Meet Jennifer Arnold, this week's guest editor! Jennifer joined the Richmond Symphony as Director of Artistic Planning and Orchestral Operations in the fall of 2019 to further her work in increasing BIPOC representation on orchestral stages and promoting the symphony as a community resource all people can enjoy. She relocated to RVA from PDX (Portland, OR) after 15 seasons performing as a violist in the Oregon Symphony. As a transplant to Richmond just prior to COVID, she hasn’t visited as many places as she would have liked, but is thrilled to be living in the Arts District, which has so much to offer in terms of walkability, public transportation, food, and entertainment. Here are Jennifer's tips to play where you stay.
Support Local
Coffee Shops
You can’t live in the pacific northwest without falling in love with coffee, so one of the first things I did upon my move to Richmond was find my local coffee spot. I start my mornings with a cup at Urban Hang Suite nested in the Arts District and Jackson Ward. The vibe is perfect if you like 90’s RnB (who doesn’t?), browse local art, and love coffee in all its forms. Plus, they have a fantastic wine collection, perfect for gifts or a virtual happy hour post-work. Looking for other local coffee shops, restaurants, and markets? Check out Venture Richmond's list and support our downtown business owners.
Walkability is important to me as I plan to live car-free for the remainder of my days. Every day on my walk to and from work I’m surrounded by the images of the incredible Mending Walls project. Last summer, I met Hamilton Glass in a virtual panel where I learned about the Mending Walls initiative, “to use public art as a tool to bring empathy and connect at a time when we need it the most.” Some days I stop, look, and use the time to reflect. Most days I just smile at the beautiful colors and faces as I start my day. It is truly a gift.
I’m a plant lady. I love to watch them grow. Nothing beats going to a place where you can learn about all different species of plants, enjoy the outdoors, and take a walk. A colleague introduced me to Lewis Ginter after a particularly busy replanning period as a way to walk away from work for a day and take in a new space in Richmond. It was just what I needed. Make sure to check out the garden's half-price admission days through Feb. 28, 2021. You can also enjoy virtual story time with educator Tarneshia Evans on Fridays at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live.
Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony performs, teaches, and champions music to inspire and unite our communities. Led by Music Director Valentina Peleggi, the Symphony incorporates classical, contemporary, and popular music, making symphonic music interesting and accessible to everyone. The League of American Orchestras recognized the Symphony as a leader of innovation in the orchestral field and awarded the Symphony the Catalyst Grant, to help implement effective practices to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. In response to COVID-19, the Symphony now offers digital livestreamed or on-demand concerts and launched an online music school for learners of all ages. PERK OFFER: Here readers can use code “here2020” for a 20% discount to any livestream concert from the Spring Masterworks series.
Meet Bree Dodd, this week's guest editor! She is an advocate of embracing a multi-hyphenate lifestyle and likes to answer the question "So, what do you do?" with many "ands..." Currently, Bree can be found as a change agent with Open Eye (watch out for their RVA launch later this month), teaching yoga (sign up for weekly zero-cost classes straight to your inbox), working at a brewery (say hi to her on Saturdays at The Veil), and launching a new business (stay tuned for details in Q2, wink-wink). Her passion for community, inclusivity, wellness, entrepreneurship, and small businesses, helps Bree cultivate space for people to connect, to live by their definition of well, and to feel seen and heard. You can link up with her by following @bree.dodd, where you may or may not get talked into a coffee date, as it's no secret that this is her favorite pastime. Here are Bree's tips for exploring and celebrating this place that we all love to call home.
Take it away, Bree ...
RVA Community
Fridges
One of the many reasons I fell in love with Richmond is because we're a city of do-gooders. Richmonders actively seek out ways to get involved, to roll up their sleeves, and to find places to make a lasting impact. One such place is RVA Community Fridges, a small group of BIPOC community organizers promoting equal access to healthy food options by giving it away for free. You can get involved by donating, dropping off food, and helping scout new locations. Richmond's first community fridge can be found at Pomona Plants in Union Hill, where you can pop in some fresh fruits and veggies. Afterward, hang around for a bit to celebrate an amazing local, small business and scoop up something green for your home before you leave. And while you're at it, don't forget to pre-order an Open Sign Calendar celebrating Black-owned restaurants in Richmond -- each calendar month features a different entrepreneur and 100% of the profits go to RVA Community Fridges!
