Meet this week's guest editor, Mateo Smith! A graphic designer with a passion for art and storytelling, Mateo grew up bilingual and immersed in American and Colombian cultures. His multicultural upbringing inspires his belief in design as a universal language that tells stories and sparks meaningful connections.
Mateo thrives on projects that celebrate cultural heritage and bring ideas to life. One of his favorite projects was designing the logo for Memi’s, an Egyptian-themed restaurant where he blended tradition with bold, modern design. For him, graphic design is about more than visuals—it’s about creating experiences and leaving lasting impressions.
Inspired by creative visionaries like Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci, Mateo strives to blend innovation with artistry in his work. A lifelong soccer fan, he admires Lionel Messi and still treasures the memory of the World Cup final. Driven by insatiable curiosity, he is constantly exploring new ideas about creativity, culture, and human connection.
Take it away, Mateo...
The Lab by Alchemy
After a holiday break, The Lab by Alchemy Coffee planned to re-open this week, but the current water issue throughout the City of Richmond is causing a delay. Once it's safe for them to open, they’ll feature a Maple Black Sesame Latte; a limited-time special crafted with their signature in-house syrups. Stay tuned to their socials for updates and start your year with a delicious and memorable cup of coffee; their unique flavors won’t be around forever!
Vitals:
The Lab by Alchemy / re-opening soon, date TBD / view menu / The Lab by Alchemy, 814 W Broad Street
Legend of the Poinsettia by the Latin Ballet of Virginia
As someone with Hispanic heritage, I deeply value events that celebrate Latin culture. Legend of the Poinsettia, performed by the Latin Ballet of Virginia and presented by Dominion Energy, is a heartwarming tale of love, hope, and the true spirit of giving. Inspired by a cherished Mexican legend, this vibrant production weaves together captivating dance, music, and storytelling to honor Latin American and Spanish holiday traditions.
Performance Dates:
Friday, January 10th at 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 11th at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 12th at 3:00 pm
Looking to try something new? Memi’s, Richmond’s newest Egyptian-themed restaurant, is offering a free appetizer with the purchase of any two entrées! Located at 2229 West Main Street, Memi’s brings cultural heritage to life with its modern and flavorful take on Egyptian cuisine. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy a taste of something extraordinary.
Memi’s/ happy hour and dinner daily (hours listed above) / Memi's, 2229 West Main Street
More From Mateo.
One of my favorite projects is Hydrate Now, a Richmond-based company founded by my mentor and friend, Ash Malaisamy. By using innovative, eco-friendly aluminum water bottles, Hydrate Now turns everyday hydration into a powerful storytelling tool for businesses. I’ve had the privilege of designing key brand elements that align with their mission and bring their vision to life—a truly rewarding experience. Learn more at hydratenow.org.
Meet this week's guest editor, Andrew Cothern! Andrew is a music lover, radio DJ, and author, best known for his music writing as RVA Playlist, highlighting Richmond’s overlooked and underappreciated local music scene. He's written for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond.com, Style Weekly, and many other outlets and is the author of the award-winning book “RVA Playlist: Stories from the Richmond, Virginia Music Scene.” He's constantly telling people what bands to listen to, always making playlists, and will usually want to pet your dog.
Take it away, Andrew...
Local Music at The Camel
On most nights of the week, you can find me at The Camel catching some of Richmond’s best bands. Any night spent there is a good night and the new year is kicking off with some stellar nights of local music including:
Live Music at The Camel / most nights / ticket prices vary / The Camel,1621 West Broad Street
Trivia Nights
I always enjoy a good friendly competition over beers. Naturally, I try to dominate in the music round, but I’m useless with sports and world events questions. High Five Trivia provides a fun, entertaining, and relaxing environment where it really doesn’t matter if you don’t know the answers.
High Five Trivia/ most nights / prices vary / locations listed above
Film Clubs
When I’m not listening to music, I’m watching a ton of movies. I enjoy the high-brow films but also love the trashy stuff. I'm not apologizing for all the terrible movies I watch! A number of local film collectives like Richmond City Cinema Club, Good For Her Films, and Hard Light Cinema regularly host free movie screenings around town and I've been introduced to some incredible films I would have never known about otherwise surrounded by a community of movie lovers. These groups already have a number of screenings planned for this month.
Andrew recently released the deluxe edition of “RVA Playlist: Stories from the Richmond, Virginia Music Scene.”
This deluxe edition features 10 additional brand new stories from the Richmond music scene, an updated playlist of local bands, and author’s notes alongside the original book’s more than 30 different stories of his life covering Richmond’s vibrant music scene from 2006 to 2016. Highlights of the expanded edition include new stories on punk venue Alley Katz, house show experiences, a remembrance of the local artists the city lost too soon, and more in a collection that’s an even bigger love letter to the Richmond music scene.
RVA Playlist: Stories from the Richmond, Virginia Music Scene (The Deluxe Edition) is available exclusively at Shelf Life Books or through his website. Andrew will also be at the Community Authors Expo at the Fairfield Area Library on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Meet this week's guest editor, Joy Rush! Joy, a Richmond native and certified kids' yoga instructor, is the founder of YOGA JOY, a play-based yoga platform promoting mindfulness, movement, and wellness for children ages 2-12. Her work, including her bestselling book Yoga Fun A-Z, highlights children from a wide range of ethnicities and backgrounds, fostering inclusivity and representation. Through YOGA JOY, Joy offers accessible and engaging yoga practices, inspiring lifelong wellness for children and families.
Outside of work, Joy loves practicing hot yoga at Humble Haven Yoga, salsa dancing, and traveling with her son to explore new places and cultures.
Take it away, Joy ...
Tacky Lights of Richmond
Last year, local mom Erin Rebmann created a popular Tacky Light Map, featuring both iconic and new holiday light displays all over Richmond. This self-guided tour is a new festive tradition for us; we bring our own hot cocoa and drive around taking in all of the magic! From inflatables to synchronized light shows, the Tacky Lights Tour offers a magical way to celebrate the season!
Get ready to dance the night away with a mix of Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Kizomba at Aloft Short Pump with RVA Dance. Kick off the evening with an introductory lesson from 8:30 to 9:00 pm, then enjoy a night of music, movement, and great holiday fun!
My son and I love to visit Dominion Energy Gardenfest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden every year. We can't wait to explore this year’s theme: Homes & Habitats, A Celebration of Connection, featuring millions of lights showcasing wetlands, forests, deserts, and more!
Our newest YOGA JOY program is Yoga Play! A signature activity from YOGA JOY, Yoga Play combines playful team-building with the transformative benefits of yoga. Designed to awaken the inner child, this engaging experience uses fun, play-based activities and simple yoga techniques to foster connection, collaboration, and creativity. By blending movement, mindfulness, music, and laughter, Yoga Play promotes overall team development in an inspiring and energizing way.
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