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🤔 Helping the curious explore the best of RVA
🗞 By @richmondgrid
📩 E-newsletter drops recommendations by favorite Richmonders each week
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✨Meet this week’s @here.weekly guest editor, @erinlunsfordmusic!

Erin Lunsford is an award-winning singer/songwriter from the foothills of Appalachia, now calling Richmond home. Her music, pound cake-folk rooted in bluegrass and Blue Ridge Mountain storytelling, has drawn comparisons to Chris Stapleton, YEBBA, and Susan Tedeschi. And this week, she’s got a lot going on.

🎨 Make Space at @gallery5arts | Friday, June 5 | 5–11 PM
Gallery5 opens its newest exhibition with a full night of live music, drag performances, and DJ sets. Erin performs live alongside @loganfromtheinternet and @ducttape_jesus. Free & open to the public. 📍 200 W Marshall St

🌈 Carytown Pride: Market & Chalk Event | Sunday, June 7 | 11 AM–5 PM
Head to Carytown for a day of sidewalk chalking, 30+ local LGBTQ+ artists, and great food from Eddie Rose Coffee, Petty’s Pastries & Twisted Lemon Bev Co. Hosted by @transjamrva. Free & open to the public.

🎵 @floweramahouse Show: Songwriters In The Round | Tuesday, June 9 | Doors 6 PM, Show 7 PM
An intimate evening with Erin Lunsford, Genna Matthew, and Meredith Rounsley, plus an opening set from Annie Stirling. DM Erin on Instagram for the address.

And, looking ahead…

🎸 Rhinestones Album Release Party at @thecamelrva | Friday, July 31
Her sophomore album Rhinestones drops June 26, a love letter to her Appalachian roots and a bold step forward. Celebrate with a 6-piece band, opener Sasha Landon of Palmyra, and exclusive merch. Tickets $15.

Go join Erin in spreading some local love this week, and beyond. 🤍

📸: Aspen DeRosa (@bevelcut_shawti) by @here.weekly

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🎉Meet this week’s Here Weekly guest editor, Penny Simpson Stein. Penny is co-founder of CARE360 (@carelab.global), a Virginia-based social venture rooted in Richmond and Charlottesville that is helping prepare the next generation of leaders for a rapidly changing future shaped by AI, sustainability challenges, and social transformation.

After leading innovation and product development teams for a Fortune 100 science and technology company, Penny shifted her focus toward building organizations and initiatives centered around meaningful community impact. Her work has included helping revive a woman-owned small business, supporting STEM education initiatives, and collaborating with the Science Museum of Virginia on environmental and educational efforts.

Today, through CARE360 and CARELab, Penny is helping students strengthen leadership, creativity, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and responsible AI skills through immersive, real world learning experiences alongside entrepreneurs, business professionals, and civic leaders.

In this week’s issue, Penny shares a few Richmond discoveries and ideas she believes reflect the kind of future our city should continue building — including The Green @sciencemuseumofvirginia, Richmond’s growing composting movement through @compostrva, and the importance of preparing students for an increasingly AI-driven world without losing sight of the deeply human skills that matter most.

She also offers insight into CARELab’s upcoming summer studios @uva and @urichmond, where students will explore innovation, leadership, responsible AI, sustainability, and community impact through hands on collaboration and real world problem solving.

#Hereweekly subscribers, look for Penny’s issue in your inbox! Not subscribed yet? Here Weekly is free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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Meet this week’s guest editor, Tamsen Kingry, CEO of @richmondspca, a nonprofit, no-kill humane society that saves the lives of 4,000 homeless animals each year while also delivering a wide range of programs supporting pets and the people who love them across the region.

If you had told Tamsen during her senior year at VCU that her internship would turn into a 24-year career, she probably would have asked what you were feeding the animals. But thanks to some serendipitous timing — and a departing communications manager — she stepped into her first full-time role at the Richmond SPCA in 2002 and never looked back.

Over the last two decades, Tamsen has helped guide the organization’s growth through roles in communications, development, operations, and ultimately CEO in 2019. Along the way, she has adopted three dogs and two cats, fostered many others, and happily played matchmaker for countless friends searching for a new companion.

Tamsen has called Richmond home since 1999 and shares her home with her husband, daughter, and adopted dog and cat. When she’s not at the humane center, you’ll often find her — usually with her dog Bart nearby — exploring some of her favorite Richmond spots, including Jardin, Susie’s, Celladora, and Blanchard’s. She’s also a frequent visitor to the Broad Street Lowe’s, where she never misses a chance to say hello to the legendary Francine.

This week, Tamsen shares her picks for exploring Richmond with a little extra heart — from @gosquirrels + Bark in the Park @carmaxpark, and kayaking out @sharpsislandrva, to scenic walks through @hollywoodcem and History Hound tours with @thevalentinerva alongside adoptable dogs.

She also invites readers to join the Richmond SPCA’s Amazing Tails Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, May 30. Inspired by The Amazing Race, the event transforms Carytown into a fast-paced afternoon of clues, challenges, teamwork, and local discovery, all while supporting the lifesaving work of the Richmond SPCA.

Here subscribers, check your inbox for Tamsen’s issue. Not yet a subscriber? It’s free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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🎉We’re celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week with our friend Katherine O’Donnell, President & CEO of @visitrichmondva, as our guest editor!

For more than 20 years, she has helped the region shine, turning tourism into a force for community impact. At her core, she’s a builder who believes tourism can make the Richmond Region stronger, more connected, and more vibrant.

A graduate of the @urichmond, Katherine came for school and stayed for the community. She started out creating maps and visitor guides and worked her way up to leading the organization, where she now sets the strategic vision, priorities, and long-term sustainability of Richmond Region Tourism while aligning its work with the region’s economic prosperity and quality-of-life goals. Along the way, she has championed initiatives including @outrva, @visitblkrva, and the launch of Virginia’s first Tourism Improvement District.

We’re honored to have Katherine join us this week as she shares her tips with our #hereweekly newsletter subscribers for exploring and celebrating this place we all love to call home. Her recommendations include @vmfamuse’s India’s Great Mughals: Art, Power, and Opulence exhibition; Give Me Liberty reenactments at @st._johns_church_rva; the Always Revolutionary digital trail; @discoverrichmondtours; and Richmond Region Tourism’s free I Am Tourism workshop.

Here subscribers, make sure to check your inbox later this morning for Katherine’s issue to drop. And if you haven’t yet subscribed, it’s free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere #richmondva taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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Meet this week’s guest editor, Krista Weatherford, @maymont_rva’s Director of Programming and Curator of Natural Resources. Krista brings a lifelong passion for wildlife and shares it with everyone she meets. As a leader of both education programs and animal care, she brings fun and deep respect for people and animals to everything she does.

She plans programs for more than 18,000 students each year, plus summer camps, night hikes, and citizen science initiatives, while leading a team that cares for more than 300 animals at Maymont, from tiny seahorses to bison.

Krista has been with Maymont for 11 years and in environmental education for 25, including work with Virginia State Parks and Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education. This week, she shares her tips in #hereweekly for exploring the place we all love to call home.

She recommends celebrating the reopening of the Virginia Wildlife Trail @maymont_rva on May 2 from 10 am to 4 pm, with free entertainment, games, and activities alongside new habitats, accessible pathways, and expanded wildlife viewing.

She also suggests the 15th annual Chesterfield Bee Festival on May 2 from 10 am to 3 pm, where you can learn about pollinators, native plants, and beekeeping.

She closes with Clean the Bay Day at Pocahontas State Park on May 2, inviting visitors to help remove litter and protect waterways that feed into the Bay.

Here Weekly subscribers, check your inbox for Krista’s issue! Not yet a subscriber, it’s free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere taken in Maymont by @here.weekly

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Meet this week’s guest editor, Brit Trible, owner of @gildedlilydesign, a Richmond-based container gardening and holiday arrangements business known for elevating homes and businesses across the region. Brit (@bpgtrible) grew up on a horse farm just outside the city, and from an early age, she always had her hands (and feet) in the dirt. If you ask us, there’s just something about the beauty of the outdoors that stays with you and shapes how you see the world.

But Brit didn’t begin her career designing outdoor spaces. After earning a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from James Madison University, she spent 15 years working in geriatric rehabilitation across hospital systems, home health, and rehab centers.

During COVID, after having her third child, she felt a pull toward something more creative. The shift wasn’t just about artistry, it was about connection. She wanted to build relationships while creating something tangible and lasting. That’s when Gilded Lily Designs was born.

Today, her business has adorned nearly 200 homes and businesses from Richmond to Charlottesville with custom container gardens and seasonal plantings. Brit sources planters and designs each space to match the style and scale of the property. She’s drawn to both sides of the work, the creative process and the relationships that come with it.

