Spring has finally arrived. We don't know about you, but it couldn't have come at a better time. We're celebrating with a special virtual event in honor of Holi, Easter brunch creations by Arley Cakes that support the RVA community, tunes by Kevin Zhu thanks to the Richmond Symphony's Masterworks series, and exploring the great outdoors with handmade masks by the Richmond Ballet's CostumeDirector. Read on to get in on the action ...
Happy Holi
Holi is upon us, one of India’s favorite annual celebrations. This year, Richmond’s own Prabir Mehta, a longtime Here Weekly partner and collaborator, will host a very special live Holi celebration with Crabtree Sessions. “Even Mom is a part of the show y’all,” says Prabir about the upcoming event that will be hosted virtually at 8 pm on Sunday. “We’ll be doing some tunes, chatting Holi, Mom’s gonna show ya how to cook some Indian food, and as always it’ll be a blast hanging with Michael from Crabtree Sessions.” Here Weekly and Grid will stream the Holi event live on Richmond Grid’s Facebook page for all to enjoy. "PS, you don't have to be Indian to celebrate Indian things," he adds. "I’ve been jammin’ to y’all’s xmas tunes for decades now. Come Holi it up with me on Sunday evening.”
From her Nana’s sewing machine, Emily Morgan is making it possible for Richmonders to continue to mask up in a fun, stylish, and active way. For years, you could find Emily traveling the world (pre-Covid) as a freelance Costume Designer working in dance, theatre, opera, and film. Here in Richmond, she has turned her talents to serving as the Costume Director for Richmond Ballet. Emily started making masks one year ago this month when it became clear that masks were (and are still) the best way to protect ourselves and each other. “I began with huge amounts of the pleated style masks for donation, trying to cover as much of the community as quickly as possible,” recalls Emily. “As the pandemic continued and we went back to work at Richmond Ballet we started to identify features and qualities that would maximize comfort and function for my performers. Then we all got into masks as statements or to convey a mood. I wore my Wonder Woman mask on Election Day, and I choose fabrics based upon what I know my clients will love to wear as accessories. We’ve gone well past function and into fashion. Ultimately that’s what good design is all about, the intersection of function and style.” Today, she offers a variety of mask options -- ranging from Mandalorian themes to pink leopard and everything in between.
Arley Arrington, the owner of RVA-based bakery Arley Cakes, bakes goods for people who want to make a difference. For people who care about Richmond - and who care about the world. Since 2015, Arley has created custom cakes for special occasions, a playful selection of cookies and small treats, brown butter sea salt blondies, beautifully latticed pies, the best jam tarts around, and ongoing fundraisers and bake sales as a way to give back to the community. Arley also creates advocacy cakes that are decorated with a call to action, such as “Gun Reform Now,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Justice for Breonna Taylor,” and “My Body My Choice.” For a hoppy Easter brunch, Arley is offering a cardamom spiced carrot cake (with a cream cheese buttercream and festive Robin’s egg blue frosting and a bird's nest on top), brown butter cinnamon rolls, a tangy sweet strawberry rhubarb pie, sweet potato biscuits spiced with honey butter, and more. Available for pickup in Bon Air, Richmond.
Just over 3 weeks until you can see Kevin Zhu perform at the next Masterworks concert by Richmond Symphony! Fun fact: Kevin won the Menuhin Competition, the world's leading international competition for young violinists, in 2012 at age 11. Exciting that Richmond has an opportunity to watch him perform again so close to the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Join the Richmond Symphony for a safe, socially-distanced in-person concert.
Meet Nico Cathcart, this week’s guest editor! Nico is a painter and muralist hailing from Toronto and has lived in Richmond for the past 11 years. Nico strives to discuss intersectional feminism and climate change in her highly-colorful realistic works which often include local flora and fauna, as well as the female form. She is in the process of going deaf, relying on hearing aids and lip reading to communicate. She often includes birds in her work as a nod to her disability. A veteran of the past three RVA Street Art Festivals, and International Invitational Wall/Therapy, she has murals across the country. In 2020, Nico was honored as an Agent of Change for her use of activism in her art by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, and was the recipient of the 1708 Gallery space grant. Recently, she released the print “Oceans Rise, Empires Fall” with House of Roulx. Nico is also a Mending Walls RVA artist in collab with Austin Miles and she just finished the Brown Ballerinas for Change mural with Monty Montgomery. Her upcoming projects include the Mending Walls documentary with VPM coming in June and a sustainable agricultural mural in New York.
Take it away, Nico!
RVA Community
Makers
This project was put together by my friend Hamilton Glass for the VMFA and its 3rd year is absolutely the BEST! 2021 Community Makers features portraits by some of the most talented Richmond painters celebrating musicians from different genres from the area. This year's series includes Nadd Harvin painting Z-Bey (pictured), Austin Miles painting Cora Armstrong, Mahari Chabwera painting J. Plunkey Branch, Justice Dwight painting Desiree Roots, and David Marion painting Jon Bibbs. Hamilton also created an engaging community panel for the exhibition. The paintings are amazing quality, and the project does great justice to the Black creative community. It’s really a DON'T MISS event. The exhibition has moved to the Black History Museum and will be on display through July 3.
