💬 FROM ME TO YOU… Some months arrive with a clean break; March kind of sidles in and asks, “So…are you finished with winter? No? Here's some more.” I'm between winter hibernation and spring energy right now—making soups and sheet pan dinners, sneaking out for long walks when the sun cooperates, and covering everything in an alarming amount of clay dust thanks to pottery class. This month’s newsletter is very “real life in RVA”: a restaurant-worthy recipe that doesn’t require a culinary degree, a little love letter to Brookland Park (and the businesses I can’t stop talking about), plus a load of events coming up as we head into spring. As always, take what fits your life right now and leave the rest—I’m just happy to be in your inbox. 📆 What's Happening in RVA March in Richmond means the first real hints of spring — longer days, outdoor events returning, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, races, markets, and plenty of reasons to get out and explore. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, live music, seasonal festivals, or community gatherings, something is happening across RVA all month long. GET THE FULL LIST HERE 📍RVA Spotlight- Brookland Park Brookland Park has become my happy place lately — part clay-splattered art kid, part ice cream-fueled neighborhood walk. I’ve been spending a few hours a week at Hand/Thrown trying to convince my pottery to not fly off the wheel, wandering over to Scrap RVA for creative treasure hunts, grabbing lunch at Morty’s with friends, and finishing it all with a scoop (or two) from Ruby Scoops. Next on my list: finally getting my hands on a bagel from Julio’s and checking out the new(ish) location of The Smoky Mug. If you’ve been curious about what’s happening in Northside — the real estate, the small businesses, the feel of the streets right now — this month’s RVA Spotlight dives into Brookland Park: a little history, a little market insight, and a lot of love for the charm and the businesses that make it special. LEARN MORE ABOUT BROOKLAND PARK 🍴What I'm Cooking Right Now I love to cook. But cooking for one sometimes feel like heavy work and light reward, especially on busy weeknights. So for me to cook,  I want it to feel effortless. Also, I want it to taste like something I'd order out. Oh, and I also want to be done in under 30 minutes. This is usually where reality intervenes. But this baked feta situation? It's one of those dishes that actually delivers on all of it. Sheet pan, 25 minutes, and you've got bubbling golden feta tucked into caramelized broccolini, jammy tomatoes, and crispy chickpeas. It's the kind of dish that makes you feel a little smug — in the best possible way. I made it on a random Tuesday, and I seriously stood there and ate it straight out of the pan. Early spring evenings call for exactly this. GET THE RECIPE HERE Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know) thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help.  👉 SEARCH RICHMOND HOMES FOR SALE 👉 GET YOUR HOMES VALUE 👉 START YOUR SEARCH 👉 BOOK A CONSULT

Here's the thing about spring in Richmond: it teases. One day you're out in a t-shirt, convinced the worst is behind you, and the next you're back in your coat, muttering something about how you should've known. And yet every year, it still feels like the best miracle when things start to bloom. This month, I've been spending time at the Valentine, getting more acquainted with my own city through their I Know Richmond course. Wandering through Jackson Ward. Visiting the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Letting myself be a tourist in the place I call home, learning, and remembering why I love it here. The market has been doing its own version of thaw and tease. There's real movement, and real things to pay attention to if you're buying, selling, or just watching. I'll get into that, plus a little spotlight on one of my favorite neighborhoods (Westhampton, I see you), and a few things I'm loving right now beyond real estate entirely. Grab your coffee. Maybe your coat. Let's do this! 🧠 Market Recap Here’s something I don’t get to say very often:There are more homes for sale in Richmond right now than there were a year ago. Not a flood. There are just more options, and a market that’s starting to breathe again (just a little) after a few years of holding its breath. Homes are still selling. Quickly, in most cases. Prices are still up (the Richmond median sales price just hit $401K in February, a 5.4% jump year over year). But the pace has shifted, and that shift has real implications for whether you’re buying, selling, or just watching from the sidelines. Mortgage rates are at 6.11% as of mid-March — meaningfully lower than this time last year, and buyers are responding. Spring is here, and with it, that spring energy is here. In my latest market update, I’m breaking down: What’s actually happening in Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover right now Why more inventory is good news,  but not in the way you might think What buyers need to do differently this spring (strategy > speed) Why spring is still the best window for sellers — and what the homes that sit have in common. As always — if you want the version that’s specific to your neighborhood, your price range, and your timeline, just reply, and I’ll send you a quick, honest snapshot. No pressure, no pitch. Just good information. Full Market Update Here ❤️ What I'm Loving Right Now… I got off the waitlist for the Valentine's I Know Richmond course at the last