Podcasts about Shockoe Bottom

Plus: A fire broke out in Shockoe Bottom; "Significant weaknesses” were found in an audit in how the City of Richmond oversees government employee credit cards; and other stories.

In one of the most impactful interviews to date on the subject, host Randy Wilson sits down with Devon Henry and Marland Buckner, the visionary leaders behind the Shockoe Institute—an $11 million cultural and historical venue now under construction near Main Street Station in Richmond, VA. Devon Henry, renowned for leading the removal of over 24 Confederate monuments across the South, and Marland Buckner, a veteran of the U.S. Senate, Microsoft, and national policy circles, share a timely and deeply personal conversation about reclaiming space, reshaping public memory, and building a new future rooted in truth. Together, they unpack: The symbolism of Shockoe Bottom as a former epicenter of the U.S. domestic slave trade How immersive storytelling will help future generations engage with hard history The challenges and responsibilities of leading a project that sits at the intersection of culture, history, equity, and legacy Their personal motivations, community vision, and hopes for how the Shockoe Institute will serve as both a gateway to Richmond's past and a beacon for collective healing This episode isn't just a look at a building project—it's a front-row seat to history in the making.

Back to the Map! Team Embrace ventures back to the pod's 1st Mapz series community, Shockoe Bottom. Ana Edwards joins the pod and guides Carl and Moral through Shockoe's history past, present, and it's hopeful future. Some New FOODIE spots are revealed. Irie Ting Jamaican Grill (@irietingja) ande LuLu's (@lulusrva). ShoutOut goes to The Well Collective (@thewellcollective_) Find out more about what's happening in Shockoe Bottom: - The Shockoe Project - www.theshockoeproject.com - Sacred Ground Project - www.sacredgroundproject.net - Virginia Defender - www.virginiadefender.org Become apart of the Conversation! www.embracerva.com

Send us a textEpisode 754 | The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show | www.Sharvette.comhttps://youtu.be/IY1CCuWYsuQTonya L. Pulliam is a graduate of Virginia Union University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She also completed her graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a Master's Degree in Social Work with Advanced Standing. With over 20 years of experience, Tonya has provided direct services to children and families, offered leadership and supervision to staff, and demonstrated outstanding volunteerism within the community. Currently residing in Richmond, Virginia, Tonya grew up in a rural area in the southern region of the state, living on a farm with her grandparents and sister.For the past 15 years, Tonya has operated her own consulting firm and launched a training institute to serve mental health professionals in areas such as clinical documentation, clinical interventions, client assessment and planning, and service plan writing. As a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, she trained over 100 individuals in handling mental health crises and emergencies. Tonya also hosted the annual Community of Hope Conference for five years, enhancing the learning of human service professionals across Virginia. She has successfully built partnerships with esteemed professionals who are leaders in their fields.During her tenure as a consultant, Tonya has worked on numerous projects across multiple states, providing needs assessments and community engagement. She served as the Director of Growth & Development for a therapeutic foster care agency, where she conducted research and evaluations to assess service needs for foster homes. Her efforts led to the introduction of new foster care programs in Asheville, North Carolina, and the expansion of services in Chesapeake and Richmond, Virginia. She also conducted a program evaluation for a psychiatric and substance abuse treatment hospital in Mandeville, Louisiana.Tonya is deeply committed to grassroots and community social work. She has been a significant asset to the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond, VA, in combating the city's homelessness crisis. For seven years, she operated an emergency food pantry and clothes closet and partnered to offer weekly hot meals to the city's most vulnerable residents. Under her leadership, over 10,000 articles of donated clothing were distributed annually to those in need. Tonya has spent much of her career working to improve the quality of life of others and meeting needs within the community.In 2021, she reignited her passion for serving the city's most vulneThe Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show | www.Sharvette.com Listen and Subscribe to our Podcast: https://pod.link/281762250 Listen on Apple Podcast - http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sharvette-mitchell-radio/id281762250 Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Er67rVhcSqj8MO7ysL9bV Listen on iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-the-sharvette-mitchell-rad-31047507/ Listen on BuzzSprout- https://thesharvettemitchellradioshow.buzzsprout.com Listen on Amazon Music Podcast: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7a6dbb45-abf8-4ce7-8202-116b3dbd3f31/the-sharvette-mitchell-radio-show

Richmond's decades-long effort to commemorate its history as the nation's second-largest slave market reached a milestone Tuesday with the unveiling of a new master plan for the 10-acre project in Shockoe Bottom; Another major mixed-use redevelopment is on the drawing board for Henrico's west end; A chain of biscuit-focused breakfast restaurants is on the rise locally with plans for a new spot in Carytown; and other local business stories.

Mayo Island is now set to become part of the James River Park System; VPM has taken another step forward with its plans to relocate to downtown Richmond; For the second time in recent years, an effort to bring a food hall concept to Scott's Addition has fallen through; and it's out with cider, in with simple syrups for a Shockoe Bottom storefront. 

