Best second act
Kristen Cavallo
Executive director of The Branch Museum of Design
IN 2024, Kristen Cavallo retired from a 30-year advertising career marked with an abundance of remarkable moments, an abundance of award wins, and time spent as CEO of both MullenLowe and The Martin Agency. Free to roam, she made her way to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago—a network of pilgrimage routes that lead to the shrine of St. James the Great in Santiago de Compostela. Walking led to reflection, and she realized that she wasn’t finished with the creative industry yet. Soon enough, she was announced as the new executive director of The Branch Museum—and her first move was refreshing the name to ‘The Branch Museum of Design.’ Today, she’s deep in the process of planning a vigorous rebrand set to debut this summer; a new identity for a museum grounded in celebrating design that has a lasting impact and shapes the culture. Future exhibitions will put a spotlight on everything from motorcycle design, the evolution of outdoor gear, interior design inspired by music and more. In addition to uplifting Richmond’s creative integrity, Cavallo also plans to make the museum an institution that educates and sparks change by unflinchingly reflecting the reality of issues shaping our world.—G.L.
Most anticipated moves downtown
Tie: WRIR moving to new studio in Shockoe Bottom and VPM moving into brand new building on Broad (SLATED FOR ‘26)
Richmond radio is headed downtown, and so is Richmond’s home for public media.
After 20 years of platforming underrepresented music and voices for the city, Richmond independent radio station WRIR-LP 97.3FM is moving its studio from its present location above The Camel to a new spot at 1806 E. Main Street in Shockoe Bottom so it can better meet the needs of its volunteers and community, according to the station.
It launched a $2 million capital campaign for renovation of the new space to include the installation of HVAC systems, an elevator and other accessibility features, and replacement of equipment. The station plans on using its new studio to increase new programming and educational initiatives sharing the art and science of independent radio.
Another huge move right around the corner, the nonprofit VPM [which owns Style Weekly] will be moving from its home of six decades at 23 Sesame St. in Chesterfield County into a newly built headquarters at 15 E. Broad Street in historic Monroe Ward. The shiny, modern HQ will feature a five-story, 53,000-square-foot media facility and will include a street-level community studio and event space equipped to host audiences for broadcast events and other live experiences. The new VPM space is slated to open in 2026.—A.C.
Best drag king disrupter
Qing Blaze
@qingblaze
The drag world’s unsung champions are the kings. Historically often women dressing as men, drag kings now include all genders and orientations presenting with more masculine traits. They use performance to explore gender stereotypes, challenge societal expectations and express their own identities. One of RVA’s finest, in more ways than one, is Qing Blaze (IRL Qing Imzadi). Hip swivels, shakes and swagger? Blaze has it all with impeccable costume craft and presence to boot.
“Qing Blaze is not the first image you think of when you think of drag. And what I like to do most is disrupt things. It’s draglesque,” they add, nodding to the fluidity of an art form that swirls up the goodness between drag and burlesque. “Qing is a vehicle, and I can drive this vehicle wherever I want. But there are certain constants. Kinda like how Mickey Mouse is the same but goes on lots of different adventures. I think about my character that way.”
It’s a vehicle that allows for exploration of gender in many different contexts, they add.
“Race, class, so many things. Ultimately, I hope that it makes us all think about the fact that we all choose to play into how we want to perform gender: The shoes you choose, the makeup you choose to wear or not wear. It’s all performance—that’s what drag is.”—H.L.
Best way to immortalize your pet
Often maligned by urbane art-world elites, velvet painting is an ancient practice that originated in Kashmir, where the fabric was first produced. The 20th century saw the medium evolve into thoroughly kitsch territory, with a preponderance of stoic visages from clowns to Jesus Christ and Elvis Presley—in addition to pin-ups, wizards, race car drivers, bulging and scantily-clad superheroes and villains, anthropomorphic wonders, and, sometimes, all of the above.
Musician and VCU-grad Parker Chandler was drawn to black velvet paintings by his proclivity toward realism, his desire to dodge convention, and an affinity for thrift stores and dive bars. He cites chiaroscuro painting techniques, which utilize bright colors to highlight and contrast darker negative space, as a formal element of the medium’s appeal. The good news for Richmonders? Last year, Chandler added commissioned black velvet portraiture to the offerings of his small-run T-shirt brand, Honky Tonk Hell. Currently, he specializes in animal portraits—dogs and Russian tortoises are just two species he’s mastered—but other recent work has graced the cover of independent country musician Miss Georgia Peach’s “Class Out the Ass” album. Sure, there are many different ways to celebrate your favorite pet, but few will look more stylish or unique.—T.A.
Best new place to fly from Richmond International Airport
Bermuda
Runner-up: Detroit
Starting June 7, Richmonders will be able to fly directly from Richmond International Airport to Bermuda, the British Overseas Territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
After a quick two-hour flight, we’ll be able to enjoy the archipelago’s pink sandy beaches, world-class golf courses, overpriced meals and the ability to wear shorts as business attire. It’s all thanks to BermudAir, the flag carrier airlines of Bermuda.