minute, and two weeks in, I've already learned so much, and learned so much about how much I didn't know. Week one was a deep dive into the Valentine's collections — not just the exhibits, but the layered backstories behind the photographs, the advertising, the objects that mean something very different once someone gives you the actual context. Week two brought us to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward, where Faithe Norrell led us through the history and wove in her own personal stories in a way I won't forget. Honest confession: I had never been to the Black History Museum before, and I hadn't been to The Valentine in probably 20 years. I've recommended both. I just hadn't made the time. I should have, and I'd gently push you in the same direction, because Richmond's history is extraordinary, and complicated and, in places, genuinely awful, and the Black History Museum tells it with the care it deserves. More on the blog, including Gary Flowers' tour of Jackson Ward — a fifth-generation resident who reminded me that loving this city means knowing all of it, not just the parts that are easy. Full Story Here RVA Spotlight: Westhampton Richmond's Near West End doesn't make a big fuss about itself. It just exists, solidly and beautifully, with tree-lined streets, gorgeous Tudor Revivals and Colonial brick two-stories, and a stretch of small businesses that makes a very convincing argument for staying all day (or permanently). This week on the blog, I'm taking you to Westhampton: the home of Maison Real Estate Boutique. Grab a Rum Raisin danish at the Westhampton Pastry Shop, salads (and Dirty Chips, because it's all about balance) at The Continental, get a cocktail and a cupcake on the patio at Cameo, and a stop at Apothec that I can only describe as  magical. Plus what the market is actually doing in one of RVA's most enduringly lovely neighborhoods. Come take a walk with me. Learn More About Westhampton Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know) thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help.  👉 SEARCH RICHMOND HOMES FOR SALE 👉 GET YOUR HOMES VALUE 👉 START YOUR SEARCH 👉 BOOK A CONSULT

If you're researching Richmond neighborhoods from afar, here's what the algorithm won't tell you: the best ones don't announce themselves. No marquee, no "Welcome to the District" signage chosen by a branding committee. They just exist — solidly, beautifully — and the people who live there know exactly how lucky they are. Westhampton is one of those neighborhoods. Located in Richmond's near West End — roughly bounded by Grove Avenue, the Boulevard, and Libbie Avenue — Westhampton sits close enough to Carytown to feel connected to the city's energy, but far enough to have its own quiet, gracious personality. If you're considering a move to Richmond and want a neighborhood with genuine architectural character, real walkability, and daily life that feels like a reward rather than a compromise, put Westhampton on your list. (But don't think you're getting a deal there.) One of the first things out-of-town buyers ask me is: can you actually walk places? In Westhampton, yes. Really yes. The streets here are wide, tree-lined, and continuous, and there are lots of sidewalks. Westhampton was built when neighborhoods were designed for people, not just cars. Walk around on a weekday morning and you'll find dog walkers, neighbors who know each other's names, someone pushing a stroller with the unhurried confidence of a person who lives here and loves it. It's a small thing that can be everything when you're deciding where to put down roots. A Quick History, Because Richmond Neighborhoods Have Stories Westhampton developed primarily in the 1920s through 1940s as Richmond expanded westward along the streetcar lines. The result is a neighborhood of remarkable architectural coherence (really, just a way of saying the houses are genuinely beautiful, and they look like they belong together.) Tudor Revivals with steeply pitched rooflines and half-timbered details. Classic Colonial Revivals with columns and symmetry and curb appeal that never goes out of style. Brick two-stories with deep front porches. The occasional craftsman bungalow tucked in like a storybook punctuation mark. For me, one of the best things about Richmond and Richmond neighborhoods is the architecture, and the variety of that in Westhampton is exceptional. Where to Spend a Day in Westhampton One of the things I tell buyers researching Richmond from out of town: spend a Saturday in a neighborhood before you decide. Walk it. Eat in it. See how it feels at noon. So, if you're game, here's your Westhampton itinerary. Start at Westhampton Pastry Shop. It's a Richmond institution, and the Chop Suey danish and Rum Raisin danish are non-negotiable, because you won't find them anywhere else. Flaky, layered, and the perfect amount of sweet — the kind of pastry that makes you understand why regulars have been coming here for decades. Go early. (The doughnuts are renowned, but I never get them, due to the aforementioned favorites.) Lunch at The Continental. The salads are genuinely excellent — composed, fresh, and HUGE. And then get the Dirty Chips, because balance is a real thing and they are exactly what you want alongside a great salad (cheese, bacon, and of course, ranch)  The space has that comfortable, lived-in quality the best neighborhood restaurants earn over time. Dessert, charcuterie, or cocktails at Cameo. Cameo handles all three with equal ease, plus excellent coffee. The