Piñata PartyExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 295 / PIÑATA PARTY
This week brings a reopened public perch at City Hall, a new way to shop from a longtime favorite, and a piñata party. These three tips offer just a handful of ways to shift perspective as you explore and celebrate this place we all love to call home.
Piñata Party
1708 Gallery, a nonprofit contemporary art space downtown, is hosting a piñata party tied to its program ALL WEYS ARE CREATED EQUAL tonight from 7–10 p.m. The free, public event will feature music, snacks, and of course piñatas. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own bags and their “best swinging arm” for collecting treats. The gathering also offers a chance to meet the current artists-in-residence, Bryan Ortiz and Luis Vasquez La Roche.
Vitals:
1708 Gallery / January 8, 7–10 p.m. / 319 W Broad St.
The People's House
Yesterday, Mayor Danny Avula announced that the City Hall Observation Deck has reopened to the general public. Located on the 18th floor, the overlook has been closed since 2020, when it shut down during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For decades, the City Hall Observation Deck has been one of Richmond’s gems,” says Mayor Avula. “It’s a place where you can step back, see our city from a new perspective, and appreciate how all our neighborhoods connect in ways that aren’t always visible from the ground.”
Reopening the Observation Deck has been a major goal during Mayor Avula’s first year in office. Updates to security measures, elevator logistics, and visitor flow made the reopening possible. Swing by, say hello at the new concierge on the first floor, take the dedicated elevator, and enjoy your city from a different perspective.
Vitals:
Open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday / Visit City Hall / 900 E Broad St.
Mama J's Market
Mama J’s, a beloved Richmond restaurant in the heart of Jackson Ward, has opened the doors to Mama J’s Market. The new community-focused retail space features grab-and-go items from the restaurant’s kitchen, pantry staples, snacks, and a growing selection of prepared foods and grocery items.
Velma and Lester Johnson, the mother-son duo who own and operate Mama J’s, are currently welcoming Richmonders inside as part of a soft opening and inviting feedback as they dial in the space. Mama J’s is also sharing first-time visitor reactions on its Instagram page. The momentum is building toward a grand opening on February 1 — but why wait? Go now.
Vitals:
Mama J's / Soft opening phase, daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. / Grand Opening, 2 p.m. on February 1 / 101 E. Clay St.
Together at the Valentine.
As the Valentine team and the Richmond community continue to mourn the loss of Bill Martin, January will be a quieter month for public programming, with one important exception. The Life, Liberty & Happiness lecture will take place as planned on Religious Freedom Day, January 16, at the Library of Virginia. This lecture series was a particular favorite of Bill’s, and the Valentine hopes the community will join them in continuing that tradition. There will also be an open house at the Valentine in Bill’s honor on Saturday, February 7. The gathering is intended as an opportunity for the community to come together, share memories, and reflect on Bill’s life and work. For those wishing to honor Bill in another way, memorial gifts may be made to the Valentine in support of the redesign of the Valentine Garden, a project that deeply mattered to him.
A Good BeginningExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 294 / A GOOD BEGINNING
As we step into 2026, there is plenty of reason to feel hopeful about the year ahead. Not because everything feels easy or resolved, but because of the way people in this city continue to show up for one another. Across neighborhoods, sidewalks, kitchens, and creative spaces, Richmonders are quietly building connection where it is needed most. They invite others outside, share food, make room for art, and remind us that community is something we create together.
The three stories below offer just a small reflection of that larger spirit. As the new year begins, these are the kinds of actions that make us optimistic about what comes next, and why Richmond continues to be a place we love to call home.
Disco Bunny
Aaryanna Nijjar-Simmonds, better known as Disco Bunny, believes community can grow when we stop resisting what makes us different and start building with it. During a recent TEDxRVA talk, Disco Bunny posed a simple but radical question: What if, instead of fighting our weirdness, we collaborated with it? That curiosity sparked an idea that challenged how art is usually shared and who gets access to it.
