Around Richmond

I've been taking a course called "I Know Richmond" through The Valentine, and if you follow me on social media, you already know this. I haven't stopped talking about it. Every session has been great, and I’ve learned so much about this city I love. But the one that seriously stopped me in my tracks was a visit to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia with Faithe Norrell, followed by a walking tour of Jackson Ward led by historian Gary Flowers. I thought I knew this neighborhood. I did not know this neighborhood half as well as I thought I did.. That's the thing about Richmond. You can live here for decades and still find yourself standing on a sidewalk, listening to someone tell a story you've never heard, thinking: how did I not know this? Jackson Ward gave me several of those moments in one afternoon. A Neighborhood With One of the Most Important Stories in America Jackson Ward is often called the "Harlem of the South," and that comparison is earned. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was one of the most prosperous African American communities in the country. A thriving center of Black-owned businesses, banks, theaters, and civic life, operating in full and remarkable force inside the suffocating constraints of Jim Crow Richmond. Maggie L. Walker, born and raised here, became the first woman in American history to charter and serve as president of a bank. Her home on East Leigh Street is a National Historic Site. The neighborhood produced entrepreneurs, artists, and civic leaders who served a community the rest of the city systematically refused to. You simply can’t really understand Richmond without understanding Jackson Ward. The Story Behind the Bojangles Statue  There is a 9½-foot aluminum statue of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson at the intersection of Leigh Street and Chamberlayne Parkway. Most people know Bojangles as one of the greatest tap dancers who ever lived, and as a Richmond native son. That part is true and worth celebrating on its own (and the reason I always thought that statue was there.) But here's what it’s is really about. In 1933, Robinson saw what was happening at the intersection outside Armstrong High School, which was the segregated Black high school in Jackson Ward. Black children crossing Leigh Street to get to school had been struck by passing cars on more than one occasion. The city of Richmond knew. The city did nothing. So Robinson went to city council himself and paid out of his own pocket to have a stoplight installed at Adams and Leigh streets, so the children would be safe getting to school. The statue, dedicated in 1973, was the first erected in Richmond to honor a Black person. It stands at that same intersection. And now, every time I drive through Jackson Ward, I see it differently. That is what a good tour, and someone who knows their stuff, does. Gary Flowers did not just give us dates and names. He gave us the why behind everything. The personal stories, the neighborhood tales. And in Jackson Ward, those things absolutely tell a more layered story than the “official” one.  The Black History Museum Before the walking tour, we spent a couple of hours at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, and I will be honest: it was a really powerful day. Faithe Norrell (a retired 42 year teacher and librarian whose grandparents were born enslaved), led us on the tour, and gave us context far beyond the placards on the exhibits.. The collections are significant, the exhibitions are thoughtful, and the building itself, the Leigh Street Armory, is a piece of history in its own right. (In fact, a lot of the brickwork on the Armory was done by Armstead Walker, Maggie’s husband. He specialized in the rounded forms like turrets, etc, done in brick.) If you have lived in Richmond for years and have not been, make the trip. I promise, you will leave knowing more about this city than when you walked in. You might cry, which I did, and you’ll definitely leave with a different view of much of Richmond. Where to Eat in Jackson Ward The neighborhood's restaurant scene reflects the same mix of history and momentum you feel everywhere you look here. Start at Mama J's Kitchen if you want to understand what soul food actually means in Richmond. Fried chicken, candied yams, cornbread. The kind of cooking that has its own gravitational pull, made by people who have been doing this for a long time and mean every bite of it. There may be lines, and if so, they are worth it.  Then there's Lillie Pearl, which is a whole different kind of special. Chef Michael Lindsey and his wife Kimberly Love-Lindsey built this restaurant as a celebration of his grandmothers' legacies, taking West African heirloom ingredients and his North Carolina roots of Southern African American cuisine through a journey of global influences. The result is New American cooking that feels deeply personal without being precious about it. Brunch is where Lindsey is having the most fun, with dishes like a short rib breakfast burrito smothered in green chile queso and a peach cobbler French toast. Make a reservation and go check it out.  For something quieter and completely distinct, wander into Buna Kurs. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and those origins come to life inside this Jackson Ward cafe, where they brew their signature single-origin medium roast of Yirgacheffe beans every day. It is bright and fruity and not like anything else in RVA. The food is worth exploring too. This is the kind of place that makes a neighborhood feel genuinely interesting, and brings the feeling of a tapestry of culture.  The Architecture Speaking of interesting: the streetscape in Jackson Ward is extraordinary and worth slowing down for. Ornate Italianate rowhouses with cast-iron details on the facades, Victorian-era buildings with bones that simply do not exist in new construction. This is a walkable, urban neighborhood where the built environment tells you something true about the people who built it and the community that sustained it.  What the Real Estate Market Is Doing For buyers researching Richmond, Jackson Ward offers something rare: historically significant architecture in a central, walkable location with real cultural depth. Well-restored properties here move with urgency. Buyers who understand what they are looking at tend not to hesitate. What you are buying is not just square footage. It is a neighborhood with a story worth knowing, and a daily life that has actual texture. That combination is harder to find than most people realize, and buyers who find it here tend to stay. If you are relocating to Richmond and want to talk through what is available and what the neighborhood actually feels like on a Tuesday morning, I am happy to be your very opinionated local guide. But first: take the walking tour, or at a minimum, do a little research. Everything else makes more sense after that.  Have you spent time in Jackson Ward? And if you are researching Richmond neighborhoods from out of town, what questions can I answer? This is exactly what I am here for, so bring on the questions!