patio is the destination on a warmer Richmond evening (and Richmond has a lot of good evenings.) Wander through Apothec. A tea bar, an apothecary, a gift shop... and somehow it manages to be all three without feeling scattered. The smells alone will slow you down. Herbs, botanicals, something warm and lovely. The tea selection is serious, with some on draft, and the staff actually knows their stuff. The gifts range from practical to beautiful (most are both.) End at The Shops at 5807. A curated collection of local makers and unique vendors under one roof. Walk in with one person in mind, walk out having solved four gift problems you didn't know you had. Very dangerous. Highly recommended (and a great place to find a little something for yourself What the Westhampton Real Estate Market Is Actually Doing Westhampton has been one of Richmond's most consistently desirable neighborhoods for good reason, and the market reflects that. The housing stock — those Tudors, Colonials, and brick two-stories — commands prices that reflect both condition and character. Well-preserved homes with original architectural details and thoughtful renovations move quickly, most often with multiple offers. What you're buying in Westhampton isn't just square footage. It's the sidewalks, the streetcar-era bones, and the walkability to the kind of daily life — a great pastry, a good lunch, a patio cocktail at the end of the day — that people move to Richmond to find. That package is the value, and buyers who understand it don't tend to hesitate long. If you're relocating to Richmond and want to talk through the West End — what's available, what's realistic for your budget, and which blocks I'd personally put at the top of the list — I'd love that conversation. And whenever you make it to town for a visit: start at Westhampton Pastry Shop. The Chop Suey danish will tell you everything you need to know about why people move here and never leave. Thinking about a move to Richmond? What neighborhoods are you researching? I'm always happy to be your very opinionated local guide.  

Most of us who've lived somewhere for a long time develop a quiet, unexamined assumption that we know the place. We know the traffic patterns. We know which restaurants are actually good and which ones are just Instagram-famous. We know our neighborhoods (or at least, we know our version of them.) What we often don't know — and I say this as someone who has lived and worked in Richmond for most of my life, is the history. The actual, layered, complicated, sometimes devastating history of the city right underneath our feet. I got lucky. The Valentine's I Know Richmond course filled up before I registered, but I was first on the waitlist and a spot opened up the day before it began. Six Sunday afternoons, four hours each, exploring Richmond's past and present in depth, with expert guides and behind-the-scenes access you simply can't get on your own. I'm two weeks in, and I've already learned so much (and learned how much I still don't know.)   Week one was at the Valentine itself, and if you think you know what's in that building, I'd gently suggest you might be underestimating it. We went a bit deeper than the main exhibits — into the backstories behind the collections, the photographs, the objects that look unremarkable until someone tells you what they actually meant to the people and communities who made them, owned them, or were shaped by them. Context changes everything. A label gives you a fact. A good guide gives you a world. Week two moved us to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, in Jackson Ward — and this is where I want to stay for a while, because I have a confession. I had never been. I know. I know. It's been on "my list." I've recommended it to people who ask about Richmond. I've nodded along when friends mentioned it. But life "lifes," and I had never actually gone inside. Faithe Norrell led our tour, and she didn't just walk us through the exhibits — she wove in her own personal stories, her own connections to this history, in a way that made the whole thing feel alive rather than dry and archived. That's the difference between a tour and an experience. Richmond's Black history is not a collection of objects in glass cases. It is a living, continuous story, and it is a story that Richmond has spent a very long time trying to tell around, rather than through. I left genuinely moved. Changed. And more than a little embarrassed that it took me this long. Here's the thing I keep coming back to: Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. That's not a footnote. That's a defining fact about this city, and it has shaped (and distorted and suppressed) an enormous amount of what came after it. The Lost Cause mythology that took root here wasn't just about the statues on Monument Avenue. It was about whose stories got told, whose history got funded and preserved and taught, and whose got left out of the books entirely. The Black History Museum exists, in part, because of that gap. Because someone (many someones, starting with founder Carroll Anderson Sr.) decided that the full story of Black life in Virginia deserved to be collected, preserved, and told with the same care and permanence as everything else. The building itself carries history: the Leigh Street Armory, built by Black craftsmen (most notably, perhaps, Maggie Walker's husband Armstead) in 1894 for Virginia's Black soldiers, then converted almost immediately into a school for Black children when the city decided