Nick's PicksExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 297 / Nick's Picks
Meet Nick Davis, this week’s guest editor. Nick has been part of the Here Weekly and Richmond Grid story for nearly a decade. As one of our most trusted collaborators, he has served as our go-to photographer, helping capture the people, places, and products that bring Richmond’s creative community to life.
A self-taught photographer and business owner, Nick has earned a reputation for creating stunning images for the likes of Lululemon, Capital One, Morgan Stanley, and a wide range of businesses across Virginia. We still remember the conversation over coffee when he told us he was making the leap to photography full time. Since then, his work has only continued to grow.
For Nick, photography isn't just his job. It’s something he is always practicing. When he isn't on set with clients, you will likely find him in the studio testing lighting setups, practicing portraits, or experimenting with product shots simply to keep sharpening his craft.
Nick is proud to call the Brookland Park neighborhood home, which made him the perfect person to share a few favorite spots in this thriving corner of Richmond’s Northside. With a growing mix of restaurants, music venues, and neighborhood gathering places, Brookland Park has become one of the city’s most interesting places to explore right now. And there are far too many local businesses to love to fit into just one newsletter, so here are just a few.
Take it away, Nick ...
Julio’s Bagels
Julio’s Bagels began as a simple Saturday pop-up outside Pizza Bones in Church Hill, where owner and baker Ashley Patino started experimenting with naturally leavened bagels alongside the pizzeria’s bread program. Richmond showed up quickly, and what began as a weekend special soon grew into a full bagel shop on Brookland Park Boulevard. Today the shop serves bagels the way they should be, naturally leavened, boiled and baked for a crisp exterior and soft, chewy interior, with seasonal ingredients and classic combinations that let the bread shine. Patino runs the shop with Noah Bowman, a Brooklyn native who moved to Richmond in 2017 and helped build the space before joining the venture. Pair a bagel with coffee from Recluse Roasting Project, often served in hand-thrown mugs from neighboring studio Hand / Thrown. Julio’s has also introduced online ordering for bagel packs and bulk orders during the week.
Vitals:
Julio’s Bagels / Thursday–Sunday, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM (or until sold out) / 4337 Brookland Park Blvd.
The Smoky Mug
Part café, part Texas craft barbecue joint, The Smoky Mug has quickly become one of the most welcoming hangouts along Brookland Park’s historic corridor. What started as a local coffee and breakfast stop now blends specialty lattes, breakfast burritos, and housemade pastries with a full lineup of Texas-style barbecue and Tex-Mex favorites. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, tacos, and nachos anchor the menu Wednesday through Sunday, while the café side keeps the coffee flowing all week long. The spacious covered porch has become a neighborhood gathering spot where friends meet, dogs lounge, and laptops occasionally appear alongside cocktails. With colorful Southwestern-inspired murals by Richmond artist Emily Herr and a steady rotation of seasonal drinks (this week they're featuring the Lucky Lil' Mugarita pictured here) and happy hour specials, The Smoky Mug captures the relaxed spirit of Northside hospitality.
Vitals:
The Smoky Mug / Café open daily; Texas craft barbecue served Wednesday–Sunday, Happy Hour: Wednesday–Saturday, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM / 2930 North Avenue
Fuzzy Cactus
If Brookland Park Boulevard has a living room for Richmond’s Northside music scene, it is probably Fuzzy Cactus. The rock ’n’ roll bar, restaurant, and live music venue has become a go-to gathering spot for locals looking for a laid-back night with good food and loud guitars. Inside you'll find a rotating lineup of punk, indie, and garage bands, while the kitchen turns out crowd favorites like burgers, tacos, and bar snacks that pair well with a cold beer or cocktail. Whether you're catching a touring band, discovering a local act, or just dropping in for happy hour and a game of pool, Fuzzy Cactus keeps the energy of Brookland Park Boulevard buzzing well into the night.