April is when Richmond really starts to come alive again. Patios fill up, festivals return, and there’s something happening just about every day—whether you’re looking for live music, family-friendly events, or a reason to get outside. If you’re planning your month (or just your weekends), here’s a look at what’s happening around Richmond this April. 📅 Saturday, April 4th Dominion Energy Family Easter | 9am to 12pm |📍 Maymont Edgar's Enchanted Garden | 10am to 12pm |📍 The Poe Museum | Poetry, Crafts, Games, and Storytime The Hunt | 2:30pm to 12pm |📍 The Space at Norches | Indoor Egg Hunt and Activities Hardywood Bunny Hop | 12 pm to 4 pm |📍Hardywood - West Creek 📅 Tuesday, April 7th Opening Night at Carmax Park | First Pitch at 7:05 pm | 📍 Carmax Park 📅 Wednesday, April 8th An Evening with John Legend | 7:30 pm | 📍 Altria Theater 📅 April 10th & 11th Hermitage Richmond Pop-Up Artisan Market | 10am to 4pm |📍 1600 Westwood Ave, Richmond, VA 23227 Richmond African American Book Festival | 11am to 4pm |📍 Diversity Richmond 📅 April 10th - 12th The Bizarre Bazaar 34th Spring Collection |📍Richmond Raceway Complex Friday, April 10th - 10am to 7pm Saturday, April 11th - 10am to 6pm Sunday, April 12th - 10am to 5pm 📅 Saturday, April 11th A Swingin' Centennial Celebration | 6 pm to 9 pm | 📍Agecroft Hall & Gardens Scotchtown's 5th Annual Fiber Festival | 10 am to 4 pm | 📍Patrick Henry's Scotchtown 📅 Sunday, April 12th Fetch Fest | 1 pm to 4 pm | 📍Hardywood Park - West Creek See Yourself Here: VMFA Community Celebration | 1 pm to 4 pm | 📍Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 📅 Thursday, April 16th Alabama Shakes | 8:30 pm | 📍The Allianz Amphitheater 📅 Friday, April 17th Disco, Always: A Harry Styles Dance Night | 8:30 pm | 📍The Canal Club 📅 April 18th & 19th 2026 Richmond Ren Faire | 10 am to 6 pm | 📍Dorey Park 📅 Saturday, April 18th Spring Artisan Market | 12 pm to 5 pm | 📍Bingo Beer Co Ukrop's Monument 10k | 8 am to 1 pm | 📍Broad St + Harrison St Richmond Book Festival | 11 am to 3 pm | 📍Rueger Park/Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary 📅 Sunday, April 19th Best Buddies Richmond Friendship Walk | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm | 📍Richmond Kickers 2026 Spring Artisan Market | 12 pm to 5 pm | 📍Hardywood - Richmond 📅 April 21st - 26th The Wiz | Showtimes Vary |📍Altria Theater 📅 Thursday, April 23rd 2026 Dominion Energy Richmond History Makers | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm |📍The Valentine Museum 📅 Saturday, April 25th Ashland Train Day | 10 am - 4 pm |📍Ashland Farmer's Market Herbs Galore | 8 am - 3 pm |📍Maymont

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.