Black soldiers didn't need an armory after all. That's Richmond, sort of sum in one building. Pride and erasure, four years apart. Faithe walked us through all of it. Not as a litany of grievances, but as the actual, complicated, deeply human story that it is. That's harder to do than it sounds. After the museum, we got a walking tour of Jackson Ward with Gary Flowers — a fifth-generation Jackson Ward resident who I'm fairly convinced knows everything worth knowing about that neighborhood. Not the cleaned-up version. The real one, with all the texture and the loss and the resilience and the extraordinary pride that Jackson Ward holds. This was the Harlem of the South. A self-sufficient Black economic and cultural hub that survived Reconstruction, survived Jim Crow, and then got cut nearly in half by I-95 in the 1950s. The highway routed, as highways so often were, directly through a thriving Black neighborhood rather than around it. Hearing that history from someone whose family has been there for generations is a completely different thing than reading about it. I think a lot of us who love Richmond carry a version of this city in our heads that is genuinely real. The food, the arts, the river, the neighborhoods, the particular stubbornness and creativity of the people here... but that is also, if we're honest, somewhat edited. In many ways, we've made peace with the complicated parts by not looking at them too hard. I'm not trying to be preachy about this. I am, after all, the person who had never been to the Black History Museum despite recommending it to others for years. I don't have a lot of ground to stand on. But I think there's something to the idea that loving a place fully means knowing it fully — the beautiful parts and the brutal parts, the pride and the shame, the stories that made it into the textbooks and the ones that didn't. Richmond has all of that in extraordinary measure. And we are so lucky, genuinely lucky, to have institutions like the Valentine and the Black History Museum that are doing the hard work of holding all of it. I Know Richmond runs each fall and spring through the Valentine — six Sundays, deeply worth it if you can commit. But the Black History Museum is available to you right now, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 to 5, at 122 West Leigh Street in Jackson Ward. No waitlist. No six-week commitment. Just go. RVA has given a lot of us a lot. Knowing its full story feels like the least we can do in return.

There are more homes for sale right now than there were a year ago. I’ll give you a second to sit with that. Nationally, inventory has climbed back close to pre-pandemic levels. Here in Central Virginia, we’re not quite there yet. Richmond has never been a market that moves in lockstep with the national story, but the trend is real, and it matters for what you’re about to do next. This isn’t “the market is crashing” news. It’s not even “buyers finally win” news (sorry buyers!)  It’s something more useful than either of those headlines: it’s nuance. And nuance is exactly what helps people make smart decisions. So here’s your slightly nuanced Spring 2026 update for Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover.   The Headline: More Options, But the Good Stuff Still Moves FAST If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines because you felt like every decent house evaporated before you could even schedule a showing — you might just like spring 2026 a little better. There’s more to look at. In some pockets, there’s even a little more time to think. (I mean, don't get crazy, but you don't necessarily have only an hour to decide.) As of February 2026, homes in Richmond were averaging around 30 days on the market compared to 18 days this time last year. That’s not a slow market. That’s a market that’s breathing again. But here’s the thing that hasn’t changed, and I need you to hear it: a well-priced, well-presented home in a sought-after neighborhood is still not sitting around waiting for you to “think on it.” That number of days on market is an average, and trust me, those homes are going much faster. The median sale price in February hit $401,000 — up 5.4% from a year ago. Demand is real. Prices are holding. The market just has a bit more... texture to it now. More inventory is not the same as cheap inventory. It means more choices. That’s different.   Mortgage Rates: The Part You’re Already Tired of Hearing About As of March 12, 2026, Freddie Mac’s weekly survey puts the 30-year fixed rate at 6.11%. The week before, it was 6.00%. A year ago, it was 6.65%. So: rates are meaningfully lower than last year. They’re not 3%, and they’re not going to be 3% anytime soon. But here’s something Freddie Mac’s own chief economist pointed out: buyers are responding to rates in this range. Existing home sales were up 1.7% in February. Purchase applications are up year-over-year. People are buying houses. At 6%. And they’re not regretful about it. My standard speech to people waiting for rates to “drop” enough to make a dramatic difference: while you’re waiting, prices in Richmond are quietly ticking up. You don’t get that time back. And if rates do drop significantly, everyone else will have the same idea at the same moment, and you’ll be right back in a bidding war. (I say this with love. I also say it because it’s true.)   