vol. 140 / work songs

vol. 140 / Work Songs ⚒️

VOL. 140 / WORK SONGS

Meet Matt Johnson, this week's guest editor! Matt has been a Pentagon policymaker, mathematician, corporate change agent, frontman of a punk rock band, and author. While his road through life is certainly winding, at his core he's just a storyteller from Iowa trying to leave this place better than he found it. Matt's first book, American Hearts, is a collection of essays to help us better understand the American Spirit. His second book, Work Songs, is based on the idea that for as long as we've had language, we've had music for the work we do. But modern work has no song, and that's why Matt wrote his recent collection of stories about work that we must not forget. When he's not writing and inspiring RVA through his own work, Matt likes to explore and celebrate this place we all love to call home! Read on for his three tips ...

Walk

a Historic Cemetery

Richmond's cemeteries really can offer limitless perspective during the most stressful and hectic times in life. The walking triggers the physiological healing our bodies need, and the collage of epitaphs can stretch the mind and heart. I'd recommend Hollywood, Evergreen and East End Cemetery, and encourage you to stop and read the gravestones out loud as you walk. Your words will give new life to their legacy and their words might influence yours.

Vitals:

East End Cemetery / Evergreen Cemetery / Hollywood Cemetery

Head to

the River

From where I sit, the James River Park System is unmatched. I grew up on the Mississippi, but the weaving trails along the banks and seemingly infinite swimming holes here in Richmond make this the best river experience of any town I know. We may be in the heart of winter, but nothing compares to staring across the James as a nearby train roars by. And if you'd like some company, the Friends of James River Park maintains a 2021 calendar of events filled with organized hikes, educational opportunities, and ways to get involved with improvements to the Park.

Vitals:

New Year, New Love for the Park / Become a Friend of the Park

Harrison St.

Cafe

This might seem like a curveball in the mix, but as a vegan who has eaten at dives and off-the-grid spots across the world, Harrison Street Cafe is my favorite. The menu is entirely vegetarian, and while they are not destined for a James Beard Award or Michelin Star, there is something magical in the spirit and ethos of this place. The food tastes great, and the ambiance offers a gateway into a time gone by. Limited hours M-F during the pandemic. Order online or by phone for contactless pickup. And whether it's Harrison St. Cafe or another local spot, remember to show some love to our locally owned, independent restaurants this winter.

Vitals:

Sidewalk pickup ordering / 402 N. Harrison St. / Harrison St. Cafe

For as long as we’ve had language, we’ve had songs for the work we do. Whether it’s sea shanties bellowed defiantly against gale-force winds, field songs sung under blistering sun, or industrial folk set to the rhythm of the machines that run, work songs helped our ancestors fight boredom, find meaning, build connections, and survive. But modern work has no song.

There are no hymns to sing in the offices, factories, fields, shops, and restaurants where we work today. We let the music die, and we did it when we needed it the most. And that’s what this book is all about. This is a collection of stories by Richmond author Matt Johnson about work that we cannot let die. Stories that could be our songs.

SHOP HERE

Richmondclaire prendergastJanuary 7, 2021see, go, eat