Hello Thursday.
April 25 2024
We’re continuing our neighborhood series + 43% of readers asked us to profile Jackson Ward next.
This is the product of the Bloomberg Project Road Mural on W. Marshall St. | Photo by @angelo7cruz
Jackson Ward was known as “the Harlem of the South,” and was seen as the epicenter of Black business, finance, and entertainment. Richmonders in the early 20th century could’ve rubbed shoulders with jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald + Duke Ellington, as well as influential locals like Maggie L. Walker and John Mitchell, Jr.
So let’s adventure to the Ward:
Public parking lots
- 5th and Broad St.
- 404 1/2 N. 2nd St.
- 102 E. Marshall St.
Get some lunch:
Mama J’s, 415 N. 1st St.
- Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Try this: Beef Brisket with corn muffins + fresh collard greens 🥬
Take a walk to one of these attractions:
Black History Museum & Cultural Center,122 W. Leigh St.
- $10 for adults, discounts available for children, seniors + military
- Pro tip: Contact the museum to set up a guided group tour
Gallery5 Arts, 200 W. Marshall St.
- Hosts events for all kinds of artists and local organizations — from visual art and music to culinary works
- Want to be in the know? Catch up on what’s going on this week at Gallery5 on our events calendar.
Statue of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson,Corner of W. Leigh + N. Adams St.
- Did you know? The statue was erected at this intersection in 1973 where Robinson paid to have a stoplight installed after a child was nearly hit by a car
- May 25 is now National Tap Dance Day in honor of Robinson, the world’s greatest tap dancer.
The Hippodrome once hosted jazz legends like Louis Armstrong + Cab Calloway | Photo by hippodromerichmond.com
Stop for a historic photo op:
Hippodrome Theater, 528 N. 2nd St.
- Open for special events only, like the upcoming All Black Celebration for VUU Homecoming this Friday
- Brunch is available at its Speakeasy Grill Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Pro tip: you can take a self-guided tour of the whole historic theater online.
There’s still much more Richmond to explore. Pop by our Church Hill story for a refresher, then check out our poll below to tell us which neighborhood we should highlight next.
Which neighborhood should we look into next?
We would love to look into your favorite spots.
- The Fan
- Museum District
- Manchester
- Shockoe Slip
Today
- The Joyful Neuroscience of Risk-Taking | Wed., Oct. 6 | 12 p.m. | Virtual, RSVP | Free | Learn about stress management in this Lunch Break Science program from the Science Museum of Virginia. 🧠
- Midnight North | Wed., Oct. 6 | 7 p.m. | The Camel | $15 | California country-rock at The Camel. 🎶
Thursday
Friday
- 2021 Richmond Folk Festival | Fri., Oct. 8-Sun., Oct. 10 | Hours vary | Brown’s Island | Free | This three-day event will feature live music + dancing from a diverse array of performers.
- Ansel Adams Up Close and Personal | Fri., Oct. 8 | 6:30 p.m. | VMFA | $5+ | Scholar + former assistant to Ansel Adams Andrea Gray Stillman will provide an intimate view of the exhibit. Register to watch the event livestream for free.
Saturday
- Suggesting Rhythm | Sat., Oct. 9 | 8 p.m. | The Broadberry | $15+ | Check out this Richmond-based tribute to the chill vibes of The Grateful Dead.
- 2021 RVA RIMBY Festival | Sat. Oct. 9 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Libbie Mill | Free | A family-friendly festival to help you enjoy what’s right in your backyard - local businesses, crafts + food.
Sunday
- 2021 Virginia Black Beauty Expo | Sun., Oct. 10 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Richmond Raceway | $10+ | A trade show built to support Black creatives and businesses in hair, beauty, photography + fashion. 👗
- Recreational Tree Climbing | Sun., Oct. 10 | 1-3 p.m. | Forest Hill Park | $22 | Riverside Outfitters will help visitors learn to ascend into the canopies of Forest Hill.
Monday
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Every day is different for a Woodfin technician (we know you’ve seen their iconic big blue vans driving around Richmond). Last month, we got to try out the job while following along on a service call.