Shockoe Bottom in Richmond,VA is a historic part of the city that was a major slave trading center. During the Civil War many of the buildings there were used as hospitals. Today many of the historic buildings are being renovated to house apartments, restaurants, shops, and bars. And we know what happens when surroundings get changed-ghost don't like it. Just a warning-this episode did get derailed a bit but we got back on track. And our cocktail provided by Henry is a Gin Martini made with Aviation Gin Sponsor: Music Explorers on Facebook and Instagram https://www.gofundme.com/manage/on-the-night-train-needs-equipment Our gofundme account. We need equipment and funds for our roadtrips and investigations , --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paige-johnson86/message

Shockoe Bottom in Richmond,VA is a historic part of the city that was a major slave trading center. During the Civil War many of the buildings there were used as hospitals. Today many of the historic buildings are being renovated to house apartments, restaurants, shops, and bars. And we know what happens when surroundings get changed-ghost don't like it. Just a warning-this episode did get derailed a bit but we got back on track. And our cocktail provided by Henry is a Gin Martini made with Aviation Gin Sponsor: Music Explorers on Facebook and Instagram https://www.gofundme.com/manage/on-the-night-train-needs-equipment Our gofundme account. We need equipment and funds for our roadtrips and investigations , --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paige-johnson86/message

Back with some Great facts about Shockoe Bottom, the crew discusses the research found by Gabriela. Moral and Carl plan a hang out in the bottom and some places to visit. ShoutOut goes to the Book Bar Located in the slip. Become a part of the convo and message them on Instagram @Embrace_podcast

As momentum builds for a long-sought slavery museum and commemorative campus in Shockoe Bottom, a yearslong effort to create a guiding blueprint for the neighborhood's growth has culminated with the release of a draft area plan; A clearer picture has emerged of what healthcare giant HCA has in mind for its proposed Hanover hospital, as the project approaches a planning commission hearing this summer; After more than a decade out of the game, Emilio Peiro is getting back into the Richmond restaurant scene; and other local business stories.

Richmond is looking for a location in Shockoe Bottom to build a museum that tells the history of the city's slave trade; Organizers are planning a series of town hall meetings to discuss how Virginia's mental health system could better protect people who are in crisis; The Virginia Department of Elections has planned 10 sessions for groups interested in holding voter registration drives; and other local news stories.

CBS 6 Crime Insider John Burkett joins Richmond's Morning News to talk about the homeless man suspected of multiple assaults on women in Shockoe Bottom, and the organized theft ring operating in our suburbs.  

Scrolling through UberEats offerings in the Richmond neighborhood of Shockoe Bottom can make the area seem like poultry heaven: The app shows six similar-looking chicken restaurants available to order from all within a stone's throw of the community's mainstreet. However, finding “Tender Luvin” or “CHIC CHICK” on foot is an impossible task. That's because the six chicken joints are ghost kitchens — restaurants that only exist online. All six share almost identical menu items and come from the kitchen of one restaurant called CHIC'N & BEER, owned by entrepreneur and realtor Tysean Ford. “We just want to make sure that...Article LinkSupport the show

Moral and Carl are Back! This time with a NEW SERIES to learn more about their city, called MapZ. The first burrow up for deep dive is Shockoe Bottom. The team discuss their thoughts about the area and what they want to learn. ShoutOut goes to CSz Richmond Theater IG: @cszrichmondtheater Hit the Team up to join the conversation on IG: @embrace_podcast

Richmond's efforts to commemorate and educate about the city's role in the domestic slave trade have received a large financial boost: 16 million dollars from the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project. As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, the largest chunk will go towards the creation of a new interpretive center. 

Richmond's Shockoe Bottom was once the epicenter of the Virginia slave trade, the second largest site of human trafficking in North America. Experts estimate the majority of Black Americans can trace their ancestry to this spot. Today politicians and local leaders have thrown their support behind a memorial park and museum here. But two decades […]

Mac McCormack probably owns more whisky than anyone you know. The owner of three Richmond-area restaurants that bear his name, the McCormack's locations boast impressively-stocked bars with a wide array of whisky. "I would guess in the 15 to 18,000 bottle [range] right now," McCormack answered when asked about his selection across McCormack's Big Whisky Grill at Regency Square, McCormack's Whisky Grill in the Fan, and McCormack's Irish Pub in Shockoe Bottom. "I don't know that anybody has more of a selection than we do at Big Whiskey. I don't see how they could, because it took me 10 years to put this collection together. Virginia has some restrictions where we have to buy everything from the ABC. And so one of the reasons we have so many bottles and backstock is because of that. So when things become available, I buy as many as I can, just to make sure that we keep them in stock, because I have to not think about today or tomorrow, I have to think about five years from now. And some of the products that we carry, the only reason we have them is that I stocked them 15 years ago having no idea that they will become so popular." When you sit down at one of McCormack's bars, don't be surprised if he steers you away from his most expensive bourbon pours. "My job as a bartender here is to show people the ones that they don't have to pay that money for. If people are doing that, and it's not the corporate guys in suits and it's not their money, I say, well, why don't we take a third of that shot price and I'll show you four whiskies that cost a third of that, that I think are almost as good or equally as good. And you don't have to waste a bunch of money," he said. "I understand the value of the bottles that I have, but I actually down-sell people all the time from those kinds of crazy expensive pours. We're a restaurant and I want you to come here once every two weeks, once every three weeks for dinner, I don't want you to just think of us as the expensive place." McCormack recently reopened his new Big Whisky Grill at Regency Square in Henrico's West End. Learn more about his restaurants and ascension to the top of the Virginia bourbon scene on this week's episode of Eat It, Virginia!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Mark Warner was in Shockoe Bottom to tour Lumpkin's Slave Jail yesterday, and also spoke about his vote to convict former President Donald Trump during the recent impeachment trial; Virginia has received an additional $524 million for the Rent Relief Program; Legislation to legalize marijuana in Virginia passed both chambers of the General Assembly; and other local news stories.