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?

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

If you know Richmond at all, you probably know we love a festival. A reason to get together. We adore a little “where are you, what are you doing, let's meet up?” (If there's a beer truck, and music, even better, but that's not what we're talking about here.) The Walk for Peace (in Richmond as I type, but they came into the area yesterday by way of Petersburg) felt like the opposite of that kind of energy—on purpose. A group of Venerable Buddhist monks (the Venerable Monks of the Dhammacetiya) came through Richmond, Virginia today as part of their Walk for Peace—a 120 day on-foot journey from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C.. But instead of bringing the usual “big event” vibe, they brought quiet. Purpose. Peace. This week’s Richmond highlight is… stillness. I got to see them yesterday in Chester, Virginia, and it was beautiful, quiet, lovely, and inspiring. It wasn’t performative. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t trying to sell anyone on anything. It was simply a steady line of footsteps—and a crowd of all ages and all types who, for once, seemed perfectly willing to match that energy. In the frozen spot of winter we’re in right now, it felt unifying in a way that surprised me. They're headed out of Richmond tomorrow, and continue on their way to Washington, DC, where they'll arrive next week. The quote I keep replaying You know when a sentence lands so well that you think about it for days? This is the one that has really stuck with me (from their social media): “We walk not to bring you peace, but to remind you it never left—it's been there through every storm, every heartbreak, every lonely night, waiting with infinite patience for you to notice it again. May our footsteps help you turn inward and find it. And may that discovery be like sunrise after the longest night, dispelling shadows you thought were permanent and filling your whole being with radiant wellness, with comfort, with belonging.” That’s… a lot of truth in one breath. Powerful and beautiful. 3–5 practical ways to support the monks (and show up respectfully) 1) Donate financially (official options) The official “How to Support” page lists an online donation option (via Zeffy) and also a Zelle option. Zelle: [email protected] 2) Offer food support (if you’re local / coordinating a stop) They also have a specific food donation offer form and a coordinator phone number listed for food support. 3) Track where they are in real time Their official Live Map is updated periodically (they note roughly every 15–60 minutes). If you’re trying to catch a stop location rather than guessing along the route, this is the best way. 4) Follow itinerary updates Their Overview Map is updated once daily at night, and they point people to their official Facebook updates for the most current daily specifics. There are loads of videos, photos, and updates to be found there. Aloka, the "Peace Dog" even has his own social media. 5) A quick note on “how to be there” If you’re going out to watch or walk nearby: bring your calm. Give space. Let it be quiet. A few simple ways to “turn inward” and find the peace they’re pointing to Not as a fix, or a  life overhaul. Just small, practical ways to notice what’s already there, and let it center you in a world that is all too often completely chaotic: 1) The 60-second “return” Set a timer for one minute.Breathe in slowly. Breathe out slower.On each exhale, silently think: “Here.”That’s it. 2) One block, no phone Walk one block (or one minute inside your house if it’s too cold).Feel your feet. Notice sound. Notice light.If your mind spins, just come back to: step… step… step… 3) The “name three” reset When you feel edgy or overwhelmed, name: 3 things you can see 3 things you can hear 3 sensations you can feel It’s a fast way to come back into your body. 4) A tiny kindness (quietly) Hold a door. Send a “thinking of you” text. Tip a little extra if you can.Not for karma points, but just because it gently reorients you toward connection. What I’m taking with me We love a reason to get together. But there’s something about a community gathering around quiet—especially in winter—that feels like a different kind of medicine. A reminder that belonging can be simple. That comfort can be shared. That peace doesn’t have to be manufactured. Maybe it never left.Maybe it’s just been waiting—patiently—for us to notice again. We may not all be able to walk their walk, but hopefully we all learn a bit from it.

