vol. 79 / paradise here 🏝️It’s not a place, but rather a sense of freedom to explore yourself and the world around you.
VOL. 79 / PARADISE HERE
Paradise is where you make it. It’s not a place, but rather a sense of freedom to explore yourself and the world around you. This week, we dig into a few ways to create your own paradise in this place we call home.
Because, there's no place like here.
Sharp's
Island
Nothing says paradise like your own private island. Just last year, Andy Thompson, founder of Richmondoutside.com, rounded up a gaggle of local nature lovers to purchase a 1-arce island in the middle of downtown Richmond. When this rare little spit of land, called Sharp’s Island, appeared on the market Thompson quickly snatched it up in an effort to carve out his own slice of paradise. This spring, Thompson is making the entire island available for rent in hopes others will create their own adventure here in RVA. You can easily motor up to the island from Ancarrow's Landing in a john boat, canoe over from the trail just below Mayo Bridge, or make it the final destination on your next downriver kayak trip. How you get there is up to you! The location of Sharp’s makes for perfect fishing conditions this time of year or simply a good place to enjoy a frosty beverage in a hammock, a book on the sandy beach, or storytelling by the fire pit. And during the summer months, the river levels produce dozens of swimming holes scattered along the banks.
Perk: Shine on. What’s a private island in the middle of the James without a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine in hand? We'll greet Here. members that book a Sharp's Island experience in May and June with a bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine upon arrival!
While everyone is in charge of creating their own paradise, we’re fairly certain that adding burgers and beer by the river can help make things extra special. At the Lilly Pad, a hidden gem on Osborne Turnpike next to the Richmond Yacht Basin, you can order up a burger & basket of beer, enjoy tiki drinks served in pineapples at picnic tables, learn some bartending tips and tricks from guest mixologists, or belt out a classic tune during karaoke on the outside patio. It’s also the prime spot to watch a storm roll in over the James near Dutch Gap. And be on the lookout for Lilly Pad Luau's on Sundays, which will kick off in June with guest DJs and all the tiki themes you can handle.
Vitals:
Lilly Pad / 9680 Osborne Tnpk. Guest bartender from Sticky Rice and Cobra Cabana / Thursday, May 2
Karaoke / Friday, May 3
Live music by Jack Ruby & Co. / Saturday, May 4
Transitory
by Ed Trask
Ed Trask is back in May at Glave Kocen Gallery. Things kick off on Friday night with an opening reception for “Transitory” New Work by Ed Trask. As one of RVA’s most celebrated artists, Trask is known for pushing our little city by the river forward. In the mid 80s he made a name for himself on the punk scene as a drummer for bands like AVAIL, Corntooth, and Kepone. When he wasn’t performing, Trask turned Richmond (and many other cities he visited around the world) into his canvas as he painted directly on dilapidated buildings … perhaps a bit illegally, at times. Though Richmond is today flush with murals, back then large public displays of art took on a bit more of an outlaw vibe with Trask often leading the charge. Today, his work can be found in permanent collections at the VMFA, Gap, Capital One, Fortune Magazine, and more. And as the co-founder of RVA Street Art Festival, he has made it a point to support arts education, fellow artists, and good causes along the way.
Despite the accomplishments, Trask knows all of life is transitory. There are fleeting moments of change, love, light, and color. Even our own version of paradise here in Richmond is in transition. Stop by Glave Kocen Gallery on Friday night, and throughout May, to view “Transitory" to see what we're talking about. You’ll find paintings of some of your favorite Richmond spots in flux – such as a flooded Pipeline, fog rolling over the James River, a storm creeping on the old Skateland on Hull Street, Belle Isle ruins, a eulogy to Fulton Gas Works, and a Red Maple in full bloom at Maymont, just to name a few. And there are unlikely surfaces too, such as dramatic works painted on surfboards (yes, actual surfboards that can be used in the water!) and several skateboard decks etched by Richmond laser artist Big Secret. Take a moment, pause, and consider that everything is transitory. We must live accordingly.
Perk: Our friends at Glave Kocen Gallery love Here. readers. And as a Here. member, you’ll receive 10% off any non-exhibited work at Glave Kocen Gallery. Just let them know Here. sent you!
Seeking your own paradise sometimes requires a good vessel. The side arm flask, boasting the Richmond flag, is an essential tool for anyone hell bent on getting spirits where they need to go. Check out this Richmond Grid and Shine Vessels collab.
vol. 78 / awaken 🌅Unplug. Power down. Take a pause from the ordinary this weekend.
VOL. 78 / AWAKEN
Unplug. Power down. And take a pause from the ordinary this weekend. We've rounded up three tips to get you started on your journey right here in our River City.
Because, there's no place like here.