The RVA Market by Area (In Other Words, The Version That Actually Tells You Something) Richmond City + Henrico Still the most competitive corner of this market. Zillow data shows homes going pending in about a week in many City and Henrico neighborhoods — so if you find something you love, you don’t have the luxury of sleeping on it. That said, sellers who overreach on price are getting more feedback now than they were two years ago. The market is sharper, not softer. Chesterfield Strong demand from families and people relocating for space, schools, and value. New construction is giving buyers more options than they had, and that's creating some healthy competition between resale and new build. If you’re selling in Chesterfield, this is exactly why presentation and pricing need to be on point. If you’re buying, it’s worth knowing what new construction is doing nearby before you make an offer. Hanover Consistently in demand, especially for buyers who want more land, more quiet, and a little more room to breathe. Hanover benefits from excellent schools and a genuine sense of community — and buyers know it. Inventory here is still constrained relative to demand. Good homes don’t sit. If You’re Buying This Spring The best thing about spring 2026: you can actually be strategic. More inventory means you have real choices. But real choices require a real plan — because the best homes are still going fast, and you need to be ready when you find yours. Here’s what “ready” actually means: Pre-approved — not just pre-qualified. There’s a difference, and sellers can tell. Be clear on your must-haves vs. your nice-to-haves. In a moving market, indecision is expensive. Thoughtful about your offer. A clean, confident offer beats a sloppy high offer more often than people think. We can usually build in reasonable protections without torpedoing your chances. Working with someone who knows these specific neighborhoods. The data I just gave you tells part of the story. The other part is knowing that one block can change everything. I’m not here to rush you into anything. This is your decision and your timeline. But if you’re ready to understand what’s realistic in the neighborhoods you love — what’s moving, what’s sitting, and what a winning offer looks like right now — that’s exactly the kind of conversation I enjoy having.   If You’re Selling This Spring Spring is your season. Basically every year, but this year, too. More buyers are active. More people are doing those open-house Sunday drives. More people are finally shaking loose from the “I’m waiting to see what rates do” paralysis. You want to be on the market when that energy is here. But here’s the honest version: more inventory means buyers have more to compare you to. The homes that are sitting right now have something in common — they’re overpriced, underprepared, and often, both. And in a market with real options, buyers walk right past them. The homes that sell well in spring 2026 will: Be priced accurately from day one (not “let’s try high and see” — that strategy has a cost) Show beautifully — not over-renovated, just clean, intentional, and camera-ready Be marketed like they deserve to be — not just listed and hoped for If you’ve been thinking about selling and wondering whether to jump now or wait — this is my honest take: spring is the better window. Motivated buyers, longer days, prettier yards. Don’t overthink it. It's a good time.   The Bottom Line Richmond in spring 2026 is a market that rewards people who show up prepared. It’s not 2021 — but that’s fine, because 2021 was genuinely exhausting. It’s not a buyer’s free-for-all either — prices are still up, demand is still real, and this city is still getting national attention as a place people want to be. It’s a market that’s asking you to do your homework. And I can help with that. Want the “what does this mean for my specific situation” version?   Reach out with your neighborhood (or the one you’re eyeing), your price range, and your rough timeline — and I’ll give you a quick, no-pressure snapshot of what’s actually happening there. What’s moving, what’s not, and what I’d do if you were my favorite people.    

Baked Feta with Broccolini & Chickpeas A 30-minute, mostly hands-off vegetarian sheet pan dinner that's like a restaurant appetizer turned into a meal. Ingredients (serves 3–4) 1–2 bunches broccolini, ends trimmed 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 1 small red onion, cut into wedges (optional but nice) 1 can chickpeas (15 oz), drained, rinsed, and patted dry 8 oz block feta, cut into 4–6 thick slices 2–3 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp dried oregano ¼–½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional) Salt and black pepper ½ lemon (zest + juice), plus extra wedges for serving Fresh herbs for finishing (parsley, basil, or dill), chopped Directions Heat oven to 400°F and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment for easier cleanup. On the pan, toss broccolini, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas with olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Spread in an even layer. Nestle the feta slices among the vegetables and chickpeas so each piece has a bit of space. Roast 20–25 minutes, tossing the veggies and chickpeas once halfway through (leave the feta in place), until broccolini is browned, tomatoes are blistered, and feta is soft and lightly golden. As soon as it comes out of the oven, zest and squeeze the lemon over everything and shower with fresh herbs. Taste and adjust salt. How to serve Scoop into shallow bowls with toasted sourdough, naan, or pita. Or serve over orzo, couscous, or farro to turn it into a heartier main.