On the hunt to furnish a new apartment I stumbled into the cutest lil' vintage shop on Main Street at the old Baja Bean location. You can shop Boho To Go online or in-store for decor and furnishings from the past, for the now. Bonus: I think the owner, Jen, is quite possibly the sweetest person I've ever met. Jen, who is a registered nurse, will tell you that she grew up thrifting and garage sale-ing for her grandparents' antique business in upstate NY so the thrill of the hunt is in her blood. She loves breathing new life into forgotten inanimate objects of yesterday, so you'll always leave with a good conversation and a unique piece to show off.
For my first two years in Richmond I lived and owned a business in Shockoe Bottom and could not be convinced that I would ever leave. I now cannot be convinced that I will ever leave Forest Hill and think my new neighborhood deserves some much-deserved attention. On a sunny day, grab yourself a coffee from Blanchard's Forest Hill Cafe or The Westover Kitchen & Provisions and head down to Reddy Creek for a long trail walk. Give me a shout when you see me hopping rocks with a latte in one hand and the leash of my Bernese Mountain Dog in the other! When you're ready for some more fun, hit up my favorite tropical diner, Little Nickel. You can enjoy delicious food and funky cocktails to-go or dine-in, inside or on the patio (and no, you don't need an extra order of the nachos, one is enough).
A celebration of Black-owned restaurants in Richmond. Each calendar month, from March 2021 to February 2022, features a different entrepreneur. 100% of calendar profits support RVA Community Fridge.
Meet Claire O’Keefe, our guest editor this week! A Richmond native and pre-COVID world traveler, Claire creates environments for people to feel grounded and safe to share their perspectives. As a Summit Producer for Envoy and Director of Canvas, a media studio and event space in Richmond, Claire lives the world of obsessing over the role that physical and virtual environments play in determining our perspectives on issues and the decisions we make.
As the world is being reinvented through a pandemic, Claire is more aware than ever how our home office can affect our productivity levels, the importance of getting a walk in around the block, or especially the importance of carving out time to care for yourself and do good for others. Here are Claire’s three tips on creating the environment to do something good for yourself and give back to others at the same time.
Volunteer
Happily Natural
Get outside and get your hands dirty. You might have seen Duron Chavis, the founder of Happily Natural Day, in partnership with folks around Richmond raise money, gather supplies, build and distribute over 300 raised garden beds last year. Well, he's back and needs our help again. If you know anyone in a food dessert, he is calling for applicants to receive beds as well as volunteers to build and distribute raised garden beds starting the week of February 9th.
AlterNatives Boutique has been a favorite of mine for years now, not only because of their eclectic jewelry but also because a majority of the clothes and goods sold support the Indigenous women in Guatemala by receiving a living wage and access to health care, food and clean water. Guadalupe Ramirez opened the shop 25 years ago in the heart of Carytown, and the boutique is also an extension of her nonprofit, Highland Support Project, which she started to advocate for Indigenous communities in Central America resisting state violence. Go check it out, if you haven’t already, and support a hardworking crew who is also raising money to purchase the building to keep the business going.
Food can drastically change your environment in how it makes you feel…trust me, you’ll want to end your weekend tracking down this taco, burrito, and tortas (TBT) pop up stand if you haven’t discovered this gem on your own yet. As they await the opening of their storefront in the old Naked Onion spot, you’ll find Carlos and his crew all over Richmond’s breweries and markets dishing up the most flavorful and authentic Mexican food. I highly recommend the Slam Dunk Contest, the consommé broth is unmatched. Carlos, a second-generation immigrant like myself, has a passion and dedication to share the food of his homeland, which makes it taste that much better, I promise.
Canvas has created a meeting space for safe, meaningful dialogue. It’s goal isn’t to be cool, hip, or luxurious. It’s grounded.It’s a place designed by a team of professional negotiators, mediators, and creatives that serves as a backdrop for humans to share their humanity. For leaders to let down their guard. For groups to gather and truly listen to each other to identify their common interests. Canvas also serves as a destination for broadcasting live virtual meetings and conferences and hosting socially distanced in-person, private events. The complex consists of five distinct spaces, each designed for a unique purpose, all on the same urban compound.
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