On this episode we talk about Masons' Hall in Richmond Virginia. This is a masonic lodge in Shockoe Bottom within the city and it has a vast amount of historical significance as well as some paranormal activity tied to it. If you enjoy this episode be sure to like our podcast and follow us on whatever platform you're using! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/campfirechronicles/support

Good morning, RVA! It’s 37 °F, and you can probably expect clouds, rain, and slightly warmer temperatures for the rest of the day. Keep an eye on Thursday, though: It’s our first, best chance for actual snow.Water coolerAs of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 3,792 new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealthand -1 (???) new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 438 new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 164, Henrico: 180, and Richmond: 94). Since this pandemic began, 647 people have died in the Richmond region. I think we’re past a peak. Case counts are lower than at any point this month and the rate of new hospitalizations (which is still extremely high) has started to level off. Maybe we’ve suffered through all of the new cases that spawned from the end-of-year holidays? Maybe the nauseatingly high numbers from a couple weeks back really were a data reporting issue? Whatever the case, things seem to be cooling off a bit. Unrelated, for now at least, both UR and VCU have opened up their spring semesters (last Tuesday for the former, today for the latter). You can follow each school’s COIVD dashboard, if that’s your thing: coronaspiders go here and coronarams go here. Keep in mind that VCU has decided to start the semester virtually while UR has partially returned to in-person learning. I guess we’ll see how that goes, as Chris Suarez at the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the UR has already “sent a letter to students Friday warning that parties and other violations of COVID-19 safety protocols could jeopardize in-person learning this semester.” As some public schools continue their own debate on returning to in-person instruction, keep your eye on VDH’s COVID-19 Outbreaks by Selected Exposure Settings dashboard. You can filter this list down by locality or facility type (like K–12) and see all the outbreaks currently in progress. Keep in mind, though, that “outbreak” has a specific meaning(PDF) and does not include cases of students or staff who get infected outside of a school setting.Taikein Cooper, Theresa Kennedy, Bryce Robertson, and Thad Williams have a column in the paper about extending RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras’s contract for four years—a contract which ends this coming June. Y’all know the gist, but I’ll quote this part just to remind you: “A change in leadership, whether by board action or Kamras finding employment elsewhere, in turn would consume the rest of this term. We can’t expose our kids to that risk right now. Now is the time for persistent implementation of a long-term strategy.” Our neighboring county got this right last year when their School Board extended Superintendent Amy Cashwell’s contract. Two years into a four-year contract and the Board decided to make it six (extending the contract all the way to 2024) so that “Cashwell and her administration can focus on navigating the school system through the challenges of the pandemic and heightened attention around issues of racial justice.” The right and obvious move! A move that we can and should make on this side of the city-county line!City Council will meet today for their regularly scheduled meeting, and, for the first time that I can remember, there’s nothing on the regular agenda (PDF). My head wants to write “should be a short meeting,” but my heart knows that the agenda is basically never finalized and councilmembers can always find a way to extend these meetings deep into the evening. Two items of note from the informal meeting immediately preceding: 1) Amy Popovich from the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts will give an update on vaccination and 2) Reggie Gordon (DCAO for Human Services) and Sharon Ebert (DCAO for Economic Development) will give a “homelessness update.” I don’t see presentations for either hanging out on legistar yet, but I bet they’ll exist tomorrow.Related to the DCAO’s presentation on homelessness, Homeward released “new, verified data on the number of people serviced in 2020 by coordinated shelter programs and the Homeless Crisis Line.” This past year, emergency shelters served 2,927 people and the the HCL handled over 52,000 calls. 128,000 “shelter bed nights were recorded.”From a couple of days back, Jonathan Spiers at Richmond BizSense has an update on the planned slavery memorial in Shockoe Bottom. You can read through the property disputes if you want, but mostly I’m interested in reminding myself about the renderings of what this project could look like. Adding a bunch of public green space to that part of town would really change the entire neighborhood for the better. Fingers crossed that the City and the Loving family can figure out their beef.Finally, could today be the day the Robert E. Lee statue gets removed from its plinth? I dunno, but there is a lot of big equipment out there this morning.This morning’s patron longreadStop Keeping ScoreSubmitted by Patron Susan. A good January reminder for those of us putting together goals, resolutions, and themes for 2021.Relying on external rewards lowers satisfaction. You will like your job less if your primary motivation is prestige or money. You will appreciate your relationships less if you choose your friends and partners based on their social standing. You will relish your vacation less if you choose the destination for how it will look on social media. The scorecard approach to life also feeds right into a known human tendency that drives us away from happiness: People often have trouble finding lasting satisfaction from worldly rewards, because as soon as we acquire something, our desire resets and we are looking to the next reward. Check one box, and another one immediately appears. And, of course, it’s always a bigger box.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.