Lately, my GPS heading to the  Brookland Park area might as well just say “home: but with more clay and better sandwiches.” I started taking pottery at Hand/Thrown a few weeks ago, and I'm sure it seems like that may have fully become my personality. (If we’ve talked in the last month, you definitely know this.) My Fridays are now packed with wet clay and a fingernail brush (plus a few towels that I owe it to my plumbing to figure out before washing.) A quick history, because places have stories Brookland Park started life as a classic early-20th-century Richmond streetcar suburb, a little village just north of the river where people could live in solid, handsome houses and ride the line downtown to work. Over time, like a lot of Northside, it went through disinvestment, neglect, and all the usual “we’ll fix it later” stories that cities like to tell themselves. The good news? Later is now. You can feel the energy shifting on Brookland Park Boulevard—historic storefronts getting new life, long-time businesses holding their ground, neighbors who know each other’s dogs by name. It’s not glossy and filled with chains (thank goodness), and it’s not done (lots of works in progress), but that’s part of what makes it exciting. It’s a neighborhood in motion, not a finished product. What the market is actually doing On the real estate side, Brookland Park has quietly graduated from “up-and-coming” whisper to “you’re way too late if you wanted 2015 prices.” Most of the housing stock is early-1900s— think American Foursquares, brick two-stories, and bungalows with deep porches that make you want to sit down with a book and a glass of something cold. In the past year or so, we’ve seen renovated three-bed, two-bath homes hover in that sweet spot where they’re more affordable than many Fan or Museum District options, but not exactly “starter-home cheap” anymore. Think: multiple offers on the good ones, especially if they’ve kept the original trim and added a kitchen that doesn’t look like a total afterthought. Investors are here, yes. But so are first-time buyers, artists, young families, and people who’ve been in Northside for decades and are finally seeing businesses arrive that actually serve them. If you’re someone who loves a neighborhood with character, walkability, and the chance to be part of its next chapter—not just consume it once it’s finished—Brookland Park deserves a visit. Hand/Thrown: Where I Remember How to be a Beginner Back to the clay. Hand/Thrown is one of those studios that makes you feel both inspired and deeply humbled within five minutes of sitting at the wheel. The space is bright, full of people in aprons, and everyone is very kind about the fact that your mug looks like bowl and that you clearly don't know what you're doing. You wedge clay, you center, you fail, you try again. It’s not that different from renovating a hundred-year-old house—everything leans a little, nothing is perfectly square, and that’s half the charm. Scrap Creative Reuse: The Treasure Hunt A couple of blocks away, Scrap RVA is my version of a grown-up candy store. Imagine a creative reuse center where you can find vintage fabric, random office supplies, art materials, and the exact weird little thing you didn’t know you needed until you saw it in a bin (A jar of vintage buttons? Of course I need that!). It’s part thrift, part art closet, part community hub. Sometimes they get really unique and amazing things, and they always post them on their social media. If you want to follow and see what they've got in (or get tempted to maybe really commit to weaving when they suddenly have an amazing loom) go give them a follow on Instagram. Morty’s: My New Favorite Lunch Spot Then there’s Morty’s, where I met my friend Michelle for lunch a couple of weeks ago. It’s really kind of hard to describe- part market, part food shop, part restaurant and bar. The easy part is that it's delicious. You know how you have a sandwich and you literally can't stop thinking about it for days? (Tell me you do this too?) That's how that was. I had the Bear Bianco- roast beef, onion, horseradish cream, marinated zucchini, all piled on their delicious, crusty bread. They do have loads of other things, so I'll work my way through, but first, I'll be getting that one again. Ruby Scoops: The Long-Term Love Affair And then, of course, Ruby Scoops. I’ve been in love with their ice cream for years. They flavor like an art form—creative but not gimmicky, seasonal without making a fuss about it. Ruby Scoops is more than just dessert; it’s a third place. Kids with sticky hands, couples sharing a cone, friends catching up at the counter. In a neighborhood context, a shop like that signals something: this is a place where people linger. Where you don’t just run errands—you make memories. (And occasionally, you make very bad decisions about how many scoops you “need.”) Next up: Julio’s Bagels and The Smoky Mug On my list for the next Brookland Park field trip: Julio’s Bagels. I have been in a long term relationship with good bread as long as I can remember, and I’m always excited when a neighborhood gets a true, from-scratch bagel shop. Breakfast is one of the most underrated measures of quality-of-life in a neighborhood—can you walk to coffee? To a bagel? To a place that knows your order by the third visit? (This is something that I think RVA has gotten better and better about over time.) I will also be checking out the Smoky Mug soon- I've heard great things about both. Don't worry. I'll report back! Why Brookland Park matters (and not just to the MLS) Here’s what I love most: Brookland Park is a reminder that “desirable” isn’t just granite and a subway tile backsplash. It’s walkable blocks and small businesses and neighbors who look out for each other. It’s a creative studio where you can be a beginner, a reuse center that keeps good stuff out of landfills, a lunch spot where they know your name, and an ice cream shop that makes you show up even in January. As a real estate agent, I can tell you what’s sold, what’s pending, and what’s sitting. As a person who likes a good meal, a good coffee (and yes, some good ice cream), and a good neighborhood story, I can also tell you this: Brookland Park is one of the places in RVA where the story is getting more interesting nearly every day. Have you checked out Brookland Park lately—gotten some Ruby Scoops, wandered through Scrap RVA, or tried a class at Hand/Thrown? And, more importantly, who’s coming with me for bagels at Julio’s?

