Meet this week's guest editor, Ron Stokes, a true creative with a story that weaves through the tapestry of various cities. Born in the heart of Washington, D.C., he moved to the sunny Bay Area of California during his formative years. For the past decade, he's called Richmond, Virginia, his home.
What sets Ron apart is his remarkable journey as a self-taught street artist who has blended his unique vision with abstract art. He's not just a painter; he's a storyteller of colors and patterns. With every brushstroke, he channels his emotions, thoughts, and the sparks of inspiration in the moment, transcending the need for words. He's left his mark on both grand cityscapes and intimate corners, all while giving back to charities and foundations. To Ron, his art is a bridge connecting the urban landscape to the world of creativity.
Now, Ron is here to share his passion projects and the hidden gems of Richmond that have captured his heart.
Take it away, Ron...
Race in Richmond
Race in Richmond is a compelling interactive exhibit that delves into race and identity through the power of photography, videography, art, and storytelling. Our exhibit offers a fresh perspective on Richmond, shedding light on the intersections of racial, ethnic, sexual, and generational identities, which shape our individual and collective experiences.
Our aim is to foster awareness, ignite meaningful dialogue, and promote understanding as we strive for a community defined by love and inclusivity.
Presented by Ron Stokes in collaboration with Ashley Williams of The Well Collective and Saira Rao of Race2Dinner, this captivating exhibit opens its doors to the public on Friday, November 3rd, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at The Well Collective. Join us on this transformative journey.
Urban Hang Suite (UHS) is one of Richmond’s ultimate coffee havens, lovingly owned by the inimitable Kelli Lemon. This is more than just a coffee shop; it's a hub for the best local brews, teas, and culinary delights.
Step inside and savor the rich flavors while making connections with fellow professionals, both fresh faces and seasoned experts. The Urban Hang Suite stands tall as a community cornerstone, pulsating with creativity and culture. Kelli proudly showcases local artists every other month, curated by The Art Seen.
Urban Hang Suite is a pillar in the community, intentional about creating a space for minority artists in a city where spaces for minority art is limited. Join us, revel in the flavors, embrace the creativity, and be part of the mission to celebrate the vibrant and diverse voices of our community.
Vitals:
Urban Hang Suite / 304 E Broad St. Richmond, Virginia 23219 / Open Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
We're proud to debut our newest sponsored partner, The Read Center...
THE ART SEEN
The Art Seen is your passport to a world of creative experiences in both traditional and non-traditional settings. From art walks to pop-up exhibits, live paintings, and more, we offer a diverse array of events throughout the year. Our primary focus is to spotlight the talents of minority artists in the Richmond community.
As an established minority artist myself, The Art Seen was born out of a personal struggle to find spaces to showcase my own art. I created The Art Seen to address this challenge, to offer a platform for fellow minority artists to share their truths and stories. Additionally, we provide a residency program for emerging artists, offering a unique opportunity to learn and grow alongside established artists, culminating in the chance to showcase their work at various Art Seen events throughout the city.
Meet Heather Crislip, this week’s guest editor. Heather is a Virginia native who relocated to the Fan District from Honolulu in 2008. She has two teenagers, two Great Pyrenees, and an elderly chicken who all sometimes roam the city looking for fun. After leading Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia for almost a decade, she was selected to lead The Richmond Forum in 2021 as they began to return to an in-person audience. Her favorite Forum moment so far was sitting on stage with Michelle Obama in front of thousands of Richmonders to fundraise for The Richmond Forum’s Speech and Debate Initiative for middle and high school students in the region.
Heather is here to give a few recommendations for her favorite things in Richmond, an event, some music, and a special treat.
Take it away, Heather…
The Richmond Forum
It’s almost time! I honestly think that The Richmond Forum is the best event produced in Richmond. I am completely in love with our lineup this season, beginning with Isabel Wilkerson in November. In 2024, we will host Joel Sartore, Liz Cheney, Anthony Fauci, and Nina Totenberg with Kimberley Strassel. It is always delightful to see Richmonders bond with and connect to the national treasures we bring to town. Many people don’t realize that an online subscription gives them the option to upgrade to be in-person at the theater when we open the Ticket Marketplace the Monday before the program.
I’m a die-hard Drive-By Truckers fan. I love their distinctive sound and lyrical content. There’s a Richmond band that is also a part of the newest revival of country music in Virginia. Woody Woodworth & The Piners are named for the bygone expression “to pine” – a deep longing for something or someone. Influenced by Virginia’s deep musical history and Appalachian culture, Woody Woodworth & The Piners fuse storytelling with country, bluegrass, and rock and roll to create a sound that can be described as Appalachian alt-country with a steady shot of southern rock. I love their down-home stage presence and honest vocals, which remind me of the Drive-By Truckers. Their new album, Outlaws and Saints, was released this summer.
This month, a new bakery opened near our office in Shockoe Bottom that offers a delectable array of oatmeal cream pies. We have gone to get them to brighten up a day of tedious work (like when it was all-hands-on-deck for our small staff to mail tickets out to our thousands of subscribers) and plan to hit them up when we host meetings. The shop is fun and I love an unexpected treat, especially when it makes me remember Little Debbie’s in a lunch box. They feel like a hug.
