Meet this week's guest editor, Laura Swanson Bowser. She's here to provide a few local tips this week to encourage you to wander, to wonder, and to celebrate all things RVA. Laura is the Founder of Vaud Consulting—an HR and DEI management consulting firm working to advance more culturally inclusive and equitable workforces. Prior to launching Vaud Consulting, Laura was the CEO of an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion firm. During her tenure as CEO, the company was recognized as a Best for the World diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) solutions provider by B Lab. Laura is also Chair of the Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Commission, Vice Chair of Data Friendly Spaces, board member at Read to Them, previous founding member of the Burke-Paine Society, and a published author.
Take it away, Laura ...
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Jolene
Did you know you can shop a local minority owned business and support artists all over the world? Meet Jolene - the latest online store turned brick and mortar pop-up shop in RVA which opened in May of 2021 at 211 W. Broad St. Jolene is a home goods shop dedicated to unique and artfully made, materials-focused objects curated and procured by my new friend Nolan Beck-Rivera. Nolan, who offers interior design as The Materialist, recently moved to RVA from Cleveland. I encourage all Richmonders to pop over and say hi. After all, the holidays are just around the corner! Why attempt to source amazing gifts when a talented designer can do it for you?
Vitals:
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Adarra
While the majority of RVA was shut down during the pandemic, and restaurants, schools, and shops struggled to remain open, Adarra took off. Recently named one of America’s best new restaurants, as well as Style Weekly’s Restaurant of the year, this cozy, less than two-years old, restaurant in Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood is now one of the hottest places in town. Each small course offers a stunning spin on the vibrant small plates of Spain’s Basque country. And, while I could wax poetic about every meal I have enjoyed, I will spare you and leave you with one fact. This restaurant made me not only like beets—a food I previously only tolerated—but crave them! As such, I can only deduce that the beets, which are grown in Chef Randall Doetzer parents’ garden, are either witchcraft or Adarra is just that good.
Vitals:
618 N. 1st Street / restaurantadarra.com
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of the Moment
Given that Richmond is recognized as one of the most artistic mid-sized cities in America, it is safe to say that COVID has greatly impacted our community over these past 18 months. Our city, however, has risen to the challenge—finding innovative ways to give virtual art shows, outdoor driveway performances, and large-scale community projects. If you are like me though and still yearn for in-person connection, I have some good news to share. Starting September 17th, Richmond legends Matt Lively and Ed Trask will be launching a fully in-person exhibition at VisArts. The exhibition “Stretching the Blip of the Moment” combines paintings and sculptures in a style much like the work Lively and Trask have partnered on in the past, however, this time with a few amazing surprises. While I am not at liberty to say more, I did recently pop over to Matt’s 150-year-old barn-turned-studio (pictured) to take a sneak peek. You won’t want to miss this.
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Hidden deep in the James River Park, tucked quietly under a moss-covered granite cliff, is the Grid Mailbox. Inside you’ll find the Dear Richmond journal, a collaborative writing experiment. For those who stumble upon it, the community journal serves as a special place to write a call to action, hopes for a better future, or simply the words you need to hear. Check out the most recent entries at our partner publication, Richmond Grid.
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