Meet this week's guest editor, Elaine Digges! Elaine is a small business hype woman and the creator behind @miss_elaine_neous, who has called Richmond home for nearly a decade. Believing that "making friends shouldn't be that hard," she founded a new weekly social group called Let's Hang (@letshangrva).
After experiencing firsthand the benefits of community connection, Elaine decided to pivot and help others find that same sense of belonging in Richmond. Following two years of exploring the city, she realized it was time to create a social group for like-minded Richmond enthusiasts and those looking to make new friends. Elaine believes there's a real synergy in wanting to explore Richmond and build friendships simultaneously. That’s why she’s excited to introduce Let's Hang, a new weekly social group designed to bring people together and foster connections.
Take it away, Elaine ...
Community Walk at Maymont
Join us for a community walk at Maymont! Please arrive 10 minutes early—look for the green signs held by the Let's Hang team at the 1700 Hampton Street entrance. Give yourself extra time to find parking. We'll walk together along the paved path around the park, and hydration will be provided.
Vitals:
Community Walk at Maymont / Wednesday, August 14th, 6:00 - 7:00 pm / Free / 1700 Hampton Street.
Wine Tasting at Barrel Thief
Who doesn’t love a local, educational wine tasting? Join us at Barrel Thief for a private wine tasting featuring four 2oz pours and light snacks—all for just $10! Don’t miss the chance to make new friends and savor some great wine. RSVP information will be released Aug 10th.
Vitals:
Wine Tasting at Barrel Thief / Wednesday, August 21st, 6:00 - 7:00 pm / $10 / 5805 Patterson Avenue.
Richmond Social Hour at The Workshop by T&D
To celebrate our first full month of connecting Richmonders and supporting local businesses, we're hosting a BIG (21+) social hour at The Workshop by T&D in Scott's Addition! Enjoy local drinks and desserts from The Veil, Buskey, and Jiji's Frozen Custard. Everyone is welcome to join and meet new people in the city. Please note that parking is limited, so we recommend ridesharing, walking, or carpooling.
Vitals:
Richmond Social Hour at The Workshop by T&D/ Thursday, August 29th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm / Not ticketed / 1400 Mactavish Avenue.
More from Elaine.
Richmond’s interest groups, niche communities, and events can sometimes be hard to find. Explore the city and make new friends with Let's Hang! This group is open to everyone and will evolve as it grows.
The best way to get involved is through Discord or by following @letshangrva on Instagram. Enjoy a variety of events, from happy hours to specialty gatherings, all while keeping costs low. Need a +1 for an event? Looking for a buddy for the farmers market? Discord offers a public chat with sub-channels where you can create your own meetups and build community at your own pace. Whether you prefer organized weekly events or connecting through activities that interest you, Let’s Hang is your opportunity to meet fellow Richmonders.
Meet this week's guest editor, Hamilton Glass! Originally from Philadelphia, Hamilton was inspired by the city's murals and street art, as well as the fine art at the Corcoran Gallery. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Hampton University.
Hamilton worked in architecture for seven years at Thomas Hamilton and Associates and Baskerville before transitioning to public art in 2012. Since creating his first mural in Richmond in 2011, he has completed over 300 murals, including many found on the walls throughout Richmond Public Schools.
Hamilton has won numerous awards for his public art and community engagement. His designs, influenced by his architectural background, feature precise lines, scale, and balance, while bright colors and dynamic shapes convey energy and movement. Hamilton loves creating multi-layered projects that amplify diverse voices.
Outside of art, Hamilton is a seafood enthusiast and enjoys cycling on the Capitol Trail, a passion that began during the pandemic.
Take it away, Hamilton ...
804 Day in Shockoe Bottom
Don't miss the return of 804 Day in Shockoe Bottom on Friday, August 2nd, from 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm at the vibrant 17th Street Market! Curated by Shockoe Records, this annual event features a lineup of local performers across multiple stages, an array of vendors, food options, and dedicated non-profits. Celebrate the unique creativity that defines the 804 / Richmond / RVA community.
Vitals:
804 Day in Shockoe Bottom / Friday, August 2nd, 4:00 - 9:00 pm / Free / 17th Street Market, 100 N 17th Street
Heart & Soul Festival
On Sunday, August 4th, join me at the inaugural Heart and Soul Festival, hosted by Richmond Black Restaurant Experience and UnlockingRVA, at Hardywood West Creek. This event will feature many community partners, including Massanutten Four Season Resort, Richmond Kickers, Ivy Soccer Club, NASCAR/Richmond Raceway, VMFA, Studio Two Three, and The Well Collective.
During the Festival, don't miss the Black History Museum's traveling exhibit, “Virginia is for Music Lovers,” celebrating Virginia's Black Excellence in Music. This exhibit highlights the collaborative spirit between Virginia musicians and visual artists, showcasing the talents of DJs ALLNATUREL, DJ Adapt, DJ Ron P, Hip-Hop Henry, J. Fruncis, and Mike Street. You'll also admire the powerful art created by Unicia R. Buster, Nadd Harvin, Jowarnise, David Marion, Ron Stokes, and Chris Visions. Come experience the sense of community that makes Richmond so special.
Vitals:
Heart & Soul Festival / Sunday, August 4th, 12:00 - 7:00 pm / free GA, $50 VIP / Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - West Creek, 820 Sanctuary Trail Drive
Kyle Epps Residency at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
In celebration of its Flourish 40th anniversary, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (LGBG) has commissioned contemporary American multi-disciplinary artist Kyle Epps as its artist-in-residence from April to September 30, 2024. Epps' work will delve into the garden’s landscape and history through various media. During the residency, guests will have the unique opportunity to meet and engage with Epps, experiencing the Garden through the artist's perspective.
Over the past few years, my wife Taekia Glass, our passionate team, and I have worked diligently to continue the mission of Mending Walls, a project I started in 2020 after George Floyd's murder. Mending Walls uses collaborative, community-engaged art to promote social justice by fostering conversations that build empathy, understanding, and healing. Through these conversations, artists and community members from diverse backgrounds create murals throughout the city.
In four years, Mending Walls has produced over 20 pieces of public art, collaborated with artists in various mediums like poetry and dance, released a conversation coffee table book, and an Emmy-winning documentary now airing nationally on PBS. We also conduct walking tours, classroom visits, and speaking engagements in Richmond and across the country.
This year, Mending Walls achieved 501(c)(3) status, aiming to build a sustainable organization that not only creates public art but also fosters connection and empathy through creative conversations. Exciting projects and partnerships are on the horizon in Richmond and beyond. To stay updated or support us, visit mendingwallsrva.com to sign up for our newsletter and learn more about our future plans.
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!
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