Within months, that idea became the Art Vending Machine, Richmond’s first. The flagship machine began at SCRAP RVA and now a second machine also lives at Gold Lion Community Cafe, bringing accessible local art to multiple corners of the city. Together, the vending machines have featured more than 60 local artists, offering a low-barrier, accessible way for creatives to share their work.
Stocked with zines, prints, stickers, and handmade oddities, the Art Vending Machine uses a screened lottery system to keep participation fair and open. Look closely and you will notice house numbers, a doormat, and a light left on. This is not just a machine. It is a home for Richmond’s creative community.
Alex Na understands that sometimes the best way to create community is through food. New to Richmond in 2025, with a TikTok account, a tasty tiramisu recipe, and a genuine desire to give back, Alex casually offered leftover tiramisu from a birthday celebration last year. What began as a simple gesture quickly sparked something bigger, earning the affectionate nickname the Free Tiramisu Guy. That generosity has grown into a growing network of free tiramisu drops, community potlucks, and gatherings that bring people together while supporting local businesses and causes. Rallying around Alex, Richmond businesses have chipped in to help cover ingredient costs, and a meaningful partnership formed with RVA Community Fridges, with a portion of donations benefiting another local organization doing important work. Most recently, Alex joined forces with RVA Baddies Walk Club for a joyful RVA Baddie-Misu Day, proving once again that community can grow from something as simple as sharing dessert.
It all began with a call for community. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Richmond resident Molly Bish, like many of us, found it hard to reconnect, dust off social skills, and return to meaningful, in-person connection. So Molly did something simple and brave. A public call to action invited Richmond “baddies” to come together, get outside, and walk.
What started as a casual idea quickly grew into something much bigger. From that invitation emerged a steady series of organized walking meetups, now known as RVA Baddies Walk Club. Through these walks, Molly didn't just find community personally. Community was created for others, too.
In 2026, we hope you will step outside and give RVA Baddies Walk Club a try. It is a chance to get fresh air, meet new people, and connect with fellow baddies around Richmond. Whether you are a seasoned walker or simply showing up for the vibes, this is a place to laugh, chat, and belong. Expect an energetic walk, easy conversation, and plenty of moments to meet your future Richmond crew.
A group of Buddhist monks on a months-long Walk for Peace from Texas to Washington, D.C. is expected to pass through the Richmond area in the new year, with many reports suggesting an early February timeframe. Now more than two months into their journey, the monks describe the walk not as a protest, but as a shared practice. They walk to awaken peace within themselves first, allowing it to ripple outward to the families, communities, and people they meet along the way. Through cold weather and hundreds of miles, the monks have been welcomed with meals, quiet gestures, and moments of connection. Walking alongside them is Aloka, a rescue dog who once followed monks as a stray in India and went on to walk more than 100 days by their side. Today, he continues the journey across the U.S., recognized by the heart-shaped marking on his forehead. As the monks continue toward Washington, we will be watching and sharing updates as their journey moves through Virginia in 2026. May the year ahead be met with peace and awareness.
vol. 290 / Black SupermanExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 290 / Black Superman
Meet this week’s guest editor, Ishmael Sandiford, an electrical engineer, fitness trainer, and founder of the Fit X Experience. He’s become Richmond’s most-followed trainer on Instagram, known for his high-energy, motivational workouts, mid-range pushups, mind-body coaching, and his “Black Superman” persona.
A chess fan and VCU graduate, Ishmael likes to say that engineering is his passion, but fitness is his lifestyle. He developed a love for exercise early in life, inspired by watching his father run miles in combat boots and train with discipline and persistence. By age 8, Ishmael became a calisthenics advocate, setting goals to perform hundreds of reps every day.
Ishmael’s late older brother, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, lived to 17, far beyond doctors’ expectations. Ishmael credits that journey to his family’s holistic approach to health, and it helped him understand the impact of lifestyle, peace, and fitness on quality of life. He also believes fitness should be sustainable, fun, and built on community, which inspired him to introduce Richmond to the party-style boot camps surging in popularity.