When she’s not growing her business, Brit enjoys exploring Richmond and beyond with her husband, Paul, and their three children. This week, she’s taking a moment to join us at Here Weekly to share her favorite ways to celebrate the place we all love to call home.

Here subscribers, make sure to check your inbox for Brit’s issue where she recommends @richmondsymphonyleague Designer Show House, the inaugural Fan Flea Market, Richmond Restaurant Week supporting @feedmoreinc, and Historic Garden Week
Presented by @gardenclubofvirginia. If you’re not yet a subscriber, it’s free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere

📸 @byjacquiphoto taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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Meet this week’s guest editor, Ash Moore, Managing Director of @viragoalley, the organization behind the @rvarenfaire. With nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit arts, Ash has worked with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Symphony, and most recently the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, providing marketing, fundraising, and programming support.

Ash serves as Board Secretary for Spectre Percussion, Virginia’s only independent open percussion ensemble, and is also involved with @gallery5arts, an award-winning, community-driven visual and performing arts center located in Historic Jackson Ward at the heart of Richmond’s Arts District. Through their work at Virago Alley and in their volunteer roles, they advocate for the arts as a vehicle for community building and social cohesion.

This week, Ash is sharing tips in #hereweekly’s newsletter for exploring and celebrating this place we all love to call home. First on the list, Ash recommends keeping the party going at the official Richmond Ren Faire after-parties. Each night features a local lineup of high-energy performances in the place where it all started — Gallery5, which celebrates its 21st birthday this week, marking over two decades as a launchpad for local artists and community groups.

Next, Ash suggests catching the Roll 4 crew at the Richmond Ren Faire by day, then heading to @rvacomedy by night for a grand adventure. Assemble your party and join this month’s Roll 4 D&D one-shot campaign, where the fate of the players rests on the roll of the dice — and your wild suggestions. Come in your best Ren Faire costume for half off tickets at the door.

Ash wraps things up by featuring @wrir97.3fm’s Spring Fund Drive, which kicks off this weekend and serves as one of their largest fundraising initiatives. WRIR is the voice of the community, airing underrepresented music, news, and views to provide a platform for cultural diversity in Richmond. This spring’s T-shirt design was created by local artist @sillygenius.

Here subscribers, make sure to check your inbox for Ash’s issue. And if you’re not yet a subscriber, it’s free at hereweekly.com. Follow Ash @ashmeanythingg.

📸 @miranda.unofficial taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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Meet Sofia McDaniel, J.D., our returning guest editor this week. Sofia (@whoissvfiaa) is a local business leader, K–12 education advocate, girls lacrosse coach, and passionate champion for expanding access and opportunity for young people. With experience spanning K–12 innovation, sport leadership, and community partnerships, she is dedicated to advancing meaningful systems change.

In addition to her professional work, Sofia is deeply committed to advocacy and service. With two siblings with autism, she has a personal connection to the intellectual and developmental disabilities community and is a dedicated supporter of inclusive programming through organizations like @bestbuddiesvadc.

This week, Sofia is here to share her tips for exploring and celebrating this place we all love to call home.

First on her list in #hereweekly is the Best Buddies Friendship Walk. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sofia invites readers to join her on April 19 for a day of unity and support at this event, which fosters genuine friendships, promotes inclusivity, and raises vital funds for Best Buddies in Virginia & DC. The event kicks off at 12:30 PM at Richmond Kickers City Stadium.

Sofia also shouts out Structure: A Study in Fashion, a runway show during @rvafashionweek that blends art, design, and purpose. The show brings together a collective of emerging and established designers to explore form, movement, and storytelling through fashion, all while supporting the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative. The event takes place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 6–10 PM at Deco at CNB.

Sofia rounds out her recommendations with Earn the Sunrise at @evlverva, where personal trainer Jesus Martinez, “Baby Gesus,” leads a high-energy workout before the sun is up.

Subscribers, make sure to check your inbox for Sofia’s issue of Here. And if you’re not yet a subscriber, it’s free at hereweekly.com. taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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Meet Bridé Baker, this week’s guest editor of Here Weekly. Bridé (@eponymous_they) is President of the Virginia Center for Public Press, a.k.a. WRIR 97.3 FM (@wrir97.3fm), Richmond’s independent radio station, and a published writer, editor, and co-host of the podcast Novel/Film, a monthly conversation on adaptations from page to screen.