For a printable checklist, click HERE to download.

March in Richmond means the first real hints of spring — longer days, outdoor events returning, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, races, markets, and plenty of reasons to get out and explore. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, live music, seasonal festivals, or community gatherings, something is happening across RVA all month long. Below is your guide to the top events and activities happening in and around Richmond, VA, in March 2026. 📅 Sunday, March 1 Virginia Bridal & Wedding Expo | 1pm to 5pm |📍 Greater Richmond Convention Center 📅 March 6–8 48th Annual Richmond Home + Garden Show |📍 Richmond Raceway Complex 10 am - 7 pm (Friday and Saturday) and 10 am - 5 pm (Sunday) 📅 March 7–8 Richmond Coffee Festival 2026 | 8:45 am - 3 pm / 4 pm | 📍Richmond Convention Center 📅 Saturday, March 7 Virginia Credit Union River City Half & 5K | Starts at 8 am Nutzy’s Block Party | 10 am to 1 pm | 📍 CarMax Park Youth Entrepreneurs Summit | 12 pm to 4 pm | 📍Boys and Girls Club Teen & Community Center 📅 Sunday, March 8 Richmond Children’s Business Fair | 1 pm to 4 pm | 📍Dewey Gottwald Center Richmond Black Restaurant Experience (March 8–15) | 📍Various locations 📅 Monday, March 9 WIBRVA Serendipity Meetup | 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm | 📍Room3CNetworking event for local professionals and women in business. 📅 Friday, March 13 Dancing with the Stars 2026 | Starts at 7:30 pm | 📍Altria Theater 📅 March 13–15 Craftsmen's Spring Classic Art & Craft Festival | 10 am - 6 pm / 4 pm |📍Richmond Raceway Complex 📅 Saturday, March 14 Richmond St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Bar Crawl | 4 pm - 10 pm Shamrock & Roll Parking Lot Party | 11:30 am - 9 pm | 📍River City Roll Virginia Derby 2026 | Gates open 10 am - First Race 12 pm | 📍Colonial Downs Racetrack 📅 Sunday, March 15 St. Patty's Day Market | 1 pm - 5 pm | 📍Main Line Brewery 📅 March 19-21 Kam Patterson | Times vary by day | 📍The Funny Bone 📅 Saturday, March 21 Maymont Mansion Open House & Garden Party | 10am - 4pm | 📍Maymont 24th Annual Dog Jog 5K & Block Party | 10am - 5pm Bloom for a Cause Spring Market | 12pm - 5pm | 📍Agecroft Hall 📅 March 21–22 Church Hill Irish Festival | 10 am - 6 pm | 📍25th and Broad 📅 March 24 - 29 Broadway in Richmond: The Outsiders | Showtimes vary by day | 📍Altria Theater 📅 Sunday, March 29 Eras: Taylor Swift Tribute Drag Brunch | 2 pm | 📍The Funny Bones

At the beginning of 2026, I made a bingo card. (Yes, a literal bingo card. Yes, for my own life. And yes, I do it every year.) Read about it HERE) One of the boxes on my card? Make more art. Not "think about making art." Not "save 47 videos of other people making art on Instagram and feel vaguely inspired." Actually do it. So I signed up for a pottery class. I've been wanting to take classes at Hand / Thrown — the ceramics studio tucked into Northside on Brookland Park Boulevard — for a couple of years now. It just kept getting pushed to the "eventually" pile, the way things do. And when I realized it was once again, the first thing I put on that bingo card,  I thought: if not now, when? My friend Meghan, who has been taking classes there for a while, gave me one piece of advice before my first class last Friday: the wheel will humble you. She was, it turns out, completely correct. What Actually Happened at My First Class Here is what I always expect when I try something new: to be at least a bit of a natural. I may not be GREAT, but I can usually pick up things like this enough that I'm quickly at least "okay." But who knows? Maybe this is my hidden talent, waiting to be discovered. Here is what actually happened: my clay did not cooperate. It got too wet. It started disappearing. Then it went lopsided. Then it shrunk and went lopsided, which is apparently a skill unto itself. But here's the thing — I loved it anyway. Not in a "this is fine, I'm fine, everything is fine" way. In a genuine, something-shifted-in-me way. When you are trying to center clay on a wheel, you cannot be thinking about your email. You cannot be running through your to-do list. You cannot be half-present, which is, if we're honest, the way most of us move