A new Wason poll shows likely Virginia voters trust Biden over Trump when it come to handling the pandemic; Richmond moves to establish a slavery museum in Shockoe Bottom; Activists accused Richmond police of making political arrests; and other local news stories.

Taking inspiration from the shocking history of Shockoe Bottom as the center of Richmond's slave trade, Artists Amiri Richardson-Keys and Emily Herr talk with Host Hamilton Glass about their "beautiful experience" working together and how the shooting of Jacob Blake in real-time played into their final design.-The public art created for Mending Walls addresses where we are now in society to inspire conversation about how we can move forward with empathy through understanding and collaboration. Join the conversation! Virtual community gatherings, hosted in partnership with the Drums No Guns Foundation and the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, have been scheduled. Register NOW!-Resources for this episode: Jacob BlakeShockoe Bottom, Richmond, VAArtists Revealed Through Service (ARTS)More information:Mending Walls RVA Mural ProjectHamilton GlassEmily HerrAmiri Richardson-KeysInstagram: @herrsuite @mendingwallsrva @19red.fuelProduction:19RED @ FuelIn Your Ear Studios

Kelli's in Shockoe Bottom and along the James River to experience notable points in the River's contributions to Richmond's history as well as visit with Justin Doyle from the James River Association on the health of the River and how it impacts our city.

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Ian Goodrum, Senior Editor of China Daily, to discuss attempts by the US government to ban popular social media platform TikTok, other recent escalations by the Trump administration, and what the apparent joint effort by Microsoft and the US government to acquire TikTok's parent company may portend for the future of international trade.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Tamanisha John, a PhD candidate at Florida International University studying multinational corporations in the Caribbean, to discuss the swearing-in of new Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, racial dynamics underpinning popular support for the two major parties there, and the ways multinational corporations wield undue influence in the internal politics of Guyana.In the third segment Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ana Edwards, chair of the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, to talk about the newly-announced memorial to those enslaved and sold in the city's former slave-trading district of Shockoe Bottom, how the ongoing uprising against racist police terror factors into the decisions by city lawmakers, and how politicians like Mayor Levar Stoney are already angling to take credit for the project that city residents have demanded for years.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Dr. Jared Ball, a father, husband, Professor of Communication Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, the curator of imixwhatilike.org and author of the new book, “The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power,” to talk about the revolutionary significance of Black August, how mainstream media works to generate pro-regime change consensus among working people, and navigating the need to spread awareness of George Floyd's execution by police with the natural aversion to such horrors as the bodycam footage of his killing is finally leaked.

In this segment of By Any Means Necessary are joined by Ana Edwards, chair of the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, to talk about the newly-announced memorial to those enslaved and sold in the city's former slave-trading district of Shockoe Bottom, how the ongoing uprising against racist police terror factors into the decisions by city lawmakers, and how politicians like Mayor Levar Stoney are already angling to take credit for the project that city residents have demanded for years.

Trump & Microsoft move in on TikTok; Guyana swears in new Pres. after impasse; Richmond moves towards Shockoe Bottom memorial to enslaved

Governor Northam reimposed Phase 2 restrictions for Hampton Roads as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the area; the John Marshall Courthouse is closing for at least a week in response to coronavirus concerns; the family of George Floyd debuted a memorial hologram display in Richmond; a new initiative seeks to memorialize African American history in Shockoe Bottom; Richmond City Council delayed a vote over use of non-lethal deterrents; Chesterfield is conducting an internal audit over potential bullying over school reopening plans; and a look at how Virginia nursing homes are faring amidst the pandemic.