“Bermuda is now closer than ever for Richmond travelers, and we’re excited to bring this new level of convenience to the region for leisure and business travelers alike,” says Adam Scott, founder and CEO of BermudAir, before referencing the fact that Bermuda was part of Virginia between 1612 and 1614. “With a deeply rooted history between Virginia and Bermuda, travelers will now have a seamless gateway to access Bermuda’s iconic crystalline waters, rich culture and renowned hospitality.”
Operating twice on Wednesdays and Saturdays, this new service marks the first direct international flight in Richmond International Airport’s history. Formerly named for famed aviator and polar explorer Richard E. Byrd, the airfield was rechristened Richmond International Airport in 1984. Four decades later, the airport is finally living up to the “International” part of its name.
Runner-Up: Detroit. Starting in October, budget airlines Breeze Airways will offer direct flights from RIC to Detroit, the home of Motown, Detroit-style pizza and Axel Foley. It’s the latest addition to a long list of Breeze destinations that includes New York City, San Francisco, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. —R.G.
Most surreal tour guide
Mathias Svalina
After first leaving town over two decades ago, he’s back. Poet Mathias Svalina published his eighth book, “Thank You Terror,” complete with a reading (in its entirety) at the old Iron Works on Belle Isle. Then he brought his decade-long running D.I.Y. art-poetry project, the Dream Delivery Service, to Richmond. It’s a public service, really, in which Svalina writes and delivers a dream—or a nightmare upon request—every day for a month in the form of a prose poem addressed to you, a loved one, or a pet, which you can get delivered by bike or by mail for greater distances.
But that’s not all: Svalina has also been conducting his Richmond Dream History series, leading groups on surreal walking tours by bullhorn through neighborhoods like Oregon Hill, Manchester, Church Hill and Brookland Park [making up a more poetic history as he goes]. I only attended one of these, but it was brilliant, fun and poignant. In February, the Dream Delivery Service offered a Love Dream series through his Patreon. In March, he offered subscribers a collection of illustrated “beast creations,” such as the three-headed “Merlepatrickharry” and the chimeric beast “Mathias” (part-person, part-soup dumpling), along with their own personalized beast creation.
The Dream Delivery Service keeps the nomadic Svalina on the go. This year it will take him to North Carolina, Arizona, Texas and Spokane, Washington. For those who prefer their dreams on foot and in plein air, don’t fret, more area tours are in store when Svalina returns to his Richmond roost to carry out his long-term plan of creating dream history tours for all 166 of Richmond’s neighborhoods, set to resume next spring. And stay tuned for his new chapbook “I Have Chosen You & You Have Chosen Me,” and his debut short-story collection, “Comedy,” in the months ahead.—T.A.
Best spot to birdwatch
Pony Pasture
7200 Riverside Dr.
You might come for the river views, but you’ll find yourself staying for the birds.
Pony Pasture is a year-round birdwatching paradise where numerous avians, like Carolina wrens and great blue herons, happily serenade visitors, mischievously flutter through old trees and, if water inclined, carefully trek through the park’s iconic rapids. The key to birdwatching here? Making sure to visit at specific times.
“Your best bet for seeing lots of birds is to be there at those dusk and dawn hours,” says Penelope Davenport, the James River Park System outdoor education supervisor. “And to try to minimize your presence and impact as much as possible.”
The species observed also depends on the season. Owls, ducks, hawks and woodpeckers are regulars, but others, like vibrant yellow Prothonotary warblers and ruby-throated hummingbirds, only stay through spring and fall. Consider exploring the connecting wetlands where countless migratory songbirds congregate and where you just might be treated to a lively concert.
For some truly unique birding experiences, be quiet, patient and observant. It might take time, but the results will lead to magical moments, like finding ducklings enthusiastically splashing around in the park’s hidden streams. Not sure where to start? The Merlin Bird ID app is useful for identifying species, including by song. But most importantly, don’t forget to pack decent binoculars.
For those who want to hang out with fellow birders, the Richmond Audubon Society and the Feminist Bird Club often host Pony Pasture birding meet-ups. The JRPS is also looking to add more public birding events in the future. —R.K.
Best place to get involved with a food forest
Fonticello Food Forest
2715 Bainbridge St.
A food forest is a term for the cultivation of a forest ecosystem to grow food for humans. The Fonticello Food Forest is much more than that.
“We also call ourselves an educational ecosystem,” says cofounder Laney Sullivan, who says she and her collaborators wanted to protect the old growth tree canopy that already existed in Southside’s Fonticello/Carter Jones Park when they started. “We just designed the garden to enhance the biodiversity of that space and work with what was there, instead of a heavy agricultural land management process.”