Every year, the world’s most powerful voices come to Richmond, Virginia to share their ideas, stories, and perspectives regarding today’s important issues and to answer your hard-hitting questions.
This season, we will welcome:
• November: Author Isabel Wilkerson with “The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration”
• January: National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore with “Boarding the Photo Ark”
• February: Former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney with “Principles Over Politics”
• March: Dr. Anthony Fauci with “For the Greater Good”
• April: Journalists Nina Totenberg & Kimberley Strassel with “On the Docket”
The first program of the season is just a few weeks away but there is still time to become a subscriber and attend these exciting intellectual evenings. More information about subscription options is available on our website.
Meet Megan Wilson. Many of you know her as the face and positive personality behind Sweet Sauce Blog, showcasing Richmond area businesses and events. Megan is also a mover and shaker behind the scenes of many local businesses and nonprofits as the creative director of her marketing firm Sweet Talk Strategy. She helps local clients like the Autism Society of Central Virginia, The Richmond Tattoo & Arts Festival, Sage & Vine Aesthetics, and Stegmann make headlines, reach new audiences on social media, create video and photo content, and so much more. When she's not advocating for all things Richmond, she's exploring Virginia and sharing her affordable travel recommendations.
Megan got her start at the University of Richmond as a journalism and studio art student; she says she uses these skills every day! This is what led her to make the River City her home for the past 15 years. Fun fact: Megan took the University of Richmond's newspaper online for the first time as Editor in Chief. Today, she's a digital marketing maven and teaches others through her educational events, both online and offline.
This week, Megan shares her fall hit list with events, shopping, and travel ideas.
Richmond Tattoo & Arts Festival, October 20th - 22nd
I've been working with this community since 2019, and the artists and businesses who come together for this festival are the most kind, creative, and supportive people. I'm so proud to help them all grow and thrive. This year's event is going to be the best yet —and we mean it! A few highlights of the 2023 Richmond Tattoo & Arts Festival:
Ryan Ashley is our headline artist. This is the only event the Ink Master star is attending this year. She'll be a judge on Season 15, which airs on November 1.
The Richmond SPCA is our official festival nonprofit partner. They are benefiting in all sorts of ways, including receiving proceeds from our Sunday ticket sales.
On Sunday, we're launching our first Family & Fur Friendly HallowInk Day. Wear your costumes and join us!! I'm going as Left Eye from TLC with two of my friends.
There will be 62 exhibitors to explore and shop, including some second hand style shops like Saturn Returns and Uptown Cheapskate.
Of course, there are tattoos -- 185 global artists who may only be coming to the Virginia area once in this decade. Many are Ink Master stars.
Vitals:
2023 Richmond Tattoo & Arts Festival / Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Midlothian, 1021 Koger Center Blvd. Richmond, Virginia 23235 / Friday, October 20th - Sunday, October 22nd (schedule)
Second-Hand Shopping for Fall + Home
It's no secret that I'm a second-hand shopping fan. If you're looking for inspiration, I wrote this article last year in Richmond Magazine and I am in the midst of updating my big bad RVA Thrift List. I just moved to Bon Air, so I'm getting my house ready for my first party (Halloween Birthday Bash!) and hosting my first Thanksgiving for my 30+ large blended family. I'm also obviously thinking fall fashion. Here are a few places I'm shopping the next few weeks:
It's no secret that I'm a second-hand shopping fan. If you're looking for inspiration, I wrote this article last year in Richmond Magazine, and I am in the midst of updating my big bad RVA Thrift List. I just moved to Bon Air, so I'm getting my house ready for my first party (Halloween Birthday Bash!) and hosting my first Thanksgiving for my 30+ large blended family. I'm also obviously thinking fall fashion. Here are a few places I'll be shopping in the next few weeks:
A Man's World in Jackson Ward - This is primarily a men's consignment shop, so my guys all have presents from here. BUT this is a hidden gem for women's second-hand finds—trust me!
Fall Road Trips in Virginia
After the Richmond Folk Festival this past weekend, I was reminded again how beautiful Richmond is in the fall. In fact, the entire state of Virginia is the most magical place to explore during this season. I always encourage people to travel locally for family and friend getaways. There's so much you can reach on one tank of gas and support small businesses in every corner.
Virginia's River Realm: Eight small towns flank the Rappahannock River and create a foodie respite you didn't know you needed. Insider tip: I'm the voice behind the brand.
We're working to get some of these lists refreshed, so if you have edits or additions, send an email to sweetsauceblog@gmail.com.
More from Megan...
I'm always looking for ways to help my community grow.
At Sweet Talk Strategy, we're innovative and constantly creating; we're seeing great success with clients we serve and people we teach. Please follow us on Instagram and sign up for our email list for upcoming educational opportunities, service offerings, and even a new membership model: Content Collective. You heard it here first!
Shoot me an email if you have a marketing conundrum to unravel or ideas to tease out: megan@sweettalkstrategy.
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