Lyndee Walker's journalist investigator Nichelle Clarke juggles stud muffin boyfriends while she takes on “Mafia hotties, corrupt politicians, old flames and murder." Hi there. I'm your host jenny Wheeler and LynDee talks her new crime thriller  Hidden Victims as well as a new Texas Ranger law and order series on The Joys of Binge Reading. We've got three E book copies of Hidden Victims to give away to three lucky readers. Enter the draw on Joys of Binge Reading.com or on our Binge Reading Facebook Page. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: LynDee's award winning journalism beginnings'Stay at home' Mum discovers writing fictionHow her protagonist Nichelle was createdThe attraction of the Texas RangersA sharp new author to watchThe 'secret' to writing success (it's not glamorous!) Where to find LynDee Walker:  Website: https://lyndeewalker.com/connect/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndeewalkerbooks/https://www.facebook.com/lyndeewalkerbooks/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lyndee-walker What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. But now, here's LynDee.  Hello there LynDee and welcome to the show, it's great to have you with us. Jenny Wheeler: Hello there, LynDee and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. LynDee Walker thriller author LynDee Walker: Hi Jenny. Thank you so much for inviting me. Jenny Wheeler: I always like to start with this question. It might be a little predictable, but readers always like to know the answer to it. How did you get started on your writing? Was there a Once Upon a Time moment when you had that 'light bulb' experience – I have to do this, or was it something a lot more gradual and integrated? LynDee Walker: Actually I did have a light bulb moment. It's a funny story. My son, my second child was probably a year old and I was loading my dishwasher and all of a sudden there was this reporter in my head. She was locked in a car trunk down in Shockoe Bottom because she'd got herself into trouble chasing a story, and she couldn't figure out how she was going to get out of it. I looked at the silverware caddy in the dishwasher and said, I don't know anything about writing fiction, but I didn't have anything else to do while the baby was taking his naps and she wouldn't go away, so I got my computer and I started writing the story and that was eleven years ago this summer. I never had any idea at that time where all of this was going to take me or how much fun I was going to have with Nichelle, but that is where she came from.  That scene where she's locked in the car trunk in Shockoe Bottom made it through all of the edits and is still smack in the middle of the first book. Introducing LynDee Walker Jenny Wheeler: How amazing. For those who don't know, your heroine being a journalist wasn't that surprising, because you yourself were a journalist at that time, were you not? LynDee Walker: I had been. I was a newspaper reporter before I was a mom. When I found out I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, I decided that maybe the 80-hour weeks and unpredictable hours of covering police and the courthouse was not a thing I wanted to keep doing because I was never going to get to see my baby. Front Page Fatality LynDee Walker #1 I left the newsroom and I was a stay at home mom for about five years. After we moved to Virginia, I would tell other moms in our playgroup that I used to be a writer, but I didn't think it was something that I was ever going to do again until that day when Nichelle showed up in my head when I was loading the dishwasher, and now here I am. Jenny Wheeler: Probably it isn't a surprise that you chose crime thrillers as your genre, but they were first marketed under the tagline of ‘Headlines in High Heels' and there are a whole set of covers with very high stiletto ...

Good morning, RVA! It’s 52 °F, and rain is on the way this morning. You can expect slightly warmer temperatures, though, later in the afternoon. Could be lots of rain in our future this week.Water coolerAs of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 8,537 positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth, and 277 people in Virginia have died as a result of the virus. VDH reports 1,171 cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 311, Henrico: 584, and Richmond: 231). This past weekend the New York Times ran an article about per-capita coronavirus testing in the United States, confirming what I’ve been writing about in this space over the last couple of days: Virginia reports fewer tests than almost any other state in the country. The NYT says that we need to administer about 152 tests per 100,000 people each day before we can consider spilling out of our houses and packing our favorite bars and restaurants with our bodies and our germs. As of yesterday, the seven-day rolling average of Virginia’s tests per 100,000 people was 24.7. That’s…a lot less than 152. Mel Leonor at the Richmond Times-Dispatch picked up on this story over the weekend, saying that “2,500 fewer Virginians were tested for COVID-19 this past week compared to the week prior.” And, here’s a particularly troubling quote: “Crystal Icenhour, the CEO of Aperiomics Inc. based in Ashburn, said her lab’s testing capacity is roughly 2,500 tests per week, and ‘we’re very far from maxing out that capacity.’”City Council will hold their next budget work session today at 1:00 PM. If you head over to the City’s legislative website you can (and should!) listen to audio from that meeting. I tuned in to the first session, and you could hear everyone on the call just fine. Last week, Council asked a bunch of questions and talked briefly about the strategy they wanted to take while considering the $35 million of cuts they need to make. This week, they’ll at least hear back from the administration with answers to some of those questions.Richmond Public Schools will also work through some pretty tremendous budget cuts tonight at 6:00 PM (you can watch live over on their Facebook). The District originally planned on increasing their budget by about $43 million, but, the coronavirus had other thoughts, and now RPS will need to cut $24 million from the budget they’d approved earlier this year. You can look through the Superintendent’s presentation ahead of tonight’s meeting(PDF) for a list of expenditures over $500,000 that he either recommends maintaining or revisiting. What a stark and sad table. It’s worth noting that, before the coronavirus took a bite out of the economy, there was already a $7 million gap between the School District’s budget and what they anticipated getting from the City and the State. It’s also worth remember that the Mayor has included $6 million over last year’s RPS funding in his post-coronavirus budget recommendations. Honestly, schools are probably one of the very, very few things to get a funding increase from the City this year. Dark budget conversations ahead, y’all!C. Suarez Rojas at the RTD has an…interesting…story about how the City and Henrico County are (not) working together to find shelter and homes for folks in the region experiencing homelessness. Apparently the City moved some of the people living in tents behind the cold weather shelter into temporary housing at a couple of hotels in eastern Henrico. Here’s an eyebrow-raising quote from Henrico’s county manager, John Vithoulkas, addressing how he felt about that choice: “This was a poor decision made by a mid-level bureaucrat in the city. It was a really bad idea to move people, many of whom need specialized mental health services, under the cover of darkness to dilapidated hotels that Henrico County is currently investigating for myriad life safety issues…This was someone’s really bad idea, and it shows how unprepared we are as a region to deal with the issue of homelessness.” I wonder, though, if the County Manager followed that quote up with some suggestions about suitable places in the County for people to weather this crisis?The City’s Planning Commission will also meet today at 1:30 PM, you can tune into that one, too, if you want. From their agenda (PDF), it looks like they’ll push a bunch of things to later meetings, but will still consider the 2020 additions to Richmond’s Storm Drain Art Project. I really enjoy this project, and you can check out the proposed artwork that’ll brighten up four storm drains in Shockoe Bottom at the bottom of this PDF. Otters!Aw man, via /r/rva, a picture of a scooter in the river. This is not where they go, people!To close, I’d like to quote at length from two of our region’s educational leaders, RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras and UR President Ronald Crutcher. While written to families, students, teachers, and graduating seniors, I still think a lot of this advice is applicable to all of us as the sameness of this crisis stretches on—whether we fall into those categories or not. Here’s Kamras: “Sustaining this level of dedication to our students and families will become even more important over the coming weeks and months as people’s physical and mental health suffers, the economy falters, and housing and food insecurity become even more dire. And we know this pain will not be shared equally. The inequities and injustices that existed before the coronavirus—by race, class, and more—have only become deeper and more devastating since the onset of COVID-19. That’s why we’re beginning to think now about what it will take to truly meet the social-emotional, academic, and economic needs of our students and families—and particularly those most harmed by the long-term impacts of the virus—for the months and years to come. While there are countless details to be worked out as we pursue this goal, there’s one thing I’m certain of: now, more than ever, we must continue to teach, lead, and serve with love” And from Crutcher in the RTD, “Class of 2020, please know we aren’t going anywhere. We will see you and your families again to celebrate your achievements, to toast your friendships, and to thank your faculty and staff mentors. This is not the end of your story. As a musician, I think of this moment as a fermata—an unexpected pause before the music continues.”This morning’s longreadA New Statistic Reveals Why America’s COVID-19 Numbers Are FlatTo continue my thread from above about the lack of testing in Virginia, here’s a piece in The Atlantic about monitoring “test-positivity rate.” The test-positivity rate in Virginia over the last seven days has been: 33.4%, 31.1%, 23.4%, 17.1%, 23.6%, 19.2%, and 17.3%.According to the Tracking Project’s figures, nearly one in five people who get tested for the coronavirus in the United States is found to have it. In other words, the country has what is called a “test-positivity rate” of nearly 20 percent. That is “very high,” Jason Andrews, an infectious-disease professor at Stanford, told us. Such a high test-positivity rate almost certainly means that the U.S. is not testing everyone who has been infected with the pathogen, because it implies that doctors are testing only people with a very high probability of having the infection. People with milder symptoms, to say nothing of those with none at all, are going undercounted. Countries that test broadly should encounter far more people who are not infected than people who are, so their test-positivity rate should be lower.If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.

