest editor Kristin Harris, founder and CEO of Cancer Retreat Centers.
Pink ribbons have been a thread throughout Kristin’s story since childhood. Her mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer when Kristin was just four years old, and at age 24, she took on the role of caregiver when her mother was diagnosed with terminal metastatic disease. Just a few years later, Kristin herself became the fourth generation in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer—followed by a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer a few years after that.
Channeling both her personal and professional experiences, Kristin served as Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Central & Eastern Virginia before taking on her current leadership role at Cancer Retreat Centers. When she’s not working to create a new model of integrative cancer care, you’ll often find Kristin in one of Richmond’s beautiful parks or indulging in her latest hobby (or obsession): backyard gardening.
Known for her deep commitment to local nonprofits and community causes, Kristin brings that same spirit to Here this week, sharing her favorite ways to explore and celebrate the city we all love to call home.
Take it away, Kristin …
St. Patrick's Day in RVA
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in RVA with all your favorite leprechauns and fairies! Join us for the Church Hill Irish Festival this Saturday, 3/15, and Sunday, 3/16, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the corner of 25th Street and Broad in historic Church Hill for live local music, food vendors, craftspeople, Irish beverages, kids' games, Irish and Highland dance, and of course, bagpipers! A suggested donation of $5 will help support St. Patrick's Church and other local organizations, including ChildSavers, Richmond Hill, the Church Hill Association, Fulton Neighborhood Resource Center, St. John's Church, Chimborazo School, Bellevue School, Church Hill Boys and Girls Club, Saint Francis Home, Sandston USO, and the McShin Foundation. Don't forget to register for The Hill Topper 5K on Sunday at 9:00 a.m., with a scenic route through Libby Hill, Chimborazo, and Jefferson Parks. Sláinte!
With warmer weather and longer days comes the promise of spring flowers and summer gardens. Rediscover some of Richmond's most beloved public parks and gardens with a stroll through beautiful Byrd Park, Bryan Park, a Garden History Tour at Agecroft Hall, or even an adult Night Hike at Maymont (Fri, 3/14) to soak in the early sights and sounds of spring. Or step up your gardening game this season with one of these fun instructional classes at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: "Creating a Kitchen Garden" (Sat, 3/15), "Beginning Native Perennials for the Home Garden" (Sat, 3/15), or "Butterflies 101" (Sun, 3/16).
Tea for two (or more)? If you haven’t yet visited Floris, the newest tearoom at VMFA, to experience this delightful, decadent tea service, don’t wait another minute to make your reservation!
On Saturdays through Wednesdays, Floris’s robust, rotating menu—steeped in inspirations from VMFA’s collections as well as various tea-centric regions—features globally inspired dishes, freshly baked breads, and curated Virginia teas.
Take a midday escape and indulge in savory and sweet pleasures for the palate, including expertly crafted blends from guest tea makers. Chef Chainey Kuykendall’s use of fresh ingredients from local vendors and importers further enhances Floris’s celebration of cultures and community.
Vitals:
Floris at VMFA / Saturday–Wednesday, Signature tea service 11:30 AM–2:30 PM /
Á la carte 2:30–4 PM / 200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
More about Cancer Retreat Centers.
Something magical is happening here in Richmond. Over the past year, thanks to the support of many generous community sponsors and in partnership with the City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities, we have begun renovating the beloved 1920s historic mansion known as Blanton House, adjacent to beautiful Byrd Park, for use by our growing nonprofit, Cancer Retreat Centers.
Here, local cancer patients, survivors, their families, and caregivers can now find hope, healing, and a shared home—and members of our greater Richmond community can join in for CRC Community Wellness Retreats, designed for better health and chronic disease prevention—all at no cost to our participants. While the long-term goal of Cancer Retreat Centers is to build a network of facilities in multiple diverse venues, Blanton House is our first permanent location, offering convenient onsite parking and a large, open side yard—perfect for community-building activities and hosting weekly CRC Programs.
Visit CRC's website to learn more about Weekly Programs at Blanton House, including Mindfulness, Walking Groups, Music Therapy, Lunch Bunch Meetups, Book Club, Supper Club, and more! Follow along with the renovation and get all the latest CRC updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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