Bestselling author and Richmond native David Baldacci (Photo by Zaid Hamid)
In This Issue
72 / Fall Arts Preview Our annual look at the season’s best entertainment: theater, literature, museums and galleries, music, and more By Kim Catley, Nicole Cohen, Harry Kollatz Jr., Peter McElhinney and Diane McMartin
84 / ‘The Good Curse’ An excerpt from the 2026 James River Writers/Richmond magazine Best Unpublished Novel Contest winner By Amanda Sue Creasey
UPFRONT
16 / FROM THE EDITOR
LOCAL
24 / CATCH UP Behind the drop in homicides, and a vibe check
26 / Q&A University of Richmond professor Mary Finley-Brook breaks down data centers.
30 / SPORTS Richard Bland College’s esports team isn’t playing games.
32 / REFERENDA Richmond and Chesterfield fish for a new sales tax.
36 / FLASHBACK How Henrico County’s courthouse wound up in Richmond
144 / PARTING SHOT Livin’ large at Forest Hill Park lake
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
40 / DATEBOOK “Life on Canvas” at The Valentine, Virginia Pridefest and other festivals, a concert series, the State Fair, and 40 years of VA ComiCon.
42 / SPECIAL EVENTS Relax and celebrate on Labor Day.
43 / HAPPENINGS 23 things to do this month
44 / CLOSER LOOK A city native screens his short documentary at the Richmond International Film Festival.
46 / Q&A Actor Djimon Hounsou on the fifth anniversary of Run Richmond 16.19
48 / SPOTLIGHT Richmond rockers debut a collaborative album.
LIVING
52 / SHOP TALK A music and games retailer expands the playfield in Scott’s Addition.
56 / STYLE A career change leads a Powhatan native to fashion success.
58 / TRY THIS Repair Cafe RVA brings free fixes to broken belongings.
60 / GIVING BACK At half a century, the James River Association looks around the bend.
62 / TRAVEL Adventure (and new amenities) at Grayson Highlands State Park
EAT & DRINK
130 / IN DEPTH Two transplants deliver welcoming vibes at Cahoots.
132 / AROUND TOWN Revisiting Kuba Kuba, and Best Bites
134 / SPOTLIGHT Talking shop with the baker and co-owner behind Janet’s Café & Bakery
136 / Q&A Coffee maven and culinary enthusiast Gray Fultz thrives on human connection.
138 / 5 FAVES Biscuits to boast about
140 / OPEN TAB Cocktails featuring the South American brandy pisco
142 / PERSPECTIVE Our relationship with restaurants should be reciprocal.
Virginia College Guide
97 / Making space for mental wellness and a new push toward affordability, plus updates from campuses across the commonwealth By Scott Bass, Kaitlin Davis, Mia Debelevich, Skye Hathaway, Kevin Johnson, Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, Audrey Polverari and Kelsey Robinson
This is just a sneak peek of all the content packed into this month’s issue; don’t miss out, SUBSCRIBE NOW!
