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RVAMAG

@rvamag.bsky.social

1K followers 13 following 470 posts

Local culture since 2005 • RVA • Richmond, Virginia #rvamag @rvamag Find our stories here: https://linktr.ee/Rvamag

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RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 21h

Hours earlier, many of them sat through a General Assembly session meant to gather community input on Virginia’s long-awaited framework for adult-use cannabis sales. But by the end of the hearing, it didn’t feel like the community had been heard, it felt like maybe the verdict was already written.

Who Benefits From Virginia’s Cannabis Chaos? Small Businesses Want Answers

Virginia’s hemp and cannabis industries are caught between safety enforcement and market consolidation. As state regulators ramp up raids and restrict hemp flower sales, small businesses say complianc...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 22h

Francine is back, maybe it’s all going to be okay. The city is healing, the magic of fall in the air. Get out in the sun before it packs up for the year. Good shows all around, can’t go wrong.

Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at [email protected].

Sound Check! Peach Pit, Dogpark, Horsehead, Jonathan Facka, Tight Rope & More!

Richmond’s music scene shines this week with shows from Peach Pit and Miya Folick at The National, Dogpark and Rehash at The Broadberry, and hometown legends Horsehead at The Camel. Plus, new releases...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 2d

Clocking in at four hours long, Journey is part deep dive into an autobiographical tale of compromised family dynamics via rampant substance abuse, and a narcissism display endurance test.

Review | 'A Long Day’s Journey into Night' by Cadence Theatre

Christian Detres reviews A Long Day’s Journey into Night, produced by Cadence Theatre and Firehouse. He critiques Eugene O’Neill’s classic for its length, repetition, and self-indulgence, while praisi...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 2d

What followed was something you don’t see much anymore: a corporate giant acting like a neighbor, and a neighborhood acting like a family. But let’s be honest, it didn’t start that way. It started with pressure.

Francine Came Home: Because Sometimes the Community Still Shows Up

When Francine, the beloved Lowe’s cat from Richmond’s West Broad Street store, went missing, the community rallied together with Lowe’s staff, animal control, and rescue groups to bring her home. Week...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 2d

“I’m an HIV test counselor,” he says, “and my title is IDU Outreach Specialist.” IDU stands for injection drug use, but Peters makes it sound simple: “I go out into the community, to facilities, to wherever I can find people who might need help. Some come into the clinic, but a lot don’t.”

The Man Who Never Stopped Showing Up.

Edward Peters has spent decades serving Richmond’s most vulnerable through Health Brigade. From his own recovery to helping others with HIV testing and addiction outreach, Peters embodies the clinic’s...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 3d

Virginia sits at the crossroads of the American project. One path leads towards preserving our democratic progress; the other, towards grievance, division, and spectacle. We believe the governor’s election on November 4, at its core, is a referendum on that choice.

Vote Spanberger.

With early voting underway, RVA Magazine endorses Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for Governor of Virginia. Spanberger represents equality, sustainability, and democratic integrity at a moment when t...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 3d

Goose brought their fall tour to Richmond for a two-night stand last week, drawing thousands for one of the new amphitheater’s biggest shows yet.

Photos | Goose Lights Up Richmond in a Two-Night Riverside Run

Goose brought their fall tour to Richmond for a two-night stand at the city’s new amphitheater, drawing thousands for one of the venue’s biggest weekends yet. The Connecticut-based band delivered expa...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 7d

Few things can cheer me up when beloved Richmond mascot Francine is missing. Pull the covers up to your chin, turn on something nice, you deserve it. If you’re really feeling bold, the shows will always be out your front door.

Sound Check! Tennishu, Slow Crush, Bladee, Hercules Mulligan & More!

Richmond’s music scene stays alive this October with Tennishu’s record release at Get Tight Lounge, Slow Crush, Faetooth, and NVM at The Broadberry, and Stockholm rapper Bladee with Ripsquad at The Na...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 7d

Richmond once got called one of the most hipster cities in America, number five in the country, number twenty in the world, apparently. Depending on your disposition, that either made you proud or made you roll your eyes so hard you risked permanent damage. The thing is, it wasn’t wrong.