Just a few blocks away, Garland Garage offers one of Northside’s most intimate live music experiences. Tucked into the 3600 block of Garland Avenue, the DIY backyard venue hosts early evening concerts where neighbors bring lawn chairs, local musicians plug into a small stage, and the crowd gathers under string lights. Shows typically run from about 6:45 to 9:45 PM and feature a mix of Richmond artists and touring acts passing through town. It's relaxed, welcoming, and very Richmond. Bring a chair and settle in. The next show is set for March 14 featuring Summer School, Dave Watkins, and Christina Louise.
Goats and HoneyExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 296 / Goats and Honey
Meet this week’s guest editor, Kristi Orcutt. Kristi is the founder and owner of RVA Goats and Honey, a Chesterfield-based farm that blends environmental stewardship with hands-on vegetation management. A longtime Chesterfield resident and Virginia Commonwealth University graduate, Kristi brings more than 20 years of experience in environmental education across Richmond-area parks and gardens to her work. She previously served in roles with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation, and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, helping connect communities with conservation, native landscapes, and sustainable land use.
At RVA Goats and Honey, Kristi leads a herd of more than 100 goats and sheep used for invasive plant removal and eco-friendly landscape management and restoration, offering an alternative to heavy machinery and chemical treatments. She also brings her passion for education beyond the farm, giving talks and presentations on beekeeping, sustainable land care, and pollinator protection to schools, clubs, and community groups throughout Central Virginia.
This week, Kristi takes the reins as our guest editor, offering her guide to a few local gems that make Richmond so special.
Joseph Bryan Park
Joseph Bryan Park is one of my go-to parks in Richmond — it’s also one of the very first parks where I brought our goats to clear brush, weeds, and invasive plants, leaving behind the park’s famous azaleas. Located in Richmond’s Northside, this 262-acre park dates to the late 1700s and was once part of a much larger rural farm. In 1910, then-landowner Belle Stewart Bryan, widow of Joseph Bryan (and founder of the Richmond Times-Dispatch), donated a portion to the City of Richmond. Today, the park offers ponds, long, winding walking trails, sports fields, natural gardens, and wide-open green spaces that make it ideal for both relaxation and recreation. Make sure you visit between April 1 and May 15 to see the azaleas in peak bloom!
Vitals:
Catch the RVA Big Market at Bryan Park seasonally / Winter season: November-April (Saturdays 9am-12pm); summer season: May-October (Saturdays 8am-12pm) / Support Friends of Bryan Park / 4308 Hermitage Road
Perly's Delicatessen
Perly’s in downtown Richmond is one of my favorite restaurants because it reminds me of my father, who loved this kind of comforting, soulful cuisine. It’s a modern Jewish restaurant and delicatessen serving traditional Jewish food with an innovative twist. I honestly love just sitting there and reading the menu — every dish sounds like a little story you want to taste. The vibe is warm, retro, and full of personality — it’s a total Richmond classic that brings back lots of great family memories, and we are so lucky to have it in our city.
The Richmond Home + Garden Show is March 6–8 at the Richmond Raceway Complex — and RVA Goats and Honey will be there! With more than 250 local home and garden experts all in one place, this event is one of the best ways to kick off spring in RVA. This year’s show includes HGTV and Magnolia Network stars Chris Lambton and Tamara Day, who will be sharing tips on everything from outdoor living to laid-back luxe interiors. I love that the event puts just as much focus on gardens and outdoor spaces as it does on kitchens, baths, and renovations. RVA Goats and Honey is excited to be there as an exhibitor with our herd, giving attendees an up-close look at how goats can be used for eco-friendly landscaping and invasive plant control.
RVA Goats and Honey is a locally owned, farm-based business near Pocahontas State Park, bringing a sustainable solution to landscape management across the Richmond region. Kristi and her farm family — made up of goats, sheep, and other farm animals — use natural grazing to clear brush, weeds, and invasive plants without chemicals, heavy equipment, or environmental harm. Their goats and sheep have helped restore green spaces everywhere from Richmond City parks and the University of Richmond to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Stone Brewing, Evergreen Cemetery, and dozens of residential yards across RVA.
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.
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