February in Richmond is packed with ways to get out, stay cozy, and enjoy everything RVA has to offer. From Valentine’s Day celebrations and Galentine’s markets to festivals, live music, family-friendly activities, and community events, something is happening almost every day of the month. Below, you’ll find a day-by-day guide to events in and around Richmond, VA for February 2026, making it easy to plan your weekends, or any day. Whether you’re looking for date-night ideas, things to do with friends or family, or local happenings to explore solo, this list has you covered. Sunday, February 1 🎨 Open Studio Sunday | RVA Community Makers – 1:00 PM–3:00 PM at VMFA Thursday, February 5 ❓ Trivia Night at Bingo (Scotts Addition) – 7:00 PM–9:00 PM 🎭 The Friendship & Music of Loretta Lynn & Patsy Cline – 7:00 PM. Friday, February 6 🖼 After 5 Fridays at VMFA – 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Galentine's Bloom Bar – 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Saturday, February 7 🍦 Ice Cream for Breakfast at Ruby Scoops – 8:00 AM–6:00 PM 🍦 National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day at Gelati Celesti – 9:00 AM–12:00 PM 🍽 Scotty’s Ultimate Galentine’s Brunch – 11:00 AM–3:00 PM ❤️ Richmond Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival 2026 - 11:30 AM-9:00 PM 🎶 An Evening with Leslie and The Dots @ Black Iris Social Club – 8:00 PM 🎶 Candlelight: The Best of Bridgerton on Strings – 8:45 PM–10:00 PM 🐶 Beauty & the Beast Dog Show (Richmond Raceway Complex) – All day ❄️ Snowball Festival – 11:00 AM–4:00 PM 🔥🐴 ChinaFest: Year of the Fire Horse | Family Day - 10:00 AM-4:30 PM Sunday, February 8 💕 Lakeside Love Fest 2026 – 11:00 AM–3:00 PM at Lakeside Farmer’s Market Valentine's Day Market – 1:00 PM–5:00 PM Wednesday, February 11 🎷 Dominion Energy Jazz Café – 6:00 PM–8:00 PM at VMFA Thursday, February 12 🐶 Dog Kissing Booth at Richmond SPCA – 4:00 PM–7:00 PM 🖼 RVA Community Makers 2026 Unveiling at VMFA – 6:00 PM 💡 Laser Show: Prince @ Science Museum of Virginia – 6:30 PM & 8:15 PM ❓ Trivia Night at Bingo – 7:00 PM–9:00 PM Friday, February 13 🖼 After 5 Fridays at VMFA – 6:00 PM–8:00 PM 🎭 Dark Valentine’s Fantasy Ball: A Morbid Masquerade (21+) – 8:00 PM–1:00 AM Saturday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day 🎧 Silent Valentine Party – 7:00 PM–10:00 PM 🎶 My Funny Valentine: Scott Wichmann & Friends – 8:00 PM–10:00 PM 🍺 Pours & Pasties: Valentine’s Edition – 9:00 PM–11:00 PM 🦎 Richmond Reptile Expo – 9:00 AM (Richmond Raceway Complex) Comedy Show: LOLentine's – 8:00 PM–10:00 PM Sunday, February 15 💐 2026 Galentine’s Day Market at Hardywood – 12:00 PM–5:00 PM 🍻 Sips & Sweethearts @ Cirrus Vodka – 1:00 PM–4:00 PM 🎱 Bingo at Bingo – 3:00 PM–5:00 PM Wednesday, February 18 🎷 Dominion Energy Jazz Café – 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Thursday, February 19 ❓ Trivia Night at Bingo – 7:00 PM–9:00 PM Friday–Sunday, February 20–22 🌸 History Blooms @ Virginia Museum of History & Culture (Floral Exhibit) – Daily Saturday, February 21 🍻 Richmond Beer Fest – 12:00 PM–4:00 PM Saturday, February 28 🌍 World Wildlife Day & RVA Environmental Film Festival @ Maymont – 10:00 AM–4:00 PM ⭐ Ongoing/Running All Month 🎨 RVA Community Makers 2026 Art Installation – Feb 13 to Mar 29 at VMFA

The stretch between late fall and the holiday season in Richmond, VA hits different. The light gets a little softer, markets start popping up everywhere, and calendars start filling faster than the parking lot at Libbie Market on a Saturday morning. So before the holiday shopping lists, school programs, travel plans, and cookie swaps sweep us into a flurry (hush, Mariah, it's not time yet) this year, I'm taking a little time to get back to basics. Think: no-scroll mornings, tech-free afternoons, and simple rituals that remind us life doesn’t have to move at the speed of a push notification. Call it pre-holiday grounding. Call it touching some RVA grass. Call it protecting your peace.Whatever you want to call it, here are some local analog adventures to help you slow down and savor the season. Treats & Tiny Rituals Start with zero obligations and something delicious. Croissant & Sidewalk Sunshine at Idle Hands BakeryFlaky pastry. Hot coffee. Warm sun with a chill in the air. Your only to-do is be here. Canelés & Coffee from WPA Bakery - Forest Hill ParkPick up the caramelized, custardy magic that is a WPA canelé, then head to Forest Hill Park. Sip coffee. Study the leaves. This is meditation, Richmond-style. Ukrop’s Rainbow Cookies from Libbie MarketRichmond nostalgia in cookie form. No explanation needed. Go anywhere that feeds your childhood vibes. Build-Your-Own Tea Ritual at ApothecCraft a custom blend, breathe in herbs and warm spices, and let the cozy atmosphere wrap around you like a wool scarf. Quiet Corners to Read Something (Paper Pages Only) Richmond has no shortage of indie bookstores—and fall is their season to shine. Shelf Life Books (Carytown) — New, used, and always something local. Stop, browse, talk books, or just read. Fountain Bookstore (Shockoe Slip) — The handwritten staff notes alone are worth the trip. Abi’s Books & Brews (1212 1/2 Cary) — A book nook with coffee, personality, and charm. The Richmond Zine Library at Studio Two Three — Micro-press gems and creativity that doesn’t need algorithms to thrive. Tip: Pick something to read right now. Don’t just stack it on your nightstand. Okay, okay. I'm thinning my TBR pile. Slow Walks & Nature Breathing You don’t have to “go on a hike.” Just go. And leave the phone behind—or at least in your pocket in airplane mode. Buttermilk Trail (James River Park System)River views, quiet woods, and enough roots and rocks to keep you literally grounded. Fountain Lake at Byrd ParkSit. Watch ducks or just the water. Let somebody else fight their inbox. Agecroft Hall GardensTudor architecture and rolling river breezes  mean instant tranquility. Garden wandering encouraged. Cozy Creative Moments Reconnect with the joy of making something—anything—just for you. Hand-Building Ceramics at Hand/ThrownHands in clay > thumbs on glass screens. All day every day. Candle Making at Brown House Candle CompanyPour fragrance, not energy into your email. Bonus, you have something that smells great when you get back home. Sketching in the VMFA Sculpture GardenNo photos. No filters. Just pencil, paper, and real-time seeing. Field-Note Journaling at Libby Hill ParkThat skyline view has inspired writers for a century. Add yourself to the list and write about your plans, your gratitudes, or maybe even a short store. Stained Glass Workshop at Mojo GlassworksLet the colors and quiet work enchant you. Creativity is a muscle—and this season is prime time to stretch it and do something just a little different. For you. Why This Matters (Especially in Richmond) Richmond is absolutely a city that beautifully blends history and creativity, tradition and innovation, community and individuality. But during the holiday rush, even RVA can start to feel like it’s spinning too fast. Going analog isn’t about ditching tech forever.It’s about remembering we lived whole, beautiful lives before text alerts, group chats, and same-day delivery. It’s about: Grounding before givingRecharging so you can show up for othersFinding stillness in a city filled with motionSavoring small sensory joys—warm bread, crunchy leaves, candlelight, clay, paper, river air These little pauses make the season richer, and can help center you before you're being pulled in so many directions. Ready to Slow Down? Save this list. Try one thing this week. Then one next week.Invite a friend. Go solo. Sip, wander, read, make, and notice. Because the best gift you give yourself before the holidays is presence—and Richmond gives us the perfect backdrop to practice it. 💡 Want More Richmond Local Guides? If you're new here, hi! I'm Cindy. I live and breathe RVA—its neighborhoods, parks, bakeries, indie shops, and yes…its real estate market too. Follow along for neighborhood spotlights, hidden-gem itineraries, cozy day plans, and a local’s guide to living your very best Richmond life.