Located at the Lakeside Farmers Market, the Safe Space Market is an awesome way to spend Friday night. Founded by Andy Waller, the goal of the Safe Space Market is to support, celebrate, affirm, and promote RVA’s Black, Queer, Trans, Indigenous, and marginalized communities through a weekly pop-up market. From BIPOC/LGBTQ+ owned jam (seriously my fav) to tea, to bath and body products, this is the perfect place to grab some local food and goodies for the week. They even have a gender affirming hairdresser on site! RVA Safe Space also gives back. As an example, Safe Space Market hosts a can food drive for RVA Community Fridges, a project aimed at providing free food to those who need it using a "take what you need, give what you need" model. The market is hosted every Friday from 4-7 pm at Lakeside Farmer's Market. Make sure to bring a mask and enjoy the nice weather ahead. Oh, and don't forget to try some local jam, Bloody Mary mix, or pickles while you are at it!
I have an enormous love of RVA’s food scene, and it's hard to just pick ONE place to talk about. But one of my absolute favorites is SB’s Lakeside Love Shack. It's definitely worth the trip out of the city for brunch. Women-owned, and full of unique character, it's the perfect place for a nice weekend late morning. They have a themed menu that ranges from timely to funny (last week it was the Ninja Turtles) including a special mega drink every week, from Bloody Marys to special mimosas (Ninja themed drinks included Donajello Shots and Rock Steady’s Latte). They have expanded outdoor seating too, giving you a chance to grab a coffee or a cocktail while you wait for a table. And trust me, it’s worth the wait every time. Check their Facebook page before you go to see what the theme is each week!
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.
The brief glimpse of warmer weather and blue skies have served as a good reminder to unplug and get outside in RVA. So we turned to outdoor enthusiast and guest editor Shep Roeper for a lil' boost. Not long ago, Shep co-founded a Richmond based nonprofit known as Beyond Boundaries with the goal of making outdoor experiences and adventure easily accessible and available to everyone -- no matter physical, cognitive or economic situation. Shep discovered his love for nature, sport, and helping others at an early age. Today, you can find Shep and his crew at any point of the year guiding people with disabilities down the rapids of the James, rocking climbing at the Manchester Wall, or fishing at some of the best hidden spots around. Whatever the adventure of choice for the day, Shep and Beyond Boundaries always find ways to bring exciting outdoor experiences to people who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Here are Shep's recommendations for getting outside to explore and celebrate this place we love to call home. Take it away, Shep ...
Explore Huguenot
Flatwater
In my opinion, the most special thing that Richmond has to offer is the James River. I tell people all the time that it’s one of the only rivers in the country that you can go white water rafting in the morning on class III and IV rapids and be home having a beer (or coffee) on your couch by noon. Huguenot Flatwater is one of the greatest access points on the river, as it opens itself up to paddlers, anglers, tubers, hikers, and wildlife viewers. With flat calm water at the put-in, you can adventure upstream for a calm and fun trip or head downstream where you will enter the beginning of the river rapids known as the ‘The Falls of The James.’ We aren’t quite there yet, but I’m really stoked about the efforts being made by James River Outdoor Coalition, Friends of the James River Park, City of Richmond, and so many other organizations. And to make this access point even more accessible, there's a universal access ramp currently underway which will create opportunities for so many more individuals to enjoy the river as we work together to move Richmond in an even more inclusive direction.
Vitals:
Huguenot Flatwater / Huguenot Flatwater Park is located directly underneath the Huguenot Bridge and is bordered to the east by Rattlesnake Creek and to the west by Old Southampton Road / Parking: 8600 Riverside Drive
Support Local
at Northside Grille
For my wife and me, Northside Grille has been one of our constant go-to spots to grab good food and drink for almost a decade. It all began for us on a snow day when we discovered their chicken parm sandwich, lumpia, bourbon, and local beer selection. Over the years, their staff and great bartenders have also become a huge part of the draw. Since that time, it has served as an important part of our engagement story and one of the first places we went back to when restaurants started to open again during the COVID pandemic. With a laundry list of restaurants and breweries in Richmond, competition is fierce, and options are endless. Everyone has a place they call home, and NSG is that spot for me.
With so many things to see and do in Richmond, I'm often asked by others how to take it all in at once. The answer is, you can’t. But if you could, taking in the city from the vantage point of various spots in Church Hill would be where I would start. Taylor's Hill, Jefferson Park, Libby Hill, and Chimborazo are all good places to appreciate RVA and to gain a little perspective. Each offers beautiful views on a clear day, and are romantically spooky when it’s foggy. Here you can enjoy a direct sightline of our amazing city and the James River, all while being tucked into one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods in Richmond. The next time you're looking for something to do, pack a snack, explore Church Hill, and take some time to park and enjoy these views, you won’t be disappointed.
Vitals:
Church Hill Overlook: 2112-2198 E Grace St. / Libby Hill Park: 2801 E Franklin St. /Jefferson Park: Corner of North 21st Street and East Marshall St. / Chimborazo Park: 3201 East Broad St. / Taylor's Hill Park: 2117 E Franklin St.
Disability Etiquette Training
Participate in Beyond Boundaries Certificate Program: Join the Beyond Boundaries team of outdoor recreation professionals to step outside of the traditional training atmosphere and dive deep into a conversation about disabilities. By sharing, discussing, and learning from their experiences (and your own experiences), you'll leave this program with a better understanding of how to be more inclusive at work and in your community.
Go