If you’re a Here subscriber, check your inbox for the latest issue that dropped yesterday featuring tips for exploring and celebrating Richmond by Bridé. Inside, there’s a shoutout to @thevalentinerva, where just last night Bridé joined a discussion on the future of public arts and media alongside Tanesha Powell of ART 180 and Elizabeth Dolan Wright of the Commonwealth Public Art Fund.

Also on the list: First Friday + Moon Market @gallery5arts tonight (5–10pm, 200 W Marshall St), where @rvamoonmarket, Gallery5, and @art_180,are closing the street for an outdoor night market and block party with artists, food trucks, and performers.

For tomorrow, Edgar’s Enchanted Garden – Family Day @poemuseum celebrates National Poetry Month with nature poetry, crafts, and programming alongside Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (April 4, 10am–12pm, 1914 E Main St).

And finally, show some love to WRIR-LP 97.3 FM, an all-volunteer, nonprofit station and one of the largest low-power FM stations in the country, amplifying underrepresented music, news, and voices across Richmond.

➡️ Make sure to check your inbox to read Bridé’s full issue of #hereweekly. Not a subscriber yet? It’s free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere by @here.weekly

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Meet this week’s guest editor, Ashley Ray (@arayrva). Ashley is a lifelong lover of Richmond and fiercely dedicated to supporting all things local. Her communications business keeps her busy telling stories and keeping comms rolling for amazing nonprofits like @girlsforachange, organizations like @lighthousenetworkva, and @peoplesadvfcu. She’s been doing this work for over a decade and absolutely loves it.

When she’s not working, she’s connecting the Jackson Ward neighborhood through her role as the Co-Chair of the Safety and Beautification Committee for Historic Jackson Ward, supporting the Arts District Business Alliance, getting into pickle shenanigans, or volunteering for cool things like this weekend’s Hack for RVA (@rvahacks).

Hack for RVA is a civic hackathon that brings together Richmond’s hackers, hustlers, and artists to build solutions for the city’s biggest challenges and compete for awards. In partnership with the City of Richmond and the Mayor’s Office, this event is intentionally aligned with Mayor @dannyavula’s seven areas of focus for a thriving city. The event brings together nonprofit leaders, city leaders, and citizens to build together, making this a truly collaborative process. If you care about the future of Richmond and want to be a part of the change, this event is for you. It’s all happening March 27–29 @vcubusiness.

If you’re joining Hack for RVA, you’ll be within walking distance of Jackson Ward, the neighborhood Ashley calls home. In this week’s issue of #HereWeekly, Ashley drops tips for checking out @gwarbarrva, @pennysrva, @gallery5arts, @art_180, @tarrantsdowntown, @lillie.pearl.rva, @rvamoonmarket, @rvafirstfridays, and more!

If you’re a Here Weekly subscriber, check your inbox for Ashely’s issue. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, it’s free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere taken in Richmond, Virginia by @here.weekly

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Meet this week’s guest editor, Greg Holis (@greg_hollis). Before becoming the General Manager of Shoreline (@shorelinerva), Greg spent over six years as an English teacher in Thailand. During this time, Greg became a scuba diving enthusiast and developed a passion for all things related to marine life and conservation.

In 2024, Greg joined the team at Shoreline Seafood Market and was instantly enamored with owner and founder David Whitby’s commitment to selling and preparing high quality, ethically sourced, sustainably caught seafood. He also relished the social nature of working in a seafood market and restaurant, connecting with guests and developing genuine relationships within the local community.

Greg has a few tips up his sleeve that he’s sharing with Here readers in today’s issue about his favorite ways to explore and celebrate this place we all love to call home.  Subscribers, make sure to check your inbox for Greg’s tips, including @dinamorichmond, @rooseveltrva, and @waygonebrewery.

Greg also encourages readers to check out Shoreline’s Annual Oyster Roast this Sunday. Shoreline is partnering with Waygone Brewery and @kcoysters to bring Richmond an afternoon of complimentary oysters, wine tastings, and beer. Free admission and dog friendly. Expect good people, fresh oysters, and hot fish sandwiches with housemade chips to keep you fueled. Happening at Shoreline Seafood Market. Bring your crew and celebrate the community that makes this place special.

If you’re not yet a #hereweekly subscriber, sign up for free at hereweekly.com.

#noplacelikehere #richmondva #rva by @here.weekly

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