Climb
Right RVA
Find your Zen at the Manchester Wall. Climbing is all about being present. Your body makes a clear shift, your ego takes a seat on the bench, and all that unimportant stuff banging around in your head somehow slips away as you focus completely on your next move. To help you find that oh so sweet space, the folks at Peak Experiences are hosting their annual Climb Right RVA event at the Manchester Wall. If you haven’t checked it out, the Manchester Wall is part of the historic pilings scattered along the James that once held the Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge. Today, the original granite structures are home to some of the best climbing in the area and can be reached by theT. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge or south side access.
Climb Right RVA will consist of two days of free climbing events, designed for beginners and advanced climbers, by certified guides. Plus, there will be plenty of gear demos by Sterling, Wild Country, and Evolv as well as local food and drink vendors. On Saturday night, head over to Väsen Brewing for the official after party filled with craft beer and climbing games, like crash pad stacking (imagine a life-size Jenga game with you balancing on top).
Perk: The first three Here. readers that drop our name when checking in at the registration table at the Manchester Wall will receive a free stainless steal water bottle from Richmond Grid magazine with a sweet Richmond flag logo.
Vitals:
Saturday, April 27 / 9 am - 4 pm
Sunday, April 28 / 10 am - 3 pm Climb Right RVA
Awaken
VMFA Exhibition
Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment opens this weekend at VMFA, providing a chance to hop on a voyage into the visionary art of Tibetan Buddhism. The journey from clamor to contemplation unfolds as you progress through a series of immersive spaces with spectacular art and nearly 100 objects along the way. Best of all, you'll have an opportunity to take part in the narrative it presents and quest for enlightenment. Our friends at the VMFA promise that the opening weekend will offer a pause from the ordinary noise of daily living and a chance to contemplate and reflect.
Get your hands dirty this weekend while making a difference in the place we call home. The action-oriented team at Enrichmond Foundation will host its annual Earth Day of Service on Saturday. For over 25 years, Enrichmond Foundation has called on neighbors all over Richmond to volunteer in their communities. And this year promises to be their biggest Day of Service yet! Here. readers can help clear invasive plants, plant native trees, beautify public spaces, and so much more. Make sure to register to volunteer here. Volunteers will receive an Every Day is Earth Day tote bag.
Two tickets are up for grabs for Friday Cheers for Here. members. Tag a friend to take with you on our Instagram page for a chance to win two free passes to a concert of your choice from this season's Cheers lineup!
vol. 77 / ring leader 🎪One of Richmond's favorite ring leaders gives you his take on this place we call home.
VOL. 77 / RING LEADER
Cataloging an impressive resumé of hot restaurants over the last decade, Michael Smith is no rookie to Richmond’s thriving dining scene. Many readers may recognize his bearded face as their first impression to a memorable dining experience. Currently, Michael is the ring leader at South Side’s Laura Lee's, where he earned an Elby Award for Employee of the Year in 2017. His tips for the weekend showcase the beauty of nudity: in the flesh, in art, and in liquid form!
And now, Michael's take on the best ways to enjoy Richmond this weekend!
Lap of
Luxury
If you haven’t attended a burlesque show, you don’t know what you’re missing! The performers at this Friday’s Lap of Luxury at Gallery5 provide a little something for everyone. Producer Empress de Naste welcomes a cast of women, men, and gender non-conformists to the stage for a night of titillating fun. The icing on the cake is the night’s emcee, my favorite drag performer in town, Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside. I guarantee by the end of the show your face will hurt from an evening of non-stop smiling.
A few weeks ago, a sudden power outage cancelled the opening of Kevin Sabo’s latest art exhibition at Art Works in Manchester. But fear not, the recent works in the show, titled “OK, OK," can be enjoyed until this Saturday! Kevin's gestural, mostly nude characters are handled with refreshing simplicity and an acute focus of color, composition, and line. Black ink in tandem with vividly toned acrylic permits him to show figures in as much detail as he desires, with certain details blurred and others crisp and fine. My favorites include paintings with multiple figures in union, arms and legs outstretched with ecstatic reach (check out “Mood is a Monument” and “Astrogliding”).
Local natural wine distributor Native Selections’ newest direct imports from Abruzzo, Italy are some of the prettiest wines I’ve had the pleasure of tasting in recent weeks, and the time to enjoy is now! Small allocations of three “raw” wines from newly planted vines by winemaker Luca Paolo Vergilio of Agricola Caprera are now available in Richmond. Hunt down the “not quite” rosé of Montepulciano on Ellwood Thompson’s shelves, peruse Abi Huntington’s thoughtful Italian wine list at Dinamo, or glimpse the gorgeous, peach-toned Trebbiano by the bottle at Laura Lee’s.
For Here. readers only, stop by Laura Lee's this Friday through Sunday for a surprise cocktail made just for you. The first ten readers to tell Michael or the bar tender that Here. sent them will receive a cocktail on us!
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