Founded in 2017, the Fonticello Food Forest offers a community pantry and fridge, runs a weekly grocery distribution program, maintains immersion spaces for kids to play, and hosts a mulch kitchen. In the summertime, there are free yoga classes at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and free story time readings for kids on Fridays at 10 a.m.
Naturally, the community garden also grows food. The forest includes apple, peach, plum, pear, persimmon, and fig trees, as well as grapes and serviceberries. In the colder months, the garden has kale, lettuce and herbs; summertime sees tomatoes, flowers, eggplants, peppers and okra.
Sullivan, who was recently in the news for spearheading the effort to reopen the city’s freshwater springs (and is also a member of environmentally focused indie-folk duo Holy River), says the food forest is always looking for volunteers—especially ones with specialized skills like writing grant applications.
“We really appreciate if people want to get involved,” she says. “We’d like to be able to provide more for the community but have not been successful in getting financial support from larger organizations this year.”—R.G.
Visual Artist
1st
Hamilton Glass
2nd
Matt Lively
3rd
Ed Trask
Tourist Attraction
1st
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Ave.
2nd
Hollywood Cemetery
412 S Cherry St.
3rd
VMFA
200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd.
4th
James River Park System
— TIED —
4th
Agecroft Hall and Gardens
4305 Sulgrave Rd.
Tattoo Artist
1st
Jen Bean (Loose Screw Tattoo)
2nd
Amy Black (Amy Black Tattoos)
3rd
Mike Ivey (Journey’s End Tattoo Studio)
Take A Date
1st
VMFA
200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd.
2nd
Hotel Greene
508 E Franklin St.
3rd
Agecroft Hall and Gardens
4305 Sulgrave Rd.
Sports Team
1st
Richmond Flying Squirrels
2nd
VCU Rams men’s basketball
3rd
Richmond Ivy Soccer
Social Media Influencer
1st
@miss_elaine_neous
2nd
@laurenzray
3rd
@superkeatzeverywhere
Radio Station
1st
WRIR 97.3
2nd
VPM 88.9
3rd
WDCE 90.1 FM
Place To Sing Karaoke
1st
New York Deli
2920 W Cary St.
2nd
Penny Lane Pub
421 E Franklin St.
3rd
Thirsty’s RVA
3516 Forest Hill Ave.
Place To Play Pickleball
1st
Weinstein JCC
5403 Monument Ave.
2nd
Performance Pickleball
8641 Quioccasin Rd.
3rd
Padel Plant
1201 Haxall Point
Place To People Watch
1st
Carytown
— TIED —
1st
VMFA
200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd.
2nd
Brown’s Island
Place to Listen to Live Music
1st
The National
708 E Broad St.
2nd
Révéler
3108 W Cary St.
3rd
The Camel
1621 W Broad St.
Park
1st
Maymont Park
1700 Hampton St.
2nd
Forest Hill Park
4021 Forest Hill Ave.
3rd
Libby Hill
Neighborhood
1st
The Fan
2nd
Church Hill
3rd
Lakeside
4th
Manchester
Meteorologist
1st
Andrew Freiden (12 On Your Side)
2nd
Megan Wise (12 On Your Side)
3rd
John Bernier (WRIC-TV)
Media Personality
1st
Jasmine Turner (12 On Your Side)
2nd
Megan Wise (12 On Your Side)
3rd
Sam NewsMan
LGBTQIA Club
1st
Babe’s of Carytown
3166 W Cary St.
2nd
Fallout RVA
117 N 18th St.
3rd
Barcode
6 E Grace St.
4th
Papi’s
1407 E Cary St.
Hike
1st
James River Park System
2nd
Maymont Park
3rd
Belle Isle
— TIED —
3rd
Buttermilk Trail
Golf
1st
Hotel Greene
508 E Franklin St.
2nd
The Country Club of Virginia
(multiple locations)
3rd
Hanover Golf Club
14314 Country Club Dr., Ashland
4th
The Federal Club Golf Course
13450 Palmers Way, Glen Allen
Drag Performer
1st
Michelle Livigne
2nd
Sweet Pickles
3rd
Grace Wetpants
4th
Hillary Buff
Community Leader
1st
Taylor Scott (RVA Community Fridges)
2nd
Katie Kenyon (Village Green)
3rd
Darrian Hewlett (Community Events)
Farm/Community Garden
1st
Shalom Farms
2nd
Scuffletown Park
418 Strawberry St.
3rd
Sankofa Community Orchard
309 Covington Rd.
Chef
1st
Leah Branch (The Roosevelt)
2nd
Brittanny Anderson (Black Lodge, Brenner Pass, Metzger Bar and Butchery, Pink Room)
3rd
Nikki and Paul Polk (Charlotte’s Southern Deli)
Bartender
1st
Beth Dixon
2nd
Katie Stuart (Bar Daddy)
3rd
Chauncey Jenkins (Chance Fischer)
View the winners in each of the following categories:
