Style Weekly

01/03/2025

Richmond artist Rae Whitlock spent last year traveling to comic cons all over the country hawking her wares. She's found a love for teaching and helping others maintain a connection with their art, which she does at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

Rae Whitlock on making comics and grasping ideas from the ether.

01/03/2025

"David Johansen, the frontman and last surviving member of proto-punk band New York Dolls, who went on to become a lounge singer under the name Buster Poindexter and act in films such as 'Scrooged,' has died. His daughter Leah Hennessey confirmed that he died Friday at home in New York. He was 75." [Variety] Below is a photo Style's editor took of him at a 2004 festival in New York City when the Dolls played their first comeback show for Little Steven's Underground Garage Rock Fest at Randall's Island, alongside The Stooges, Bo Diddley, Nancy Sinatra, Big Star, The Lyres, The Pretty Things, The Dictators and many others groups.

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/david-johansen-dead-new-york-dolls-1236324334/

01/03/2025

Opinion piece by Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov in The Guardian:

"Clarity emerged at today’s macabre theatre at the White House: handshakes, a thumbs up and some fist pumps from the US president, before Trump sat side by side with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a minerals-for-war-support deal and to humiliate him. At the same time, air raid sirens were sounding in northern and eastern Ukraine ...

Trump and the Kremlin have made it abundantly clear that Ukraine’s participation in these negotiations between the US and Russia is not necessary or desirable ... [Trump] has transformed Ukraine from a subject into an object, and after this White House humiliation some Ukrainians are convinced that the extraction of rare earth metals on Trump’s terms would turn our country into a 'colony' of the US."

A cold reality hit us in Washington. Zelenskyy was being forced to buy hope of survival by people who have no care for our freedom, says Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov

01/03/2025

"There has long been a Vatican taboo against openly talking about a conclave when a pope is sick: It’s considered gauche to speculate about the election of a new pope while the current one is fighting for his life. And that is certainly true as Pope Francis battles double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

But the surprising success of 'Conclave' the film and momentum going into Sunday’s Academy Awards have thrust the arcane rules, glorious ceremony and supreme drama of one of the Catholic Church’s most solemn moments into popular culture, and put the Catholic hierarchy in something of a bind as it simultaneously prays for Francis." [AP]

There has long been a Vatican taboo against openly talking about a conclave when a pope is sick: It’s considered gauche to speculate about the election of a new pope while the current one is fighting for his life.

01/03/2025

01/03/2025

"The order will allow government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in language other than English, according to a fact sheet about the impending order ... The executive order will rescind a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers." [AP]

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. That's according to the White House.

01/03/2025

"Unlike in 2024, Michael Stipe was persuaded on stage at the 40 Watt Club. “At long last, the final member of the quartet joined the stage,” Michael Shannon said with a British accent, as if he was reading a fairy tale. “And the mystery was completed.” The band then launched into “Pretty Persuasion”‘s signature descending riff, making for a full R.E.M. reunion. [Brooklyn Vegan] Shannon and Narducy play RVA on Monday night.

"This is a special place where dreams come true," Michael Shannon told the crowd at Athens, GA's 40 Watt Club.

28/02/2025

"Battery-powered induction stoves provide a safe, plug-in alternative to gas, reducing pollution, health risks, and costly upgrades. Public housing trials are underway in New York and California." [AP]

For 47 million American households, cooking means a gas stove. Gas stoves generate gases that aren't good for people's health and the gas itself contributes to climate change.

28/02/2025

Our film critic looks at some of the noteworthy new movie releases now available to stream:

Taking stock of some noteworthy new movies to stream.

28/02/2025

On Tuesday, the Broadway tour of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” comes to Altria Theater for a 16-performance engagement. Andrew Brewer, who plays the Duke in the touring production, says the show has broad appeal. in Richmond

Professing truth, beauty, freedom and love, the stage adaptation of “Moulin Rouge!” comes to Richmond.

28/02/2025

Huge congrats to our former food editor Deb Freeman, who last night at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU unveiled the documentary she's been working on, "Finding Edna Lewis," about the legendary Virginia-born chef and Southern cookbook writer.

Directed by the Emmy-winning documentary team of Hannah Ayers and Lance Warren, and produced by VPM, the film traces Lewis' career through several states with a focus on her delicious food, making more than a few people hungry by the end. Thanks to everyone who showed out.