She's a creative director, motion graphics animator, fine artist, and co-owner of a successful creative studio in Richmond, VA. Ruth Newberry talks about how a side-hustle with her best friend turned into a force of nature that inevitably had to become a creative and professional partnership. We recorded this episode in her CREAM studio office, located in historic Shockoe Bottom - the heart of Richmond's design district. Check out Ruth and team's work - wearecream.comAnd take a peek at her amazing artwork - Echo & Flow**This post contains affiliate links and I will earn a small commission if you use these links to shop.**Want to be a podcaster like me? Just get yourself some equipment and partner up with a fantastic host like Buzzsprout. Get started with them by using this link and get yourself a $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid plan. The team at Buzzsprout really is passionate about helping podcasters succeed, and make the entire process easy and fun.Music in this episode by Verified Picasso, Konrad OldMoney, and South London HiFi.Caught By Happy is a production of Harrington Communications Consultants.Support the show (https://www.caughtbyhappy.com/donate)

We sat outside on a terrace in Shockoe Bottom with artist DanVHefner and VA based media creator Sheedo. We discussed Dan’s latest project, his love of anime, and more in our longest episode yet! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We sat outside on a terrace in Shockoe Bottom with artist DanVHefner and VA based media creator Sheedo. We discussed Dan’s latest project, his love of anime, and more in our longest episode yet! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week we sit down with Mandi Renee, co-owner of Shockoe Bottom CrossFit with Ryan Reeves. Mandi also works as an account manager for the gym management software called Triib and brings a unique perspective to her clients and her business. Mandi and I discuss the process of purchasing a gym and the inevitable list of things you don't know until you commit to the business. She shares her thoughts on 6-week challenges and how they can be good and bad for business. She shares her experience on balancing a full time day job, being a co-owner in a business, and being a mother. There's so much more packed into this episode, you just need to listen for yourself! http://www.shockoebottomcrossfit.com/ https://rvaaffiliatecollective.org/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1u625ezLeRqqYgJVnwwHqA

The arrival of purchased Africans to Virginia has been commemorated from the shores of Hampton to Jamestown to the NYC press. But it's been quiet here in the former capital of the confederacy, so we're doing what we always do and getting the conversation going. Our guests bring the history of the African diaspora right to Richmond's doorstep. Chadra Pittman and Dr. Robert Trent Vincent unpack the 1619 story and its lasting legacy from the docks of Point Comfort to the auction blocks in Shockoe Bottom. We also hear about the upcoming #aswad2019 conference, which will bring together over 1,000 scholars and experts on the African diaspora from November 5-9, 2019.