Woodfin technicians get their own work vans to travel to calls | Photo by the RICtoday team
What we tried:
It’s fall, which means the chilly months are around the corner, and you don’t want to be caught without a working heater. Eric Parrish, the technician we spent the day with, told us it’s best to get your heating equipment checked + cleaned annually, especially in October.
We were able to watch him perform an annual tune-up for an oil furnace. Did you know not many homes in the Richmond area use this type of system anymore? Now, more modern homes have gas, propane, or electric heating units.
The inside of an oil furnace works almost like a small engine, with transmissions, fuses + moving parts to create flames which heat your home. Ⓟ
Weather
- 80º | Showers | 60% chance of rain
Civic
- Richmond City Council is set on keeping $40 million of COVID relief aid for 2 new community centers. The centers are planned for T.B. Smith Park + Lucks Field. The official budget paperwork will be introduced next Monday, then a final adoption vote will happen Mon., Oct. 25. 💸 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Community
- Richmond’s annual leaf collection program is now active. Residents can bring up to 10 bags to be collected on trash day. Check out this map to figure out the sector in which you live. You can also dispose of them at East Richmond Road Convenience Center, Maury St. Landfill + the Transfer Station at N. Hopkins Rd. 🍂
State
- The DMV is now offering in-person service every other day at all locations across Virginia. Appointment-only days are Mon., Wed., and Fri. + walk-ins are available on Tues., Thurs., and Fri. You can make appointments and check which services are being offered online. (ABC8)
Edu
- Richmond Public Schools will adjust attendance policies due to extended absences during the pandemic. Students are allowed to miss 18 days before losing class credit, but this change means an excused absence won’t count towards those days. They will need documentation for the absence to be excused. (CBS6)
DYK
- The University of Richmond announced its third class of goats heading back to campus. Local farm RVA Goats and Honey is sending 40-60 goats to help eat overgrown vegetation in the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor. Letting the goats eat some of these plants helps prevent invasive plant species from spreading + prevents the need for herbicide. 🐐 (UR News)
Cause
- Local nonprofit Keep Virginia Cozy is working with Creative Mornings RVA to host a clean up event at Pump House Park this Friday at 8:45 a.m. Register to help out here. Pro tip: Look out for the Keep Virginia Cozy tent, that’s where the cleanup will start. 🚮
- Richmond Community ToolBank is looking for volunteers to help Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield public schools build outdoor furniture. Volunteers will help construct items for playgrounds, little free libraries, benches + garden beds around school campuses. Sign up here — no construction experience necessary. 🔨
Jobs
- The upcoming Mexican spot Lolita's is hiring bartenders + servers right now. It’s due to open at 2929 W. Cary St. very soon. Contact the owners, who also own Little Mexico, for more information. 🌮
Drink
- Shockoe Wine has sold out its first round of its 2019 Vintage Red blend — that’s over 1,200 bottles — and is now offering reservations for a 3-pack or whole case of its second round of bottles through this Friday. Orders will ship through late October. 🍷
- Drink LMNT replaces essential electrolytes with no sugar, no coloring, no artificial ingredients, or any other junk found in conventional electrolyte drinks. Get your free LMNT Sample Pack and only cover the cost of shipping. Ⓟ
Summertime may be over, but that’s not stopping these paddlesport pals from learning something new at Bellemeade Community Center on Lynhaven Ave.
RVA Paddlesports hosts weekly pool sessions at the center for both kids + adults ― check out hours and class details here. The watersports experts say it’s important to learn roll recovery skills in the safety of a pool, especially if you’re looking to try out some of the James River rapids in the future. 🌊
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Just use #RICtoday on social media.
Answered: We asked you how you save energy in your homes, and reader Anna P. says the old school way of using the clothesline instead of the dryer + just air drying her dishes is both efficient and saves a lot of energy.
Guess we can break out those clothespins. 🧺
💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?
✏️️ Want to write an article for us? Find out how here.
👀 Want your business featured in our newsletter? Learn more about advertising opportunities here.
📖 Check out our Editorial Ethics Policy here.
Did a friend forward this to you?
It can be in your inbox tomorrow a.m.
|
