vol. 265 / ParkerExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 265 / GALORE
This week's guest editor is a driving force behind Richmond’s creative community. Meet Parker Galore—a Richmonder so deeply embedded in the arts that he hardly needs an introduction. But in case you haven’t had the pleasure yet, Parker serves on the board of directors for both the Richmond Arts District and Gallery5.
With too many ongoing projects to name, Parker’s commitment to cultivating meaningful, artistic experiences that are open and welcoming to all is unmatched. Parker's work is driven by a passion for creating immersive, interactive spaces that showcase the incredible range of local visual artists, performers, and musicians who shape Richmond’s vibrant creative scene.
You can always find Parker working to build safer, more inclusive environments where people can gather, connect, and feel inspired. And this week, we’re lucky enough to have him slow down just long enough to share a few tips for exploring and celebrating the city we all love to call home.
Take it away, Parker …
Stay Gold: Closing Reception & Happy Hour
Stay Gold. RVA Mag & Gallery5 20 Year Anniversary Exhibit Closing Reception and Happy Hour is tonight. This 20-Year Retrospective Exhibition traces the story of RVA Mag and Gallery5 through zines, street art, punk shows, porch hangs, protests, murals, bike parties, hip-hop showcases, food, beer, and the people who kept showing up. It’s a visual history of how two scrappy platforms helped push Richmond’s creative underground into public view.
Vitals:
Stay Gold. RVA Mag & Gallery5 20 Year Anniversary Exhibit Closing Reception and Happy Hour / Friday, April 25th / 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM / FREE / Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St.
Richmond Restaurant Week in the Arts District
Richmond Restaurant Week is upon us and we have some great local establishments here in the Arts District that are participating. Each restaurant offers a three course prix fixe menu meal for $35.25 with $5.25 donated per meal to Feed More. Head to each restaurant's socials or websites to check out their menu. Participating Restaurants in the Arts District include And Dim Sum, Bar Solita, Birdies, Common House, Julep's, Tarrants Downtown, and The Lobby Bar at Quirk Hotel
Rest Fest is a celebration of wellness, bringing Richmonders together for group classes, speakers, music, food, vendors, and connection. Rest Fest is a platform to showcase the incredible local wellness talent available in and around Richmond. Group classes include breathwork, yoga, ecstatic dance, sound baths, and more. Presentations include an exploration of the Divine Feminine and Masculine energies inherent in all of us, contrast therapy (alternating saunas + cold plunges), a plant medicine discussion panel, authentic interdependence in spiritual community, and more. Live music kicks off the first night with Holy River and Big Fancy as well!
Vitals:
Rest Fest / April 26th - 27th / 10:00 am - 7:00 pm / The Cardinal, 17301 Memorial Tournament Dr.
More About Parker.
A big part of Parker's work includes helping shape and evolve RVA First Fridays, one of the city’s longest-running monthly community events. Parker is focused on strengthening collaboration between organizations, activating underused spaces, and bringing art into the streets—whether through pop-ups, maker markets, mural spots, or public performances.
Parker deeply believes that art belongs everywhere and loves encouraging all kinds of spaces to become homes for expression—barbershops, boutiques, nonprofits, restaurants—wherever there’s room for creativity to show up and thrive.
“Healthier cities are the ones where governments recognize the vital role artists and creative spaces play in shaping culture, fostering belonging, and driving evolution. That means more than just supportive words—it means enacting policies and putting real funding toward the artists, organizations, and community hubs that give Richmond its soul,” shares Parker. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have friends and be part of communities who share these values—and I’ll keep pushing for a Richmond where art isn’t an afterthought, but a priority.”
Meet Cynthia Hutcherson, this week's guest editor. Cynthia is the Director of Communications & Marketing at Rise Academy in Richmond, where she channels her storytelling skills and passion for education into purpose-driven work. She began her career at Red Light Management in Charlottesville, later taking on roles at UVA’s Darden School of Business and Woodberry Forest School before joining Rise.
The youngest of seven siblings, Cynthia cherishes time with her ten nieces and nephews, hunts for treasures while thrifting and antiquing, and keeps her music industry roots alive by attending local shows and curating the perfect playlist for every occasion.
Take it away, Cynthia…
Tropical Thursday at Havana 59
This spring and summer I'm challenging myself to try new things, so I'm grateful for Havana 59's Tropical Thursday Latin Party! Perfect for beginners and experienced dancers alike, this weekly event features a free salsa and bachata class followed by open dancing. While newcomers learn the basics, you can also simply enjoy watching the pros show off their moves while sipping tropical drinks and savoring Cuban cuisine in this lively atmosphere.
Catch a free screening of Finding Edna Lewis, a VPM documentary exploring the legacy of the trailblazing Virginia chef who revolutionized Southern cooking and inspired countless female chefs—including Richmond's own Leah Branch, executive chef at my favorite restaurant in town, The Roosevelt. The screening will be followed by an enlightening panel discussion about Lewis's enduring impact on culinary traditions.