Ishmael has developed a network of expert trainers across the East Coast and learned what makes the boot camp trend so powerful from the Atlanta fitness community. His first class here in February drew 13 people. It caught fire quickly and now sells out at 10 times that attendance. He has served as a featured trainer in D.C., Virginia Beach, Charlotte, and Atlanta, took Fit X to Dogwood Dell this summer, and is planning a full lineup for 2026.
You can still get in on the fun before the year’s out. The next two classes are Nov. 22 and Dec. 13. Details below.
Take it away, Ishmael ...
Art That Stays With You
The new “Giants” exhibit at VMFA is moving, captivating, and something I’m still thinking about. I had the opportunity to hear an inspiring message from Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz at the preview opening party this week. The collection they’ve shared features all kinds of inspiring work from 40 Black artists. As someone who’s boxed and helped train a few boxers, I was especially struck by Gordon Parks’ 1966 photos of Muhammad Ali, and an interpretation of his Sonny Liston knockout in an oil painting by Titus Kaphar. The energy at the party was incredible, with all kinds of Richmonders vibing to the DJ. Everyone will move to music! And I was lucky enough to get some career advice from actress and former model Daphne Maxwell Reid — yes, the Fresh Prince’s mom herself.
True, it’s turkey season. You might think I’m all in as someone born on Thanksgiving. But I’ve never eaten poultry or meat, so I’m not the one to ask for recommendations. Fish? I’m your guy. I recently discovered the Ca Chien Xao Mang at Mekong. It’s crispy rainbow trout that melts in your mouth. Comfort food on a cold night, and sautéed with all the good stuff — onions, peppers and mushrooms. For the soul food version, it’s hard to beat the famous fish at Croaker’s Spot. By the way, you can order a Thanksgiving Holiday Pack that features a whole, herb-roasted salmon filet. My favorite. Plus, get those omega-3s! And if you still need that turkey, Croaker’s other choice is a deep-fried turkey.
A quote that serves as personal inspiration comes from Nelson Mandela: “As we let our light shine, we give other people permission to do the same.” We tend to reflect more on joy, unity, and giving this time of year. And you can get into the spirit with the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, which opened this week to an “Elements” theme — fire, earth, air, water, and a bonus one, love. You can add music at Jazz Night there Nov. 25, 6–8 p.m., with Lucy Kilpatrick and Ken Kellner.
For another holiday warmup — and I’m not sure if my roller-skating will translate — a 2,000-square-foot rink is taking shape for Winter Wonderland at the new Conex RVA. It’s being built by my fitness trainer colleague Brandon Garner and his team. Can’t wait to strap on the skates!
One of my goals when I founded Fit X Experience was to open our doors to nurses and first responders in the community, who can attend free as a small way of saying thanks. We’ve also worked to raise money for the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation and help students at Barack Obama Elementary School. If you’re looking for a few ways to give, here are three:
The Giving Heart Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast, Nov. 27 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. It’s a free meal for anyone who wants to come. Simply show up to commune with others and show support.
The Giving Wall. A constantly evolving list where you can help vetted people in need with specific items — an urgent phone bill, a household item, a car insurance payment.
For a holiday event that showcases Richmond musicians and raises money for Richmond Triangle Players, consider “A Shockoe Sessions Live! Christmas.” The show features everything from blues to opera, pop, rock, and techno. At The Hippodrome on Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.
Ishmael invites you to the biggest boot camp in Richmond. It’s for all fitness levels, packed with community, networking, vendors, motivation, and great energy from start to finish. Our year-end finale is Dec. 13, but the next one is on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Iron Legend Gym, 3310 Rosedale Ave., Unit B, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Teachers, nurses, college students, and first responders enter free. Expect top-tier trainers, DJs, and a community that pushes each other to win! Click to see what the boot camp looks like.
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