Ed 396: Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, Summer Camp Guide, Comedy Magic
Powered by Richmond Performing Arts Alliance — the annual Women Take the Stage event happens March 24 and will feature local author Rachel Beanland to deliver an uplifting discussion on igniting your creative spark, followed by participation in a moderated discussion alongside three esteemed panelists: Eucharia Anigbo-Jackson, Charis Jones, and Nicole Jones. Get your ticket here!
Hello there!
Somehow, I got on a Katy Perry kick this week while I was driving around town, and let me tell you what: even with the rain and high of 45 yesterday, Teenage Dream had me in a Chloe (👆) state of mind — straight-up basking in spring-and-summer vibes. Thankfully, in no time, those vibes will be as physical for us all as they were mental for me. Starting today, we’re looking at at least a handful of warm and mostly sunny days, and I, for one, have already got a Hardywood West Creek stop on my agenda. If you see me, feel free to remind me to stay hydrated; Tropication’s gonna hate to see me comin’.
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including TBR selects, a free-roam VR arena, the 33 in 30 Challenge, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy; high of 70°, low of 49°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 78°, low of 55°
Friday: Partly cloudy; high of 74°, low of 49°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 12 - 4:30 pm: GAMES 1 & 2 OF THE A-10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday, 7 - 9 pm: TRIVIA NIGHT AT BINGO BEER CO
Friday, 10 am - 7 pm: RICHMOND HOME + GARDEN SHOW KICKOFF
CITY GUIDES
1. LOCAL WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO KNOW, LOVE & SUPPORT
Image Source: Good for the Bees
RICHMONDER TO KNOW
Zara Fina Stasi: She’s the brains and talent behind creative studio Good for the Bees, whose whimsical, swoon-worthy art prances throughout local spots like Emily Warden Designs and Richmond Public Library. Now she’s working on a book under publishing house Simon & Schuster which is set to drop next summer. (But maybe after *that*, we’ll see if she has time to paint every wall in our homes?)
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Buttermilk & Honey
Image Source: Penny’s Wine Shop
Image Source: Garden Bros Nuclear Circus
Image Source: BOHO Studios
SOCIAL NEWS
Richmond magazine is for happy campers. As summer camp costs continue to rise — with average weekly day camp fees at $435 and overnight camps at $3,000 — many families are struggling to afford activities for the kiddos. Lucky for Richmonders, though, orgs like Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, the YMCA of Greater Richmond, SPARC, The Steward School, Maymont, United Way, and NextUp are helping ease the burden through free programs, scholarships, sliding-scale tuition, and financial assistance, ensuring children still have access to enriching summer experiences that build skills, confidence, and friendships despite growing economic pressures. Want to know about all your options? There’s a guide for that. (Richmond magazine)
Pack this in your spring break bag. After leaving a 20-year law career, Stacy Hackney found herself reflecting on reinvention, motherhood, and how women rebuild after life-altering scandals — and that inspired her first adult novel, The Primrose Murder Society. Blending mother-daughter dynamics with a cozy mystery set in a Richmond landmark inspired by the Tuckahoe, the story follows Lila and her daughter Bea as they rebuild their lives after the family patriarch’s imprisonment, only to become entangled in a decades-old murder and a new suspicious death. Known previously for middle-grade novels, Stacy embraced the cozy mystery genre to explore deeper themes like trust, betrayal, and starting over, drawing heavily from her own experiences as a mother of four. She writes with a loose outline, develops characters extensively in handwritten notebooks, and does her most productive work early in the morning, often with a Pilot G2 pen in hand. (Style Weekly)
In more local author news, Sadeqa Johnson (a New York Times bestselling local author to be exact) was featured in Richmond Family Magazine recently. She draws deeply on her life and heritage to bring stories to life, often focusing on untold or marginalized experiences. From her early love of reading and theater to a career in publishing, Sadeqa honed her craft and disciplined writing routine, culminating in her first novel, Love in a Carry-On Bag, self-published with her husband’s support. After moving to Richmond in 2015, she shifted toward historical fiction, inspired by local history and the stories of women whose experiences had been overlooked, resulting in acclaimed works like Yellow Wife, The House of Eve, and her latest, Keeper of Lost Children. Committed to meticulous research and authentic storytelling, Sadeqa combines her dedication to craft with teaching and mentoring, balancing her writing with family life and a passion for bringing forgotten stories to the forefront. (Richmond Family Magazine)