through most of our days. The wheel demands your full attention. It doesn't negotiate. That's the thing nobody tells you about creative pursuits: they don't just make something. They make you stop. And stopping, it turns out, is deeply underrated. Hand / Thrown is the perfect place to do it, by the way. They opened in 2018 with the goal of making ceramic arts accessible to everyone, from total beginners to experienced artists, and they've built exactly that kind of community. It doesn't feel intimidating. It feels like a place where it's okay to make a lopsided bowl (or a really, really thick and chunky cup)  and laugh about it. Which, as it happens, is exactly what I needed. The Other Things on the Creativity Square Pottery isn't the only square I'm working on. I've also been drawing every day — nothing fancy, nothing that's going to end up in a gallery. Just a sketchbook and a pen and ten or fifteen minutes of making marks on paper. It's the consistency that matters, not the output. (I say this to myself regularly, on the days when what I've drawn looks like something a very tired child produced.) And last weekend, I hosted a little "crafternoon" gathering. Just a group of some of my favorite women, tables covered in supplies, making things and being together. No phones out, no super structured activity, no pressure to produce anything worth keeping (and I didn't even take pictures!). Just hands busy and conversation easy and an afternoon that felt, like much needed like medicine. These things — the pottery, the drawing, the crafternoon — they don't feel like self-care in the way that word usually gets used. They feel like something more than that. More for me, in a deeper way. More transformative than a manicure, where I always feel anxious to move or escape. And for me, much more restorative than a glass of wine on the couch. Not that those things don't have their place. They absolutely do. But this is different. This is the kind of thing that makes you feel like yourself again. A Few Ideas If You're Ready to Try Something You don't need a bingo card (though I highly recommend one). You just need to decide that your creative thing is worth an hour or two. A few starting points, in case you need them: If you want to try pottery: Hand / Thrown offers one-day intro classes — no commitment, no experience needed, just show up and see if the wheel speaks to you. (Fair warning: it may humble you. That's part of it.) Find them at 123 W Brookland Park Blvd in Northside, right down the street from Ruby Scoops, if you need a post-class treat incentive. You're welcome. If you want to draw but feel like you "can't": You can. Get a cheap sketchbook and just start. Draw your coffee cup. Draw your dog looking at you judgmentally. Draw something badly and don't throw it away. Ten minutes a day is enough to start rewiring your brain's relationship with making things. If you want community around it: Host your own crafternoon. Seriously. Just text four people, tell them to bring whatever they're working on (or nothing at all, you'll have supplies), put some snacks out, and see what happens. The bar is lower than you think and the payoff is much higher. If you want something completely different: Richmond is genuinely full of options — painting classes, printmaking, bookbinding, textile arts, music lessons, writing groups. The Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) alone has more classes than you could take in a year. There is a creative thing with your name on it. You just have to say yes to it. The Point Here's what I keep coming back to: we spend a lot of time doing things for other people, or for a goal, or for a result. The pottery isn't for a goal. The drawing isn't for a result. The crafternoon wasn't for anyone's Instagram (I mean, it might have been good there, but again- no pictures. I was crafting!) These things are just for me. And somewhere along the way, I think a lot of us forgot to have those. So if there's something you've been putting on the "eventually" list — a class, a hobby, a skill, a Sunday morning with a sketchbook and no agenda — I'd gently suggest that eventually is now. The wheel (or whatever) may humble you. But that's kind of the whole point.