Meet Kristie Ciatteo, this week’s guest editor and owner of White Birch Home Staging. As a real estate home stager, Kristie helps sellers pave the way for success. With a passion for creating welcoming, approachable spaces, she works to ensure each property captivates potential buyers from the moment they step through the door.
In her downtime, you’ll more than likely catch Kristie enjoying auntie life, cuddling up with her beloved dog on the couch, trying a new local restaurant with her husband, or striving to finally hit 13mph on the Orange Theory treadmill.
Take it away, Kristie...
Richmond Home + Garden Show
For many of us, spring sparks home improvement plans. Whether you’re looking to renew an area to enjoy for years to come or making strategic updates to prepare your home for sale, you won’t want to miss the Richmond Home + Garden Show. The event offers a valuable array of 250+ exhibitors all in one location. It’s a great opportunity to browse the latest trends plus receive in person advice.
My business White Birch Home Staging is honored to be part of this year’s show. I invite you to grab a coffee and stop by Booth 1110 for a warm hello!
Vitals: Richmond Home + Garden Show / Friday, March 1 - Sunday, March 3, 10:00 am - 7:00 pm (5:00 pm on Sunday) / Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E Laburnum Ave
Heart A Horse
If you’re not familiar with the impactful work Virginia Equine Welfare Society (VEWS) is doing for horses in need, allow me to welcome you into their rescue ring! VEWS is an all-volunteer nonprofit equine rescue in Hanover, VA. VEWS provides safe housing, medical and rehab services to abused, neglected and other at-risk horses and ultimately places them into loving forever homes. As a longtime volunteer and previous Board member, I find my time with these magnificent souls immensely rewarding.
Get to know the herd and learn more about the passionate dedication behind the organization by visiting their website.
One of my favorite annual traditions is attending Historic Garden Week with my mom. Presented by the Garden Club of Virginia, this beloved spring event offers inspiring and unique tours of private residences, gardens and historic sites throughout Virginia. Over 1,000 floral arrangements beautifully created by local garden club members are featured on the tours and are nothing short of spectacular. Event proceeds fund the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens and provide graduate level research fellowships.
Tickets are available online now. Hope to see you on a tour around RVA!
Kristie is the heart behind her small boutique business White Birch Home Staging. Rooted in a simple but effective philosophy of ‘elevating the everyday,’ Kristie partners with realtors and home sellers to successfully present their properties for sale. With a focus on intentional design and details, she works to bring out the best in every property, helping clients achieve their selling goals with finesse.
In her words: “There’s a valuable distinction between how we live in our home and how we strategically and sucessfully market our home for sale. Every home is unique, and presentation is key. A thoughtfully staged home can generate valuable connections with potential buyers and in turn help sellers earn higher quality offers.”
Meet our guest editor Carlos Samuels for a special Monday issue of Here! Carlos is a professional photographer, owner of FlashoverVisions, and firefighter. From a teenage hobby of capturing his community with disposable cameras, Carlos' passion blossomed, eventually leading to the founding of FlashoverVisions. After facing personal struggles, he found comfort in photography, focusing particularly on his native Richmond landscapes. Carlos has since shared his love for landscape photography far and wide around the country. While his following has grown, Carlos always makes sure to save time for volunteering at local schools, providing professional headshots during Teacher Appreciation Week and class photos across all grade levels. The yoga and wellness community within Richmond – including Shanna Thornton, BareSoul Yoga, The Well Collective, and Ashley Williams – have also served as a source of inspiration for Carlos as he regularly documents their practices. When he's not behind the lens, you can find Carlos serving our community as a Richmond City Firefighter and a mentor with Communities in Schools for Richmond Public Schools.
Take it away, Carlos...
Race in Richmond at Main St. Station
The Race in Richmond exhibit is not to be missed. Initially planted at The Well Collective, the exhibit is now LIVE at Main Street Station, from February 16, 2024 to March 11, 2024. Race in Richmond will have a Community Night on Tuesday, February 27th, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The exhibit displays one-of-a-kind art, interactive experiences, and in-depth photography. You’ll be given an opportunity to visualize the reality of race and its role in Richmond.
As a landscape photographer, exploring public parks -- from neighborhood parks to state parks -- brings me so much joy. From Virginia State Parks (like High Bridge Trail, Twin Lakes, and Natural Bridge) to James River Park System (Belle Isle, Pony Pasture, and Huguenot Flatwater), you'll find endless opportunities for beauty, recreation, and community engagement. Here in Richmond, I use the park systems to experience nature, wildlife, peace, and it also serves as a therapeutic reset where I can express myself in nature photography and poetry.