5 Fall Weekend Escapes from Richmond That Are Just Far Enough to FEEL Like An Escape What I'm loving right now? A little fall getaway! Before things get holiday crazy, it's the perfect time to get out of town, relax, recharge, and check out somewhere you may have never been. I slipped down to Boone last weekend- to visit my son, but it was also so nice to just breathe some clean mountain air, enjoy the changing colors, and rest a bit before things really get busy with events and holidays. It was so nice, I thought I'd share some of my favorite getaways that are just far enough to feel like a real getaway, but close enough to do on a weekend from the Richmond area.  1. Boone, North Carolina (~5.5-6 hours) Highlights & Things to Do Dine at The Gamekeeper - A rare for me 10/10 dining experience. Absolutely fantastic food and service. Wild game, bold flavors, and a cozy, elevated mountain lodge ambiance. Reservations recommended. More info HERE Grandfather Mountain & Mile-High Swinging Bridge - Hike the trails, see wildlife habitats, and cross the bridge (if you're not afraid of heights) for amazing Blue Ridge Parkway- Boone is home to lots of great scenic overlooks, small spur hikes (Rough Ridge, Linn Cove Viaduct), and this is the perfect time of year for those sunset views. Mystery Hill & Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster - Mystery Hill offers “gravity-defying” illusions, and Wilderness Run, in Banner Elk, is an outdoor alpine coaster, if you're an adrenaline junkie like me. Stroll downtown Boone / sample local brews & galleries- Explore great independent shops, local art, and breweries (Appalachian Mountain Brewery is a favorite, and Lost Province is an awesome spot for great food and great beer.) Boone is probably my current favorite, because my son (always my favorite) lives there, but it's also just generally fantastic, with really laid back vibes. 2. New River Gorge, West Virginia (~4.5–5.5 hours) Highlights & Things to Do Bridge Walk (under the New River Gorge Bridge) - A guided catwalk experience under the bridge that gives stunning angles and daring views. (Another good one for the adrenaline rush lovers!) Hiking to overlooks -Trails like Endless Wall, Long Point, and Grandview offer fun hikes, and gorgeous panoramic canyon vistas. River adventures- There are options for all levels on the river, whether you want a chill float or a whitewater adventure. Drive Fayette Station Road & rim backroads- Explore lesser-traveled rim roads that hug the gorge’s edge. (Just keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel!) Coal-town history & echoes of ghosts- Visit Thurmond (almost ghost-town status), old mining relics, and railway ruins for a real sense of the area's history. 3. Abingdon, Virginia (~3.5-4.5 hours) Highlights & Things to Do Virginia Creeper Trail -A 34.3-mile rail-to-trail route connecting Abingdon → Damascus → Whitetop. The section from Abingdon to Damascus is popular, mostly downhill, and scenic. This section was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, but has recently reopened, and these towns need your support. Catch a performance at Barter Theatre — A historic regional theatre with rotating shows, musicals, and local flavor. I saw a show here with my mom and brother a couple of years ago, and we all really enjoyed it! William King Museum of Art / Arts Depot — Regional art exhibits, sculpture gardens, and community arts. Historic downtown & walking tours — Brick streets, antique shops, café stops, and guided heritage walks. Ghost walks & storytelling — Local lore and wonderful stories abound; private or guided ghost tours with spooky tales of old homes and legends. 4. Wytheville, Virginia / Big Walker Lookout (~3–4 hours) Highlights & Things to Do Big Walker Lookout Tower & swinging bridge — Climb up, cross the bridge, soak in vistas, enjoy the store and occasional live music. Historic walking tour / architecture — Visit Trinkle Mansion, local churches, and charming historic districts. Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum — Explore the life of President Wilson’s second wife, born in Wytheville. Nature trails & nearby hikes — Look for trails around Crystal Springs, nearby parks, or dreamy, wooded escapes. Local festivals & sweet treats — The lookout site often features weekend music, artisans, and a classic country store with fudge and local goods. Check HERE for more info! 5. “Heart of Appalachia” Loop — Southwest Virginia (~4–6 hrs, flexible) Highlights & Things to Do Drive scenic backroads through the Heart of Appalachia region — Ridge-top roads, hidden turns, and no big crowds. Visit small towns: Norton, Pound, Damascus - Each town has its character: local cafés, craft shops, vintage finds. Hidden waterfalls & forest hikes - Seek out under-the-radar cascades off the beaten path. Music & artisan fairs along The Crooked Road — Indoor/outdoor performances, local mountain music, craft markets and good food. Farm stands & roadside dining gems - If you love country, Southern fare, let your hunger guide you. Small shops, produce stands, and family restaurants are a huge part of the adventure here, so make sure you stop along the way! (Robo's Drive In in Pound is a classic drive in like you don't see any more. Milkshakes, foot long chili dogs, and more. I've loved it since I was a little kid!)