Meet this week's guest editor, Liza Mickens! A native of Richmond, Liza carries forward the legacy of her great-great-grandmother, Maggie Lena Walker, by advocating for gender equality as a spokesperson for Vote Equality US. Currently, Liza is the Social Media Specialist at Virginia Tourism Corporation, where she shares why "Virginia is for Lovers" through engaging content.
Liza is a proud James Madison University graduate, majoring in Communications and Public Relations. After a brief stint in NYC pursuing a fashion industry dream, Liza returned home to Richmond to celebrate Virginia's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Since then, she’s embraced her hometown’s growth and while she eagerly anticipates JMU’s football season opener, she’s hoping the Washington Commanders will give her something to cheer for on Sundays.
Take it away, Liza...
Vintage Market
To celebrate two years at South Pine Street, CobbleStore Vintage is having an anniversary vintage market. The lineup includes vendors that have contributed to the store in some way since they began in 2016. Check out some of my favorite vendors like @grannys_garage plus snag some delicious eats from TBT El Gallo and Ruby Scoops. Fan Ran & Profound79 of Gritty City Records will be spinning a 2000s and 90s hip hop blend.
Vitals:
Vintage Market/ Saturday, August 24th, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm / Free / 324 South Pine Street
M?LES at Gallery 5
This Sunday kicks off a new monthly series with Gallery 5 and the Broad Street Bullies. Creative duo, M?les (Mylo Video Productions and M.P.) are inviting their friends to perform and showcase their work on the fourth Sunday of every month. The team at Gallery 5 has a special place in my heart after working together on Maggie Walker’s 160th birthday celebration. Their team recently moved their stage back in front of the large station doors. Come out and see my friends showcasing their talents in this redesigned space.
Vitals:
M?les at Gallery5/ Friday, August 25th, 5:00 - 10:00 pm / $10 in advance, $15 at the door / Gallery 5, 200 W. Marshall Street
RATIFIED at the Byrd Theatre
Join us on Women's Equality Day for Virginia's debut of RATIFIED at the Byrd on August 26th. The film follows the key figures involved in Virginia’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Though Virginia was the final state needed to ratify the ERA in 2020, it is still not a Constitutional amendment. Come learn more about efforts that happened right here in our city. I will emcee a panel after the film with Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Andrea Miller, Kati Hornung, and Eastan Weber.
Vitals:
RATIFIED / Monday, August 26th, 6:30 - 9:30 pm / Tickets range from $5 - 28 / Byrd Theatre, 2908 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
We're bringing back one of our most popular Grid shop items, an Old Fashioned glass that is anything but old fashioned! Our collaboration with artist Hamilton Glass continues, and features his signature #Whosham RVA logo laser-etched around these double rocks cocktail glasses. Hamilton, with his architectural background and passion for public art, has been prominently featured in Richmond Grid and Here Weekly. We’re thrilled to present this limited-edition product from Grid Supply Co. that highlights his distinctive style.
If cocktail glasses aren't your thing, Grid Supply Co. carries other locally made gifts and handmade items by some Richmond's favorite makers and artisans.
Women’s Equality Day is not just a celebration, but a call to action. Check out the Equality Toolkit from RATIFIED for examples of how to get involved. Democracy takes all of us, taking action together to shape our collective future, so invite the people you love to get off the sidelines!
Now is also a great time to double-check your voter registration, research issues and candidates, and make your voting plan. Friends don’t let friends vote alone!
Meet this week's guest editor, Whitney Cardozo. Born in the Adirondack Mountains, Whitney is the chef and proprietress of Chez Foushee in Richmond. With a BA, MA, and MFA, she combined her academic achievements with her passion for cooking, attending Ballymaloe Cooking School and training under Jean Pierre Moulle of Chez Panisse.
At Chez Foushee, Whitney oversees all aspects of the restaurant, focusing on a unique dining experience with an all-female kitchen and LGBTQ+ friendly environment. Her diverse background includes catering, food styling, teaching, consulting, and design. She advocates for supportive work culture and equitable pay, values sustainability, and supports local musicians and nonprofits.
Whitney loves solo travel, having walked 200 miles of the Camino de Santiago. She enjoys Twizzlers and gluten-free Oreos, has two daughters (a doctor and an artist), a serial entrepreneur spouse, two geriatric dogs, and a bird.
Take it away, Whitney ...
Ghost Light After Party at Chez Foushee
First on the list is the Ghost Light After Party (GLAP), which is cohosted with Yes, And! Theater Company. One of my favorite evenings at Chez Foushee is the third Friday of each month when the restaurant because a live piano bar after dinner. At around 9 PM, Maggie Roop and Matt Shofner (founders of Yes, And! Theater Group) host the festivities, with JS Fauquet on the piano with the most extensive songbook playing everything from Broadway to Motown. What is heartwarming about this improvised musical collaboration is that it brings out the community in a positive way. It’s a safe space to be everything from a wallflower, cheerleader, or ballad belter.
My amateur garden is an ambitious work in progress, and I source as much as possible for the restaurant tables at Chez. Richmond is home to some incredible gardens; the ones that inspire me are Maymont's Italian Garden, Lewis Ginter's 50 acres of gardens, and the Virginia House's garden designed by Charles Gillette. Their accessibility to beauty through the seasons is incredible and gives me hope, especially the Virginia House's gardens, which took twenty years to complete.
