Arts & Culture

Ma Cong’s Artistic Revolution at the Richmond Ballet

Anticipation hums through the air as the audiences settle into Richmond’s Leslie Cheek Theater at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), double-checking silenced phones and shifting for the best view of the eminent stage, framed by colossal red curtains. The feeling is unmistakable—a quiet, buzzy awe, knowing something extraordinary is about to unfold. Among […]

by Hope Cartwright

Date Night Games

Think you know your S/O from head to toe? These date night games—to give, get, or play—aim to test that theory. Get Closer Conversation Game: Couples With three levels of closeness to explore in question card form (close, closer, and closest), this conversation game gets deeper as you go. IntelligentChange.com. $30 Talking Hearts Discover 200 […]

by Hope Cartwright

Two Virginians Shine on Stage: Michael Jackson’s Magic Comes to Richmond

The King of Pop’s electrifying legacy explodes onto the Altria Theater stage through Feb. 2 in MJ, the smash Broadway sensation that rips back the curtain on Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking 1992 Dangerous World Tour. This four-time Tony winner doesn’t just unleash Jackson’s greatest hits—it reveals the creative genius and relentless drive that transformed a Motown […]

by Staff

A Celebrated Virginia Artist IDs Emerging Artists

When Virginia Living magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Madeline Mayhood reached out to me to identify some artists who inspire me and whose work I love, I didn’t have to look far. Some of my faves have studios in my own neck of the woods of Albemarle County, which makes for a rich stew in which to live […]

by Staff

VCCA—Annual Gala

AMHERST: Artists’ Residence/Mt. San Angelo Lively music and fragrant flowers filled the air as the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) hosted its annual gala on June 15. The Studio Barn on the campus of the VCCA’s Mt. San Angelo artists’ residence was transformed into a Havana Nights–themed event that featured a Latin soundtrack […]

by Staff

Restoration of 17-Century Ship in Virginia Sets Sails

—By Katie Farthing With the winds of hope and prosperity filling its sails, the Susan Constant landed at Jamestown in 1607 with 54 Englishmen aboard hoping for glory and gold. Fast forward 400 years, the original three-masted square rig has long since disappeared, but her lore has remained a vital connection to Virginia’s past, […]

by Staff

Find Art Along the ART

Metallic, prehistoric creatures welcome visitors to three riverfront parks along the Appomattox River Trail (ART). These Atlantic sturgeons, an ancient species of fish (think dinosaurs) stand in statue form on the riverbanks. Located in Hopewell’s City Park, Roslyn Landing Park in Colonial Heights, and Petersburg’s Patton Park, they raise awareness for river conservation and celebrate […]

by Hope Cartwright

Artistica Makes Art Accessible

At Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, the focus is on living art and accessibility to consumers both in the gallery and through their online shop, Artistica. Michelline Hall, chief programming officer, explains their place in the art world: “We’re an art center. Our pieces are museum-worthy, but we’re dealing with living artists who […]

by Heather Bien

Culture Through Costumes with Ruth E. Carter

—By Katie Farthing Bright colors, bold patterns, and cultural significance define the Ruth E. Carter exhibition, Afrofuturism in Costume Design, at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation through Jan. 5. Visitors can explore hand-drawn sketches, real costumes, and Carter’s childhood sewing machine that tell this award-winning costume designer’s powerful story. Carter is most well-known for the outstanding costumes […]

by Staff

Mark Your Calendars for Virginia’s Studio Art Tours

If you’re interested in building or adding to your art collection, art tours are a wonderful way to check out a local art scene. They can be like moveable feasts, where perusing is encouraged and pressure to purchase is low-key. Unlike a gallery, artists are usually on hand to answer questions and schmooze with potential […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Exploring Richmond’s Church Hill: Bakeries, History, and More