Richmond’s Hipster Decade 2005–2015: And the Crown We Didn’t Ask For

From 2005 to 2015, Richmond, VA became an unlikely hipster capital, blending tattoos, thrift fashion, craft beer, coffee, music venues, and activism into a cultural identity that reshaped the city. Th...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 8d

Goose is back in Richmond this week for a two-night stand at the Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. For guitarist and vocalist Rick Mitarotonda, it’s another chance to chase what he calls “flow state” the unpredictable current that runs through both their songs and their shows.

Goose Takes Richmond: Rick Mitarotonda on Flow and Freedom

Goose guitarist Rick Mitarotonda talks with RVA Mag about improvisation, songwriting, and chasing “flow state” ahead of the band’s two-night run at Richmond’s new Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. F...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 8d

Earlier this week, I sat down with Alli and Char of NYC rock band SKORTS to talk about their origins as a band, the ethos they carry, and their shared love of Richmond. The conversation was in preparation for their upcoming show at Get Tight Lounge this Friday with Deathcat and Human Worm.

Skorts Talk Origins, Ethos, and Why They Love Richmond

NYC rock band Skorts returns to Richmond this Friday at Get Tight Lounge with Deathcat and Human Worm. Born from chance encounters and road-worn stories, Skorts blends individuality, myth-making, and ...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 8d

The story of Jo Ellis is one of resilience, but also service, dedication, and commitment.

However, instead of being celebrated, Ellis is one of 4,240 transgender service members now being forced out of the military under Executive Order 14183.

Jo Ellis Did Her Job. The Army Didn’t. 🏳️‍🌈

Jo Ellis, a Virginia National Guard Black Hawk pilot and Iraq War veteran, faces discharge under Trump’s Executive Order 14182 banning transgender service members. After being falsely accused of pilot...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 8d

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Stiff Little Fingers (SLF) to the development of punk rock. The Clash, Sex Pistols, and SLF can all be mentioned comfortably in the same sentence.

Stiff Little Fingers Henry Cluney on Punk, The Troubles, and America’s New Street Politics

Stiff Little Fingers’ Henry Cluney talks punk, The Troubles, political violence, and the legacy of SLF in an intimate RVA Mag interview.

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 8d

The great thing about the Code Refresh is that upzoning an area, making it so that taller, higher-density structures can be built there, does not mean that those structures will be built there immediately. If passed, the building-by-building change to our City will be incremental.

Op-Ed | Why I Support Richmond Code Refresh and Upzoning

This op-ed argues that Richmond’s Code Refresh is not just about housing—it’s about saving the city’s aging water system. By allowing denser, incremental growth, Richmond can expand its utility base, ...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 8d

Coming to the end of an exciting era for Richmond music. The Mitras have been delivering hits for the past half-decade in Richmond. Paired with wild shows and an incredible sense of personability, they’ve become a cornerstone of the scene.

On Saturday, they played their final show.

A Broadberry Goodbye: Richmond Says Farewell to The Mitras

Richmond band The Mitras closed an exciting chapter with their final show at The Broadberry on September 27, 2025. Known for their raw garage rock energy, heartfelt songwriting, and explosive live sho...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 11d

Francine, a well-known shop cat at Lowe’s in Richmond and a beloved fixture of the community, has gone missing, sparking a cross-state search effort.

A dedicated Instagram account, @wheresfrancine is sharing updates and ways the community can help, alongside the hashtag #WheresFrancine.

Richmond Rallies to Find Francine, the Missing Lowe’s Cat

Francine, the beloved shop cat at Lowe’s in Richmond, went missing after accidentally boarding a distribution truck bound for North Carolina. Now, a cross-state community search is underway. Supporter...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 13d

Nothing but crazy bangers this week. These are all pretty big shows but it’s some of the best of the best in their respective genres, all in Richmond this week. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? I am your guy at [email protected].

Sound Check | Franz Ferdinand, Marc Rebillet, Charm Offensive, a John Prine Memorial Show and more!