We react to Luck's retirement, JJ Watt's kind heart, and the entitled fan bases. RobbUnfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

We get some much-needed style advice for the Fall and tailgate season. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Kelli’s in Shockoe Bottom to grab coffee with Rachel DePompa. Rachel's an investigative reporter with NBC12 and host of the How We Got Here podcast. When she's not busy covering injustices or shacking sticks she's cheering on the Capitals and exploring RVA with her family.

We get a taste of college football to wash the bad taste the NFL preseason football put in our mouths. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

From forklifts to forks, spoons, and knives, Minibar chef and owner Micah Crump has had quite an interesting culinary journey. After working warehouse jobs, the Richmond native started his career path as a dishwasher at the now defunct Europa Italian Cafe and Tapas Bar. Just one of the many Richmond Restaurant Group spots where Crump worked. "I worked for them for a long time. Most of my cooking career has been working for [Richmond Restaurant Group]," Crump told Scott and Robey during a podcast recording session for Eat It, Virginia! "I got most of my knowledge from the kitchen from working with those guys." But it was in the kitchen at Europa where Crump made the move from washing dishes to creating the food served on them. "Frank Crump, that's my cousin, he was working there at the same time. He was, I think, one of the executive chefs there. I was like, 'man, put me on the line.'" Crump recalled. "So he put me on the line. I stated at salads. And it just kind of grew from there. Working different stations and learning different techniques." Crump combined his in-the-kitchen learning with some classroom knowledge at Stratford University before going into business on his own. But he was not really on his own. He was guided by the love of his life, and wife, Ashley Ramsey. "She played a big part in it. Just pushing my cooking ability and my career the whole time," he said. Crump and Ramsey met at a red light in Shockoe Bottom, not far from where Minibar is now located (14 N 18th Street in Richmond). Before opening Minibar nearly three years ago, the two started The 2020 Experience in 2012. The 2020 Experience saw Crump serve as a private chef for dinner parties and date nights. "A lot of people think it's for the rich, but you can just be a regular person and have that service," he said. Still, Crump and Ramsey have fed their fair share of celebrities. "There was one time, I think it was a Monday, me and chef were out having dinner," Ramsey recalled. "We're about to order our food and the phone rings. Chef is talking and he hangs up and says 'someone needs me to cook right now.'" The couple left money on the table for their drinks and got to work. "We go to the grocery store. Chef picks up all of the stuff he needs for the reservation. We ring the doorbell [and] somebody comes and buzzes us in. It was a celebrity!" Ramsey said with a laugh. "I was completely frozen! I didn't know what to do!" IF YOU'VE LISTENED TO THE PODCAST AND THINK YOU KNOW WHICH CELEBRITY ASHLEY IS TALKING ABOUT, TELL US HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A MINIBAR GIFT CARD. When they opened Minibar in 2016, Crump and Ramsey saw many former 2020 Experience clients come eat their food at the restaurant. Crump said they've also built a buzz around the restaurant by using social media and taking part in festivals that once filled the Shockoe Bottom streets. "I think they should bring the festivals back," Ramsey said when asked what Richmond could do to improve business in Shockoe Bottom. "The festivals have been very beneficial in the growth of Minibar. We've gotten so many customers from that. Each time there's a festival out there, we're always the first to sign up and go out there and vend. We've had nothing but positive experiences." If there's a Virginia restaurant or food story you'd like to hear, email Scott and Robey here. Places Mentioned in this Episode Minibar Early Mountain Vineyards: Virginia Vineyard Barrel Thief Wine Shop & Café Saturday Morning Cafe (in Baltimore) Fine And Shapiro's Jewish Deli (New York City) The Black Rose (Boston) Southern Kitchen Pig and Brew Morton's Fatty Smokes Barbeque Joint Oak & Apple

Part nine of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part eight of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part seven of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part six of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part four of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part five of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part two of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part three of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Preseason football kicks off and we are geeked up. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Our NCAA Football preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Part one of our NFL preview. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

RobbUnfiltered Ep. 58: The Suite Life NFL training camps open as Coach Dave and a few high profile NFLers hold out. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

We talk house fires, equal pay, and the NHL vs. the NBA. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

We talk dads, NBA, NHL, CFL, Kellen Winslow II, & OJ taking a stab at Twitter. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

We redefine unfiltered and zero fucks for the tone-deaf, talk NBA & NHL playoffs, and discuss our top 5 good and bad guys of sports. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

We get heavy into college sports and spelling bees (a show first). Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

A simple tweet turns ugly and leaves me wondering why someone has so much hate in their heart. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

The gang is back and we catch up on all things sports Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Woman of the Year candidate and style blogger Megan Marconyak joins the show and takes us down roads never travelled. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Special guest Jack Lauterback and I talk about man crushes (John Mayer and Juan Conde). Jack updates his beef with the Rock. And we mostly avoid sports. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Moms rock, we're still talking about the Lakers & the Knicks, and a show first--Lacrosse talk. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Episode 3 of the All Things Richmond podcast is up on our Soundcloud page (https://soundcloud.com/stream)! In this video, Duke sits with local entrepreneur Bryan Bostic to discuss his high-growth incubator Startup Virginia, Shockoe Bottom, and what's in store for Richmond moving forward. This is a great discussion!