Explore The Branch Museum of Design during its Easter Open House! This is your chance to discover this architectural gem while enjoying complimentary refreshments and taking in the Monument Avenue Easter Parade. If you've never visited The Branch Museum, you're in for a treat—this historic mansion houses fascinating exhibitions in a stunning setting.
Rise Academy (formerly Church Hill Activities & Tutoring) is a tuition-free independent high school in Richmond's East End that is dedicated to fostering authentic educational experiences that expand students' horizons through holistic care and robust academic preparation. Their after-school program ensures the community's youngest learners have safe, creative, and enriching out-of-school adventures.
Rise Academy invites you to the East End Block Party Saturday, May 24th from 12:00 - 4:00 PM! This completely free celebration brings together neighbors, families, and community partners. Expect great local music, mouthwatering food vendors, special remarks from Mayor Danny Avula, and activities for all ages in a festive atmosphere that showcases the best of Richmond's East End spirit.
Meet this week's guest editor, Amanda Robinson! For over 20 years, Amanda has been a driving force in Richmond’s artistic community. She is the founder and former Executive & Artistic Director of Gallery5, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center in Richmond, where she curated hundreds of notable exhibitions between 2005 and 2012, earning numerous awards and recognitions. In 2008, she received the Theresa Pollak Award for “Art Innovator of the Year,” and in 2006, was the youngest recipient of Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Under her leadership, Gallery5 was consistently recognized by readers of Style Weekly and Richmond Magazine as “Best Art Gallery” and “Best Independent Art Gallery.”
Amanda returned to Gallery5 in 2023 to serve on the Executive Board and as its volunteer Creative Director. Since her return, she has launched new programs, collaborations, and exhibitions with fresh energy and vision. During her 10-year hiatus from Gallery5, Amanda founded—and continues to own and operate—Sweet Fix, a custom cake studio in Richmond. Her incredible cake creations have been featured on Food Network, Martha Stewart, Southern Living, and more.
Take it away, Amanda …
Stay Gold
On First Friday, April 4, Gallery5 and RVA Magazine will once again join forces to commemorate their joint 20-year anniversaries with a special Birthday Celebration and Block Party. The Stay Gold: 20 Years of RVA Magazine and Gallery5 event will transform the block around Gallery5 into a vibrant night market and festival of fire—curated by RVA Moon Market and the Party Liberation Foundation. It will also feature a full lineup of live musical performances and a collaborative 20-year retrospective exhibition and slideshow reflecting on two decades of Richmond’s artistic, cultural, and political movements, while highlighting both organizations’ origins and their shared commitment to enriching the city’s creative community. Featuring live performances by No BS! Brass Band, Sweet Potatoes, Gull and WRIR 97.3!
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will celebrate artist Frida Kahlo and her Mexican heritage with a free, fun-filled community event, ¡FridaFest! People of all ages are invited to enjoy live music, food and beverages, artist demonstrations, a photo booth, and more. The festivities will take place outdoors in the museum’s Robins Sculpture Garden and indoors in VMFA’s Cochrane Atrium. April 5 is also the opening day of the museum’s highly anticipated exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth, on display through September 28. Featuring live performances by: Bio Ritmo, Mariachi America RVA, Mexican Folk Jerocho, Miramar, and DJ Ray-Ray.
Vitals:
Frida: Beyond the Myth / Saturday, April 5 / 1 PM-7 PM / Free ($10-$20 for Exhibition Tickets) / VMFA, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Jonathan Brown Jr. Sings
Join Brambly Park for a memorable night with Jonathan Brown Jr., a talented artist known for his heartfelt, soulful performances. With a style that blends powerful vocals and compelling rhythms, Jonathan’s music connects deeply with his audience. His dynamic stage presence and unique sound promise an unforgettable evening.
Virago Alley is Amanda’s newest nonprofit, currently fundraising to renovate a brick-and-mortar space that will house traditional archery and fencing practice areas, along with workshop and limited studio space for historic artisans.
Its flagship initiative, the Richmond Renaissance Faire, launched on March 7 with a grassroots First Fridays fundraiser that drew over 5,000 attendees to the three blocks surrounding Gallery5. Amanda saw the local launch as an opportunity to build authentic partnerships and ensure that the community of artists and organizations has a voice in shaping the Faire’s foundation year.
The Richmond Renaissance Faire celebrates underrepresented historical art forms and global artisanship. Designed as a multicultural experience unlike any other Ren Faire in the U.S., it blends live demonstrations, performances, and merchant showcases from East Asian, Middle Eastern, Indigenous American, African, and European communities—all presented through the lens of 13th–17th century craftsmanship, with a distinct Richmond flair. Events will continue throughout 2025 in preparation for a full multi-day festival in 2026.
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