Meet Bree Dodd, this week's guest editor! She is an advocate of embracing a multi-hyphenate lifestyle and likes to answer the question "So, what do you do?" with many "ands..." Currently, Bree can be found as a change agent with Open Eye (watch out for their RVA launch later this month), teaching yoga (sign up for weekly zero-cost classes straight to your inbox), working at a brewery (say hi to her on Saturdays at The Veil), and launching a new business (stay tuned for details in Q2, wink-wink). Her passion for community, inclusivity, wellness, entrepreneurship, and small businesses, helps Bree cultivate space for people to connect, to live by their definition of well, and to feel seen and heard. You can link up with her by following @bree.dodd, where you may or may not get talked into a coffee date, as it's no secret that this is her favorite pastime. Here are Bree's tips for exploring and celebrating this place that we all love to call home.
Take it away, Bree ...
RVA Community
Fridges
One of the many reasons I fell in love with Richmond is because we're a city of do-gooders. Richmonders actively seek out ways to get involved, to roll up their sleeves, and to find places to make a lasting impact. One such place is RVA Community Fridges, a small group of BIPOC community organizers promoting equal access to healthy food options by giving it away for free. You can get involved by donating, dropping off food, and helping scout new locations. Richmond's first community fridge can be found at Pomona Plants in Union Hill, where you can pop in some fresh fruits and veggies. Afterward, hang around for a bit to celebrate an amazing local, small business and scoop up something green for your home before you leave. And while you're at it, don't forget to pre-order an Open Sign Calendar celebrating Black-owned restaurants in Richmond -- each calendar month features a different entrepreneur and 100% of the profits go to RVA Community Fridges!
On the hunt to furnish a new apartment I stumbled into the cutest lil' vintage shop on Main Street at the old Baja Bean location. You can shop Boho To Go online or in-store for decor and furnishings from the past, for the now. Bonus: I think the owner, Jen, is quite possibly the sweetest person I've ever met. Jen, who is a registered nurse, will tell you that she grew up thrifting and garage sale-ing for her grandparents' antique business in upstate NY so the thrill of the hunt is in her blood. She loves breathing new life into forgotten inanimate objects of yesterday, so you'll always leave with a good conversation and a unique piece to show off.
For my first two years in Richmond I lived and owned a business in Shockoe Bottom and could not be convinced that I would ever leave. I now cannot be convinced that I will ever leave Forest Hill and think my new neighborhood deserves some much-deserved attention. On a sunny day, grab yourself a coffee from Blanchard's Forest Hill Cafe or The Westover Kitchen & Provisions and head down to Reddy Creek for a long trail walk. Give me a shout when you see me hopping rocks with a latte in one hand and the leash of my Bernese Mountain Dog in the other! When you're ready for some more fun, hit up my favorite tropical diner, Little Nickel. You can enjoy delicious food and funky cocktails to-go or dine-in, inside or on the patio (and no, you don't need an extra order of the nachos, one is enough).
A celebration of Black-owned restaurants in Richmond. Each calendar month, from March 2021 to February 2022, features a different entrepreneur. 100% of calendar profits support RVA Community Fridge.
Meet Claire O’Keefe, our guest editor this week! A Richmond native and pre-COVID world traveler, Claire creates environments for people to feel grounded and safe to share their perspectives. As a Summit Producer for Envoy and Director of Canvas, a media studio and event space in Richmond, Claire lives the world of obsessing over the role that physical and virtual environments play in determining our perspectives on issues and the decisions we make.
As the world is being reinvented through a pandemic, Claire is more aware than ever how our home office can affect our productivity levels, the importance of getting a walk in around the block, or especially the importance of carving out time to care for yourself and do good for others. Here are Claire’s three tips on creating the environment to do something good for yourself and give back to others at the same time.
Volunteer
Happily Natural
Get outside and get your hands dirty. You might have seen Duron Chavis, the founder of Happily Natural Day, in partnership with folks around Richmond raise money, gather supplies, build and distribute over 300 raised garden beds last year. Well, he's back and needs our help again. If you know anyone in a food dessert, he is calling for applicants to receive beds as well as volunteers to build and distribute raised garden beds starting the week of February 9th.
