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.
BefriendExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 293 / Befriend
Meet this week’s guest editor, Mollie Reinhart, who’s here to remind us to look for ways to connect with people whose lives may be different from our own. Mollie is the founder of Befriend, a Richmond-based nonprofit that works locally and around the world to foster friendships that empower people and communities to thrive. At the heart of her work is a belief in curiosity, connection, and compassion as a way of life.
Mollie received her Ed.M. from Harvard University in Human Development and Psychology and previously worked in hospice care for more than ten years in Charleston, South Carolina and Boston, Massachusetts. After moving to Richmond, she took time away from full-time work to raise her three children and became an active volunteer across the community, supporting organizations that help make this city the place we love to call home. As her children began entering college, Mollie found herself searching for what she calls her “what’s next,” guided by the thought, “I want to help my city, but I don’t know how.” As she pushed herself to explore her community more deeply and intentionally meet new people, Befriend emerged organically in December of 2017. As the movement grew, Mollie continued to expand her education and later received a certificate in Applied Compassion from Stanford University.
Today, Befriend creates opportunities for people to connect across difference through walk and talk gatherings, service projects, connection circles, and simple acts of compassion. Mollie believes that when we make space for relationships with others, especially those whose experiences differ from our own, we begin to see how much we actually share. From that common ground, friendships take root and compassion grows.
This week, she’s sharing her thoughts with Here Weekly readers on building connection, fostering understanding, and finding small but meaningful ways to bring us closer together in the year ahead.
Take it away, Mollie.
Jefferson Park
When I think about special places in Richmond, Jefferson Park immediately comes to mind. I lived in the city for over 20 years before discovering this magical spot in the Union Hill/Church Hill area. Once I did, it stayed with me. With its iconic overlook of Richmond, the park feels both expansive and intimate, a place where perspective widens and connection feels possible.
At the heart of Jefferson Park is a fountain honoring a longtime friend of the park, Alicia Rasin, known as the “Ambassador of Compassion.” Learning this, I thought, this feels like Befriend’s home. With tree-lined paths, playgrounds, and picnic spots, Jefferson Park naturally brings people together from all different backgrounds. Our Befriend gathers, walks, and clean-ups here turn simple moments into meaningful connection, reminding us that healing ourselves and our community begins when we show up with a curious mind and open heart.
The Richmond Clean City Commission (CCC) is City Council’s all-volunteer advisory group dedicated to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Richmond. The Commission provides recommendations on policies and programs that reduce litter, encourage proper disposal and recycling, and improve the local environment. Working closely with the Department of Public Works, CCC supports recycling and disposal events, neighborhood cleanups, and community education initiatives, while also serving as Richmond’s affiliate of Keep Virginia Beautiful.
Equity is central to CCC’s mission, ensuring cleanup and prevention efforts support communities most impacted by litter and illegal dumping. A cleaner city builds pride, protects wildlife, and strengthens neighborhoods. This is compassion in action, making our city a better place for all.
Befriend has joined their Adopt-A-Spot program, where organizations that complete cleanups receive a custom sign installed at their site. Seeing Befriend’s name at Jefferson Park will truly make it feel like home. Join Befriend for our next Jefferson Park cleanup on Saturday, January 10, 2026. This will be number seven on the road to number ten.
Real Life was built on a simple but powerful belief: people change when they are met with dignity, consistency, and community. What began inside the Richmond City Justice Center has grown into a statewide movement walking alongside individuals returning from incarceration, navigating recovery, or living in communities most impacted by violence and instability. Through recovery housing, intensive life coaching, and neighborhood-based violence intervention, Real Life doesn’t just serve people, they walk with them toward a brighter future.
That spirit of walking together is why collaborations matter. Alongside partners like Befriend, Real Life shows up in small yet meaningful ways, by joining a Befriend Gather at the VMFA or a clean-up at Jefferson Park. When people from different backgrounds come together for a shared experience and hear each other’s stories, connections spark that empower people and communities to thrive.