If you have eaten at Chez Foushee, you know each plate is purposely different. I call them 'Granny Plates' and have been collecting them for years. Each plate has its own unique story to tell. One of my top picks is a stunning set of cream and rose dinner plates that a kind customer gave to me because he wanted them to be used. Sadly, the French Company discontinued this particular pattern after 124 years. For much of my dinnerware finds, I love to support small businesses, and the antique and vintage stores in the Richmond metro area have so many hidden treasures. Some of my favorites are RVA Antiques, West End Antiques, and Sheppard Street Antiques.
The initiative I've been working on is an extension of something we had to put in place during the pandemic: an online store, Chez at Home. When we couldn't eat in restaurant dining rooms, we took the restaurant to your home with a three-course dinner box complete with a small vase of flowers for your table. Now we will bring you the plate to put on your table. Thankfully, we can eat inside; the dinner boxes have taken the sideline. Still, alongside some remaining favorite online products, such as the Lemon Butter Cake and Gift Cards, there will be a new offering of vintage tableware in a collection called FOUND.
Food and tabletop objects have a tremendous heart-tugging quotient, and now we will offer a small curated collection of tableware sold through Chez at Home. These are handpicked, one-off pieces I love, like a mini online Parisian Brocante released once a month on our store's website. As a restaurant, we tell our story through the food on the plate, and now we are telling our story through the plate.
We are excited to announce that the first collection is estimated to be available by early fall!
Meet our guest editor duo this week, Vana Chupp and Theodora Miller of the STUΔIO! Vana Chupp began her love for silhouette art in 2008, growing from a small Etsy shop to a global business creating heirloom pieces. She transforms favorite photos into exquisite jewelry and personal accessories, consulting directly with clients to ensure each piece evokes lasting memories. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Glamour, and The New York Times. Born in Albania, Vana came to the U.S. over 25 years ago. She holds a Master’s in Architecture, enjoys hand illustrating, and is fluent in Greek and Albanian. Married to her college sweetheart Aaron, they have two boys and love traveling to Greece and Albania.
Theodora Miller turned to artful living as part of her healing after a traumatic brain injury. Now a thriving artist, ceramicist, and surface designer, her work draws inspiration from emotions, nature, Greek heritage, and ancient symbols. Her creations are featured in corporate collections and homes worldwide. Theodora is the daughter of a Greek immigrant and a member of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral. She lives in the Fan with her husband George, a cycling enthusiast, and their two bulldogs. They have three grown children and she is co-hosting the Art of Living Well Retreat in Greece this October.
Vana and Theodora, bonded by their Greek heritage and creative entrepreneurial journeys, have created a shared space in the historic Fan District. The STUΔIO, located at 2510 W. Main Street, is a hub for their artistic brands. Here, they offer client consultations, studio visits, workshops, pop-ups, and special events. Open by appointment, the STUΔIO embodies their commitment to creativity and connection. Learn more at studio-2510.com.
Take it away, Vana and Theodora ...
PopUp RVA at The Diamond
Don’t miss RVA’s Largest Weekly Vendor Market! This vibrant market features local artisans, crafters, and businesses (50-60 businesses), along with food trucks, live music and a bar. Support the backbone of our local economy and shop small!
Vitals:
PopUpRVA at The Diamond / Saturdays through October, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm / Free and open to the public / The Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Red Lot
VMFA Exhibit - Samurai Armor
Immerse yourself in samurai history at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)! Explore Japan’s exquisite armor collection, featuring over 140 ceremonial pieces from the Edo period. This exhibit showcases the artistry and evolution of samurai armor, offering a glimpse into the world of this elite warrior class. The exhibition is part of the Ann and Gabriel-Mueller Museum Collection.
Celebrate the 248th Anniversary of America’s Independence by welcoming candidates for citizenship taking their Oath of Allegiance in the beautiful Commonwealth Hall of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Join in the free festivities following the Naturalization Ceremony.
The naturalization ceremony is held in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Schedule of Events:
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Naturalization Ceremony officiated by Judge Roger Gregory (held inside the Robins Family Forum with limited seating)
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Celebrate America's newest citizens with Ukrop's cake and lemonade in Commonwealth Hall and live music
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm: American Treasures on display in the VMHC Library and in-gallery scavenger hunt
STUΔIO Play Dates: even adults need a play date! Spend an evening at the STUΔΙΟ flexing your creative muscle. Draw, illustrate, or collage your favorite summer memories. We provide the space, art supplies and friendly fellowship. Bring any personal photos or magazines (that you would like to incorporate) and an open heart. No set art project; consider this art without rules allowing you to be carefree and creative just for fun with other like-minded souls. Beverages will be served.
July 23, 6-8 pm
August 22, 6-8 pm
Sign up for the STUΔΙΟ email list to find out when play date registration opens.
The STUΔIO is the artistic home of Vana Chupp Studio and Theodora Miller brands. Beyond creating and working in this light-filled space in the heart of the historic Fan District, they share their talents with others through client consultations, appointments, studio visits, workshops, pop-ups and special events.
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