Get out there this weekend and celebrate the city we love to call home, your favorite greenspaces, and local business owners. Here are this week's handful of must-do ideas with infinite potential ...
Illuminating
Legacies
The The JXN Project is celebrating Jackson Ward’s 150th Anniversary this weekend at the "Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day" event. While pre-registration is sold out for guided tours, you can still celebrate one of the most important Black neighborhoods in the country as it turns 150. Head to the city's sixth ward on Saturday to check out dozens of live projections that will reveal the neighborhood's origin story through restorative truth-telling and redemptive storytelling. Though the trolly tours are booked, you can enjoy the projections by foot or bike and support Black-owned businesses across Jackson Ward. The JXN Project will honor this important anniversary of Jackson Ward by elevating and educating participants on the hidden histories of Jackson Ward as the "Birthplace of Black Entrepreneurship,” an often under-told and overlooked story when discussing the local origins of Black excellence and enterprise in the national narrative. Make sure to follow The JXN Project, created by Enjoli Moon and Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, after this weekend's event too, as the JXN journey will continue as part of a year-long sesquicentennial celebration with more interactive activities and activations across the community.
Be a part of The Valentine’s newest exhibition, Breathing Places: Park & Recreation in Richmond, opening at the museum on May 5 by submitting images of yourself, your family, or your friends enjoying greenspaces this weekend. The debut of Breathing Places comes on the heels of the Valentine welcoming visitors back to the museum with new outdoor programming, spring and summer events and more. “As residents and visitors alike begin to return downtown to enjoy many of the greenspaces they’ve missed for over a year, now is the ideal time to open this exhibition,” says Valentine Director Bill Martin. “Breathing Places is not only an opportunity to fully explore the history of parks and recreation, but to inspire visitors to experience these spaces for themselves while considering how we can improve community access going forward.” Breathing Places will include a slideshow of rotating images featuring community-submitted photos. Richmonders (both individuals and organizations) can share favorite images of greenspace in the Richmond region. It could be at a park, yard, field, or any little patch of green that brings you joy. Makes sure to tell The Valentine a little about your image and they will include it in a slideshow in the Breathing Places exhibit.
RVA's newest weekly vendor market has launched at The Diamond. Hosted by River City Festivals in the expansive parking lot in front of The Diamond, the market is socially distanced and features an impressive list of rotating vendors, artisans, craftspeople, and other local business owners. Oh and there's beer, wine, and food trucks too! Check out the growing list of participating vendors including woodworking, art, clothing, jewelry, beauty supplies, gifts for your pet (bring your dog with you), locally grown produce, nonprofits, and more. Come out and support your local, small businesses.
Vitals:
PopUp at The Diamond / Every Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm / New vendors every week
Celebrating Swansboro
Richmond artists Silly Genius, PT Carroll, Auz Miles, and Nadd Harvin of All City Art Club are putting the finishing touches on a new mural on the Bainbridge underpass in Swansboro this week. “As with every mural we’ve painted in Southside, the love the people of the neighborhood reminds us we’re on the right path,” says Silly Genius. Take a drive down Bainbridge to check out Richmond's latest mural collaboration celebrating community.