AlterNatives Boutique has been a favorite of mine for years now, not only because of their eclectic jewelry but also because a majority of the clothes and goods sold support the Indigenous women in Guatemala by receiving a living wage and access to health care, food and clean water. Guadalupe Ramirez opened the shop 25 years ago in the heart of Carytown, and the boutique is also an extension of her nonprofit, Highland Support Project, which she started to advocate for Indigenous communities in Central America resisting state violence. Go check it out, if you haven’t already, and support a hardworking crew who is also raising money to purchase the building to keep the business going.
Food can drastically change your environment in how it makes you feel…trust me, you’ll want to end your weekend tracking down this taco, burrito, and tortas (TBT) pop up stand if you haven’t discovered this gem on your own yet. As they await the opening of their storefront in the old Naked Onion spot, you’ll find Carlos and his crew all over Richmond’s breweries and markets dishing up the most flavorful and authentic Mexican food. I highly recommend the Slam Dunk Contest, the consommé broth is unmatched. Carlos, a second-generation immigrant like myself, has a passion and dedication to share the food of his homeland, which makes it taste that much better, I promise.
Canvas has created a meeting space for safe, meaningful dialogue. It’s goal isn’t to be cool, hip, or luxurious. It’s grounded.It’s a place designed by a team of professional negotiators, mediators, and creatives that serves as a backdrop for humans to share their humanity. For leaders to let down their guard. For groups to gather and truly listen to each other to identify their common interests. Canvas also serves as a destination for broadcasting live virtual meetings and conferences and hosting socially distanced in-person, private events. The complex consists of five distinct spaces, each designed for a unique purpose, all on the same urban compound.
Meet Prabir Mehta, our guest editor this week! Prabir is a Richmond musician with a love for science and community. His various musical offerings have been a part of our city's soundtrack for the past decade while always introducing new sounds, styles, and experiences along the way. Prabir is also the host of the weekly science minute on VPM's Morning Edition along with the Science Museum of Virginia, taking complex and interesting science news and turning it into relevant and entertaining content for the masses.
For nearly sixteen years Prabir has also been in a leadership role at Gallery5, one of Richmond's favorite nonprofit arts and culture organizations. In 2021 Prabir plans to release a new India-influenced album with his band Prabir Trio. The band has been taking Prabir's experiences of being an Indian immigrant and setting them to the backdrop of rock and roll. You can keep up with Prabir on all things by following @PrabirRVA. Here are his three tips for exploring and celebrating this place we love to call home.
Take it away, Prabir …
Nile
Ethiopian Bistro
Humanity's origins date back to Africa and so much of our early ancestral history played out in Ethiopia. That land has also been hailed as the birthplace of our love for coffee. Certain things come from certain places. The environment there, like all places, allows for specific foods to have become a part of that region's history and culture. I was born across the Arabian Sea in India, where similar flavors are often found in foods after thousands of years of cultural interactions. Regardless, eating at the Nile feels like home because it reminds me of some of those Indian flavor profiles, the staff is beyond hospitable, and ultimately I think back to the millions of humans who still carry with them the genetics of our species and how so much of that history comes from the land that makes this delicious food possible. Bonus points, it's in Church Hill...a much easier commute than half way around the world!
The big trees at Maymont. The Richmond area is so lucky to not only have the amazing James River Park System, but we have lots of other organizations that use their physical footprint to allow for peaceful and natural experiences. Maymont does this and for free. So cool. One of my favorite things to see year round is how the big trees at Maymont go through their annual seasonal cycles. The epic reds, oranges, greens, bare branches, and all the other seasonal changes on these trees are just astounding. Plus they're huge. They provide cooling shade in the summer, are a home for countless species, and decorate any selfie you take there with perfection. I love that Richmond loves trees and can't wait to see more planted in the future. I would highly suggest picking a tree at Maymont and visiting it every season to see just how remarkable and resilient life on Earth can be. It inspires me! For those who can, Maymont is worthy of a donation to ensure Richmond continues to have this treasure.
If you have not been, you MUST go to the North Bank Trail. One of my favorite aspects of life in Richmond is our proximity and access to peaceful and natural settings. I will happily walk a few miles through Richmond neighborhoods to end up at the beautiful James River. The North bank trail is a great walk, run, or mountain bike trail. I can't think of a better spot in this city to get away from it all while seeing some of our city's prettiest sights. And the best part? It's free, outdoors, and good for ya!
Gallery5's January exhibit, The Great Outdoors, features 55 pieces inspired by our favorite green spaces. Check out the work of local photographers and artists for free until Feb. 4th.
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