Richmond’s music scene is stacked this week: Marc Rebillet, Gelli Haha, and REINHOLD light up Brown’s Island, while Franz Ferdinand storms The National. The Camel hosts a heartfelt John Prine tribute ...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 13d

A coalition of Richmond-based groups is calling on ASM Richmond and the Dominion Energy Center to cancel an upcoming appearance by Fox News personality Brian Kilmeade, scheduled for Saturday, September 27.

Richmond Groups Protest Brian Kilmeade Event at Dominion Energy Center

Richmond activist groups including 50501 Virginia are calling on ASM Richmond and General Manager Glenn Major to cancel Fox News host Brian Kilmeade’s scheduled appearance at Dominion Energy Center. I...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 14d

Turnstile returned to Richmond on Wednesday, and it felt like Brown’s Island could barely contain them. The Baltimore hardcore outfit has long since broken past genre borders, crafting songs that reach across generations of music fans.

Photos | Turnstile, Blood Orange, Speed, and Jane Remover in Richmond

Turnstile shook Brown’s Island with a stadium-sized set that blended hardcore roots and crossover anthems, joined by Jane Remover, Speed, and Blood Orange. A passing train horn created the night’s mos...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 15d

Richmond will come alive with color, music, and community as Virginia Pride Fest 2025 takes over Midtown Green on Saturday, September 27. The day caps off more than a week of events organized by VA Pride to celebrate Richmond’s LGBTQ community, culminating in the state’s largest LGBTQ festival.

Virginia Pride Festival 2025: Everything You Need to Know

Virginia Pride Fest 2025 takes place Saturday, September 27, from noon–8 p.m. at Midtown Green. Headlined by Saucy Santana, the free festival also features Mila Jam, Kevin Aviance, Aja, regional drag ...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 15d

Richmond’s drag scene is often associated with glitter, glamour, and camp but for Qing Imzadi, known on stage as Qing Blaze, drag is also a tool of survival, storytelling, and defiance.

Drag as Resistance: The Art and Activism of Qing Imzadi 🏳️‍🌈

Richmond drag king Qing Izmadi, known as King Blaze, blends performance with activism, using drag, comedy, and burlesque to amplify queer and trans voices of color. As program director at Diversity Ri...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 15d

In 1975, Richmond was a conservative city by any measure, but it was also home to a small but determined group of women ready to carve out space for themselves.

Beth Marschak and the Legacy of Richmond Lesbian Feminists 🏳️‍🌈

In 1975, Beth Marschak helped launch the Richmond Lesbian Feminists, creating safe space and political advocacy at a time of deep discrimination. Nearly fifty years later, the group remains active, bl...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 15d

Richmond’s art scene has no shortage of voices, but few speak as boldly, or as vulnerably, as Justice Dwight. A queer Black artist whose work spans painting, sewing, screen printing, and mixed media, Dwight is intent on reframing how we see Black and queer beauty.

Justice Dwight’s Art of Love, Resilience, and Queer Pride 🏳️‍🌈

Richmond artist Justice Dwight redefines Black and queer beauty through bold, multidisciplinary work. His Queer Prom series reimagines lost teenage moments, blending healing and celebration. From stol...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 15d

When Matt Narsinghan, along with husband Nafis, opened Gold Lion Community Cafe in Manchester in October 2023, he wasn’t just starting a café. He was creating a community hub built on empathy, activism, and inclusion.”

Gold Lion Community Space: Where Pride Meets Purpose 🏳️‍🌈

Gold Lion Community Café in Richmond’s Manchester neighborhood is more than coffee—it’s a hub for empathy, activism, and inclusion. Founded by Matt and Nafis Narsinghani, the space offers free food, c...

RVAMAG @rvamag.bsky.social · 15d

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic brought his Bigger & Weirder tour to the Allianz Amphitheater earlier this week, turning Richmond’s newest stage into equal parts circus and cultural mirror.

Photos | Weird Al Gets Bigger, Weirder... and Richmond Was Ready

Weird Al Yankovic lit up Richmond’s new Allianz Amphitheater with his Bigger & Weirder tour, delivering decades of parody and satire. Local native Puddles Pity Party opened with his haunting baritone ...