vol. 266 / Loving BranchesExploring and celebrating the place we all love to call home.
VOL. 266 / LOVING BRANCHES
This week's guest editor is Christina Shawn! A reading specialist, literacy coach, and author, Christina writes heartfelt and humorous stories about magical moments in our everyday lives. Her published works include the picture books AND THEN CAME YOU (Maydani, Chronicle Books) and LUCAS PLAYS (Yu, 2017), with NO LOVE POTION (Miller-Gass, The Little Press) forthcoming in 2026.
Christina's current projects focus on early literacy foundations while helping children feel seen, heard, and understood. Through her writing and teaching, she creates spaces where young readers can discover themselves in stories.
Based in Richmond, Christina lives with her husband, three children, and two fluffy bunnies who provide a constant supply of support, humor, and inspiration. When not writing or teaching, she enjoys yoga, bike rides, hikes, and adventuring to new places. Most of all, Christina loves the spark of learning something new and passing it along to others.
Take it away, Christina …
Storytime with Christina Shawn: And Then Came You
Come join me at bbgb, an independent bookstore in Carytown, for a fun spring storytime! I’ll be reading aloud my new picture book, And Then Came You, and would love to share this special story with you. Books will be available for purchase—and I’ll be there to sign your copy, too!
Connect with nature—and some very playful baby goats—during a one-hour goat yoga class at Pactamere Farm. Led by a certified instructor, this session includes 45 minutes of guided yoga suitable for all levels, plus 15 minutes of goat playtime for feeding, photos, and snuggles. Ages 10+. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, and bring your sense of humor.
Treat yourself to a relaxed, supportive hour of community creative writing with Abbey at Headquarters (hq). Optional prompts will be provided, and all experience levels are welcome. This month’s donations support He She Ze and We, a local organization uplifting LGBTQ+ families and individuals.
Christina aims to help children (and adults) feel seen, heard, and understood through her writing. Her background as a reading specialist and literacy coach influences both her books and her work with students, parents, and teachers. Christina believes books connect us, helping us understand ourselves and others as part of one beautiful world, while making learning to read fun from the earliest ages.
This spring, Christina is touring the Richmond area with her new book and booking visits for fall. She'll be at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens on Friday, May 9 at 10:00 AM for a special storytime and book signing (free with membership), with additional appearances at The Mom Walk (May 6) and Fit4Moms (May 22). Christina loves sharing easy ways to incorporate literacy-building skills into everyday activities with kids. Visit her website or Instagram for event updates and join her occasional newsletter.
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.
Go