Philly fans are the worst and they know it and they revel in it, and, on some levels, I respect it. And, draft grades are bullshit, even mine. Plus, the awesomeness that is the NHL playoffs and the laziness that is the NBA playoffs. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. Email me at robbunfiltered@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

NHL & NBA playoffs are in full gear, the NFL Draft is next week, the unwritten rules of sports get attention, and sliding in piss. Yes, we went there. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Pick your poison: NHL and NBA playoffs, the Masters, and NASCAR. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Maurice Jackson wears many hats, but his newest challenge will shape the future of Shockoe Bottom for years to come. The question at hand: How to make the gleaming new 17th St. Market a must-see destination for Richmonders and tourists alike?

Here are my First Round picks for the NHL Playoffs. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

From rejection to redemption. If you don't love the storybook ending to UVA's quest to win a national title in Hoops, then you probably hate babies, puppies, and kittens. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

The Final Four is set, MLB has kicked off, and the NHL playoffs are on the horizon. We'll discuss these subjects and more. Robb Unfiltered is a sports podcast based out of Richmond, Va. Find me on Twitter @RobbUnfiltered. This show is sponsored by On The Rox and Ponies & Pints. Both spots are located in historic Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, Va. Sports. Life. Zero Fucks. #RobbUnfiltered

Howdy boys and girls! This episode was a blast, I got to hangout with my buddy Jesse Jarvis and talk about comedy! It was a lot of fun getting to hangout with him at Cozzy's Comedy Club(Newport News, Va.) he and I got to hangout after he finished headlining Sunday Funnies a show hosted by our good friend Luhray! Jesse is no stranger to the Richmond comedy scene, he is the host of Leprecomedy at McCormack's Irish pub in the Shockoe Bottom area of downtown Richmond! The joke Jesse brought in for this episode is a joke that he's been working on lately about children on leashes, I heard him do it on the show and was real glad that he brought in a newer bit that he likes and I'd real excited to be working on! You can catch Jesse every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at McCormak's but you can also find him all over Richmond including the Richmond Funny Bone! Find Jesse on Instagram @jesseleejarvis and Jesse Jarvis on Facebook! Please follow me on twitter @nickdeezcomedy and instagram @nick_deez_ And as always..... Please if you like the what you hear like comedy buildups & breakdowns on Facebook, like and share the episode, follow @comedybuildupsandbreakdowns on Instagram, and @buildupspodcast on Twitter! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week Mary Jane talks to Marcelo Perez Rubio about motorcycles! They cover the basics of mototcycles and motorcycle culture. Marcelo is a comic in Richmond, VA and runs the show at the Wonderland Ballroom in Shockoe Bottom. The next Wonderland Show is on October 21st, with Keith Marcel Headlining! https://www.facebook.com/events/662040377299678/ Our theme song is written and recorded by Sawyer Camden. Check out more of his work at https://padfoot.bandcamp.com/releases Or! https://warringtonva.bandcamp.com If you like the show please subscribe and review us! And if you have a topic you’d like to talk to Mary Jane about please send a pitch to mjfnovicepod@gmail.com! Include what you would like to talk about and why you’re passionate about it. Even feel free to include a short audio clip (under 5 min) of you talking about your topic so that we can hear your energy! If you’re in Richmond, Virginia we would be happy to sit down with you, if you’re farther away, we can always do phone interviews! Mary Jane will be in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, October 6th, and Newport News, Virginia on Sunday, October 8th! Keep up with Mary Jane and everything she has going on at http://maryjanefrench.com

Rick Tatnall of Replenish Richmond turns traffic forecaster to discuss possible potholes in Mayor Dwight C. Jones' Shockoe Bottom ballpark. Also, the Richmond international Film Festival is here and we hear about a few featured films.

Richmond Public Library launches a new book club concept that's about more than hashing out the meaning behind the latest John Grisham. The Emergent Black Male Reader initiative is about closing achievement gaps, but it's also about changing lives and communities. Also, Mayor Dwight C. Jones' Shockoe Bottom baseball proposal has competition. A citizen proposal seeks to revitalize Shockoe sans baseball. John Gerner, Melinda Skinner and David Herring pitch the proposal.

Shockoe Bottom, the crux of American history but also the key to Richmond's future, hangs in the balance. A plan proffered by Mayor Dwight C. Jones looks good on its front, but First District City Councilman Jon Baliles is asking that the curtains be drawn back to show us all how the magic is going to work.

Shockoe Bottom, the crux of American history but also the key to Richmond's future, hangs in the balance. A plan proffered by Mayor Dwight C. Jones looks good on its front, but First District City Councilman Jon Baliles is asking that the curtains be drawn back to show us all how the magic is going to work.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones at last staged his big reveal for transforming Shockoe Bottom. But in the process, he may well have transformed the community conversation over the next three years in ways he never intended.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones at last staged his big reveal for transforming Shockoe Bottom. But in the process, he may well have transformed the community conversation over the next three years in ways he never intended.