Abracada-ha-ha! The Weinstein JCC’s largest annual fundraiser, A Night of Magic and Laughter, happens this Thursday, March 5, and will feature a sponsor reception, food, live music, and entertainment, along with opps to support the nonprofit’s mission through Tzedakah. The evening will wrap up with a comedy magic performance by Erick Olson, known for his appearance on America’s Got Talent, whose act blends humor and illusion. Proceeds benefit the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Jewish Community Center’s efforts to provide accessible programs and services that foster wellness and connection. (Weinstein JCC)
The Richmond Black Restaurant Experience returns March 8 through 15, marking its 10th anniversary of showcasing the city’s Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, and culinary entrepreneurs. The week begins with the free Mobile Soul Sunday fest, featuring food, live music, artisans, and family activities, and continues with curated dining experiences, restaurant specials, and cultural events across the city. Make sure you meal plan around participating spots throughout the week and help RBRE highlight our city’s diverse culinary scene and, of course, support local small businesses while you’re at it. (Richmond Black Restaurant Experience)
If you raised an eyebrow at that one Super Bowl commercial, get ready to raise two. In Richmond, Ring cameras are a familiar sight on homes, initially purchased for practical security like protecting packages or cars. But leaked internal emails reveal that Ring’s AI-powered Search Party feature, introduced as a tool to find lost pets, is part of a broader vision to “zero out crime” by linking neighborhood cameras, raising privacy concerns. Additional features like facial recognition, fire detection, and optional police requests highlight how these devices, when networked and *default-enabled*, shift from personal security tools to components of a citywide surveillance ecosystem. While cameras offer peace of mind, they also create permanent, searchable records that could track behavior, associations, and movement, intensifying questions about who controls this infrastructure, how footage is stored, and how AI might redefine safety. Richmond residents now face the challenge of balancing security with privacy in an increasingly interconnected surveillance landscape. Not not related: this. (RVA Mag)
You’ll have a well-balanced week with this to-do. The Garden Bros Nuclear Circus comes to The Diamond this week with a 100-minute, high-energy show under the world’s largest climate-controlled Big Top Arena. Featuring more than 60 performers from over 20 countries, this year’s tour showcases thrilling acts including the Human Cannonball, Globe of Death, and Jr’s Hollywood Adventure. (Visit Richmond VA)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
💪 Starting next month, BOHO Studios is doing the 33 in 30 Challenge — and FYI, our very own Paige Poprocky loves doing the 30 in 30 Challenge, so it’s safe to assume this one’ll rock, too. (Instagram)
🕹️ Zero Latency VR recently opened in Short Pump, and LaDonna Lewis has us thinking we need to check it out. (Instagram)
🍎 The House and Senate released their budget proposals this weekend, and they’re looking as healthy as an apple for the teacher. (Instagram)
Image Source: Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
Weekly Giveaway
Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
To know us is to hear us talk about Jack Brown’s sauce on a monthly (*weekly?? (**daily???)) basis, and since Jack Brown’s Run Club kicked off its 2026 season earlier this week, you’ve got all kinds of reasons to get over to the beer and burger joint ASAP.
This week, we’re giving away a $25 gift card to Jack Brown’s! And ICYDK, JBRC meets every Monday at 6 pm, and afterward, if you participate, you get 20% off your tab, too.
To enter, tell us: How much does a cloud weigh?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Janese S, for winning the Monkee’s giveaway!
Image Source: Ruff Canine Club
Member Perks
Ruff Canine Club
With very spring-y temps on the horizon, you ought to plan an outing or two with your pup, and Richmond’s first and only dog bar(k) should defff be one of your options. (And so what if a dog DID write this??)
As a member of The Richmond Experience, you get a one-month, one-dog free membership! Just email hello@ruffcanineclub.com and tell them you’re an RVAx member.
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 8 new members this week: Sydney J, Alyson T, Soraya M, Francine C, Hannah Y, Kate K, Mike F, and Nayeli A, we’re so glad you’re here!
It takes a village, so let us know if you have any questions, thoughts, feedback, tips, or recs! Thanks for reading edition 396 of The Weekly Insider.
My heart stops when you look at me 🫶
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Richmond Performing Arts Alliance for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