Being a live music lover, Legacy Band is my local favorite. They perform at a variety of different venues throughout the Richmond area. I personally love hearing them perform outdoors at Dogwood Dell in the warmer months! Up next, Legacy Band will be at Vagabond on Saturday, March 9 at 5:30 pm; be sure to check them out.
FlashoverVisions began as an escape from reality and life for Carlos. Behind the lens, life stood still, fears vanished, and trying to find himself had begun.
"I don’t have all the expensive lenses, the expensive camera body, expensive lighting, studio access, etc.. So I have to work hard; just to get the right shot, use what I have, catch the right angle; just to capture the right moment," says Carlos. "Whether voluntary or commission. I’ve been blessed with so many once in a lifetime opportunities with this camera. It’s not even believable to me sometimes."
Erica "Ease" Claiborne, a Richmond, Virginia native, epitomizes creativity and resilience. She views creativity as a gateway to happiness and a form of therapy, evident in her diverse pursuits ranging from entrepreneurship to DJing, community advocacy, culinary arts, and agriculture. Despite the male-dominated nature of the industry, Ease became a self-taught DJ and sound engineer following her grandmother's passing in 2013. Starting with donated equipment and support from loved ones, she showcased her eclectic music taste at various events, including historical gigs like Wu Tang Clan's 36 Chambers: 25th Anniversary concert in Washington, DC, and Virginia Governor Northam's Pride Month proclamation at the Executive Mansion.
Ease's commitment extends beyond music; she founded Alleviative Productions in 2019, initially focusing on DJ services but later expanding to advocate for her community during tumultuous events like the pandemic and protests. Her dedication to cultural preservation led her to collaborate with organizations like For the Fem In You, where she now serves as production manager, creating safe spaces for Brown women in music and arts. Currently pursuing an associate's degree in Architectural Engineering and Technology, Ease aims to reclaim ancestral spaces and facilitate restoration projects while also indulging in personal passions like long-distance cycling, growing food and flowers, and visiting cemeteries.
Take it away, Ease...
Black AF: A Black Herstory Celebration
A celebration of Black love, joy, freedom, and culture. Black AF, aims to empower, uplift, and unite community with a day of honoring the past, present, and future. Expect to enjoy a day of local Black-Owned businesses, vegan soul food & treats, art, and live performances featuring local dancers, poets, singers, and DJ’s. This Black AF will feature a special production curated by Alleviative Productions entitled, “When Women Speak," a short film of clips documenting some of the most celebrated Black and Indigenous women within American advocacy and education. The film provides their perceptions & teachings regarding the origins surrounding the dehumanization of people of color throughout history & the diaspora. The 42 minute live screening will be looped during the event within the ICA’s auditorium. (Parental Advisory Suggested)
Soul N’ Vinegar opened June 2018 and this grab n’ go shop focuses on selling delicious, health conscious foods for everyone in the community. I'm a health conscious eater, 100% vegan, and I enjoy supporting local eateries within the community that take pride in offering yummy vegan options. Recently, I took an adventure to Soul N' Vinegar's new location on the corner of 30th and Q St. in historic Church Hill. The Chai Tea Latte with oat milk is perfectly crafted in house. The vegetable spring rolls were super fresh, paired with my favorite chili oil for dipping, and are vegan & gluten-free. Lastly, the falafel itself served inside of the falafel wrap is possibly the best I've ever had! The combination of crispy falafel and crunchy slaw was heavenly. The portion of their wrap is plenty, so one can save some for later to relive the whole experience of exciting those taste buds all over again.
For The Fem In You is a Richmond-based non-profit organization centered around creating safe spaces for the Women of Color and the LGBTQ+ community. Their programming aims to support women's wellness mentally, physically, and spiritually via interactive events, pop-up markets, community collaboration, festivals, and artist activations. Celebrating ordinary women doing extraordinary things. For The Fem In You seeks to obtain a permanent location for the expansion of its future programming.
In May 2019, Ease founded Alleviative Productions, initially focusing on DJ services but later expanding into mixed media offerings. The tumultuous events of 2020, including the pandemic and protests, spurred Ease to document and advocate for her community's rights. She organized grassroots efforts, providing free food, water, and first aid during the Monument Avenue protests. Alleviative Productions is a sound and visual media platform that specializes in sound curation, live production & management, and visual documentary.
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