“It has character.” A phrase that is often used to describe places, and one that many Richmonders would choose for the neighborhood of Church Hill. But what is character? Fine dining spots, rustic-chic décor, cobblestone streets, or something deeper and less tangible? Strolling along the brick sidewalks of Church Hill, the meaning of a place […]

by Hope Cartwright

Building an Art Collection with Soul and Intention

Early memories shape the art we gravitate toward. That could be a walk through the Met on a childhood trip to New York. Perhaps it’s the illustrations from a favorite children’s book or a certain angle in your bedroom that stretched your understanding of color and light as the hours and seasons evolved. For Page […]

by Heather Bien

Virginia Ranks Best in Business, Lifestyle, and More

National publications, studies, and ranking lists agree: Virginia is for lovers—and winners. Here’s a look into several ways Virginia topped the charts in 2024: Our creative capital city CNN Travel crowned Richmond as America’s best town to visit in 2024 for its rich arts, culture, and history, plus a great food and beverage scene. Our […]

by Hope Cartwright

Matt Lively’s Murals are the Real Virginia Attractions

If you’ve driven around Richmond, you’ve probably spotted a few bees pedaling unicycles. No, not supernatural insects buzzing around the city. These beecycles are the creations of artist Matt Lively. Lively’s first love will always be sculpting, but his creative murals are all over Virginia—from Richmond to Norfolk, Loudoun, Petersburg, Gloucester, Sandston, and more. He […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Celebrate Lunar New Year 2025 in Roanoke

The end of January marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, with 2025 ushering in the Year of the Snake—scaly, sly, slithering, and ssssensational. Those born under this zodiac sign are celebrated for their intelligence, enigma, and intuition. At Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, the occasion is met with vibrant festivities. On […]

by Hope Cartwright

Lafayette’s Legacy in Virginia Reenacted

–By Katie Farthing He became a commissioned officer in the French army at 13 and married his teenage sweetheart just two years later. His betrothed, Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles, was just 14 at the time. His name was a mouthful, even by French standards—with eight names preceding his surname. Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert […]

by Staff

Secretariat is Home at Last and Cast in Bronze

People call Secretariat Virginia’s greatest athlete for good reason. The thoroughbred racehorse, foaled near Ashland at Meadow Stables, not only won the American Triple Crown in 1973 but set and still holds the record in all three of its races. Yet, until recently, all monuments dedicated to Big Red were found outside his home state. […]

by Hope Cartwright

Sport of Kings

Falconry has a long and noble history, stretching back more than 4,000 years. The practice is believed to have begun in the Arabian Desert, where hunters learned how to work with birds to catch prey. Merchants, traders, and Crusaders brought the practice to Asia and Europe, and, over time, it became popular with nobility, giving […]

by Larry Bleiberg

Exploring Virginia’s Most Curious Destinations

“Where to go and what to see and do?” Such is the dilemma for Virginia’s modern-day explorers. The state is chock-full of A-list attractions like the big three: Mt. Vernon, Monticello, and Colonial Williamsburg. But if you stick to the usuals, which are indeed worthy of their notable status, you’ll miss out on all kinds […]

by Elizabeth Cogar

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Events

June 18, 2025

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June 19, 2025

Pollinator Celebration

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

June 19, 2025

Specialty Tours: Tell Me Your Name

Carlyle House Historic Park

The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

Eight Virginia schools received the National Blue Ribbon 2024 award for their high performances. The Exemplary High Performing Schools are Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Green Run Collegiate in Virginia Beach, Bethel Manor Elementary in Hampton, and St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. The Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are Central Academy Middle […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

The University of Virginia has climbed to No. 4 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, advancing one position from last year. The university maintained its No. 24 overall ranking, tying with Emory and Georgetown universities. UVA’s commitment to accessibility and student success stands out in several key metrics. […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Small Town, Big History: The Stories of Abingdon

Long before the first European settlers ventured into the American wilderness, the Delaware and Catawba tribes tracked a buffalo trace through the Shenandoah Mountains. Abingdon—once known as Wolf Hills—emerged along this trail, today’s Route 11. Frequented by westward expansionists on the Great Valley Road, Main Street grew. Today, the city of 8,336 residents hugs Route […]

by Michael C. Upton

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Ma Cong’s Artistic Revolution at the Richmond Ballet

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

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Ma Cong’s Artistic Revolution at the Richmond Ballet

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Specialty Tours: Tell Me Your Name

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The U.S. DOE Labeled These Virginia Schools Outstanding

UVA Claims Top Spots Among Public Universities

Small Town, Big History: The Stories of Abingdon

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