"When people show up with a curious mind and open heart, magical connections happen and lasting change begins," says Mollie Reinhart, founder of Befriend. In 2026, Befriend plans to continue to inspire a lifestyle of curiosity, connection, and compassion for all. Here Weekly readers are invited to join experiences offered by Befriend that create opportunities to connect with others different from themselves, foster understanding, and build friendships that empower people and communities to thrive. Everyone belongs.
vol. 292 / Tinsel UntangledExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 292 / TINSEL UNTANGLED
With the holiday season in full swing, we’re here to help keep your tinsel from getting in a tangle. Richmond knows how to do this time of year right — bright lights, big hearts, and plenty of hometown magic. Ahead, we’ve gathered festive ways to savor the season: a husky-powered hotline to Santa, a river parade worth bundling up for, mobile sauna sessions, and local gifts you’ll actually feel good giving. Take a breather, grab something warm, and let’s make this week merry and meltdown-free.
Saber the Elf Husky
In Richmond, Santa always writes back, thanks to a holiday helper with paws. Tucked into the magical Woodland Heights neighborhood, Saber the Elf Husky stands guard beside a bright red mailbox with a direct line to the jolly old elf himself. Kids and anyone with holiday spirit are invited to stop by, jot down their wishes, and share the kindnesses they've spread this year. Each letter heads straight to the North Pole, and Santa is known for replying quickly, often within a day or two, sometimes with a small treat from his workshop. Saber’s mission is simple: celebrate the kindness you have given all year long and share your hopes for the season ahead.
Look for the Saber husky statue and the mailbox on 29th Street, where creator Emily McMillen, who is also the powerhouse behind the Tiny Porch Concert series, keeps the festive stationery stocked and the communication line with Santa running strong.
Vitals:
Look for Saber’s post on 29th St. in Woodland Heights / Follow Saber here / Bring your best elf energy
Boat Parade of Lights
In the River City, the best kind of parades are the ones found on the water. This weekend, skip the tacky lights tour on land and head straight to the James to cheer on a lineup of lighted boats as they jingle their way down the river. A Richmond tradition, this annual parade sees boaters compete for the most festive vessel as they cruise from Rocketts Landing at sunset and make their way to The Lilly Pad.
You can catch the parade from several viewing spots, but one of our favorite ways to enjoy the show is with a hot cocoa or cocktail in hand at The Lilly Pad. There is a $10 admission fee during the parade and kids under 10 get in free. Private waterfront viewing upgrades are available too. Or, if you prefer to take it all in for free, Osborne Boat Landing offers great views from the shoreline.
After the snowy week we have all enjoyed, it is time to get toasty. Richmonders Josh Crowley and Liz Bowden have launched Sauna Plunge RVA, a team passionate about bringing relaxation and rejuvenation wherever you are. Their mobile experience comes complete with a wood-fired sauna and cold plunges.
Whether it is a family celebration, a corporate team-building event, or any gathering looking to create lasting memories, they will deliver a unique mobile spa experience that elevates any occasion. You can choose a simple drop-off and pickup, or they can stay on-site to handle everything from setup to cleanup. A Party Leader can also guide guests through the contrast therapy circuit for those who want coaching through their first plunge.
You will also spot Sauna Plunge RVA partnering with local yoga studios, gyms, and community businesses to give Richmonders a chance to enjoy the sauna around town on a regular basis. They provide the ice for the plunges and the wood for the sauna. Sauna Plunge RVA offers one or two 8-person wood-fired saunas and two or four cold plunges. Each sauna fits up to six people comfortably at a time. All you need is a sidewalk, driveway, or backyard entrance that can accommodate the sauna setup.
Support local makers this holiday season and score some of the most unique gifts of the year, like this Francine action figure, at the Winter Market by Studio Two Three. Open daily from 11 am to 5 pm through Tuesday, December 23. The market, filled with handmade treasures from 200 local artists, is located in two spots this year, so be sure to visit both: Studio Two Three at 109 W 15th Street and Shop Two Three at 1437 Hull Street.
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