Beforehand, guests enjoyed Lewis-inspired bites from of , of , .m.lindsey of .rva, and of , plus sweet treats from .kay.are of —paired with expertly crafted cocktails by . Photos by Scott Elmquist.

28/02/2025

"Gov. Glenn Youngkin directed state public safety agencies to enter into agreements allowing them to support federal immigration officials, in an executive order issued Thursday.

Under Section 287(g) agreements, local law enforcement and corrections staff are trained by federal authorities, and can then be deputized to perform specialized immigration enforcement functions, such as issuing immigration detainers and orders that begin deportation processes." [VPM]

The order directs Virginia State Police, corrections officers statewide to cooperate with ICE.

28/02/2025

"A grassroots organization is encouraging U.S. residents not to spend any money Friday as an act of 'economic resistance' to protest what the group’s founder sees as the malign influence of billionaires, big corporations and both major political parties on the lives of working Americans." [AP]

A grassroots organization is encouraging U.S. residents not to spend any money on Friday. The People’s Union USA describes it as an act of “economic resistance” to protest what the group’s founder sees as the malign influence of billionaires, big corporations and both major political parties...

28/02/2025

From the press release desk:

City of Richmond Announces Small Business Recovery Grant Fund to Support Businesses Impacted by Water Outage

Metropolitan Business League, Altria, and Dominion Energy, and EDA Form New Private-Public Partnership to Support Local Small Businesses

Richmond, VA – "Tonight, Richmond’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved a $250,000 grant to the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) for a new Small Business Recovery Grant Fund. The program will provide grants to small businesses significantly impacted by January’s water emergency and will be seeded with a total initial investment of $500,000 provided by the EDA, Dominion Energy, and Altria. Fundraising efforts are ongoing.

'In the face of challenges, we are excited about this opportunity to provide financial relief and ongoing assistance needed to help the Richmond Business Community. It is our collective resilience and shared commitment that will guide us toward helping businesses sustain. Together, with the support of the City of Richmond and our dedicated financial partners, we will continue to foster growth and prosperity within our community,' said Floyd E. Miller II, President & CEO, Metropolitan Business League.

'The water emergency deeply impacted our small business community, and this partnership is an example of how when we work together we can overcome challenges,' said City Council President Cynthia I. Newbille. 'I want to thank the MBL, Dominion Energy, Altria, and the EDA for the hard work they’ve put into standing this program up and for leading on this effort. I also want to encourage members of our business and economic development community to consider supporting the program—we all know what a great impact small businesses have on the Richmond region.'

Applications for the Small Business Recovery Grant Fund will open on Mar. 17 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Mar. 28, 2025. The MBL, in cooperation with the City’s Office of Minority Development, will hold virtual Q&A sessions on Mar. 6 and Mar. 12. Businesses can sign up to attend online. More information about the program, including eligibility criteria, will be available on thembl.org in the coming days.

'Small businesses are the backbone of Richmond’s economy, and many experienced significant hardship during the water crisis,' said Ed Baine, President Utility Operations and Dominion Energy Virginia. 'We’re eager to help them recover, and we’re grateful for the Economic Development Authority’s leadership.'

'The EDA is deeply committed to the success of Richmond’s small businesses. The EDA thanks the MBL, Altria, Dominion, and the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem for their efforts to help small businesses bounce back,' said EDA Board of Directors Chair John Molster. The MBL will deploy the small business grants through the Capital Access Hub. The Hub is a collaborative program between MBL and Bridging Virginia (a Community Development Financial Institution) that aims to close the capital access gap for historically marginalized and underinvested small businesses through a combination of early-stage capacity building, technical assistance for capital access, and network growth.'

27/02/2025

“The whole eastern province of Cuba is to Cuban music what Appalachia is to country music in the U.S.,” says the co-director Ed Tillett of the forthcoming documentary, “The Sound of Santiago.” “It’s so isolated. You can still find this music that is being performed in the same way that it was 150 years ago.”

“The Sound of Santiago” is the result of years of two dedicated filmmakers documenting the music of the region. Featuring more than 20 filmed performances of indigenous bands and performers, the movie—not yet finalized—will be the center of a special preview program at the University of Richmond’s Camp Concert Hall on Thursday, March 6. The event is free." Center for the Arts

A new documentary digs up Cuban music roots at the University of Richmond.

27/02/2025

There's only ONE day left to nominate for Style Weekly's annual Best of Richmond print issue. Do it to it!

Nominate your favorites through Feb. 28.

27/02/2025

PREVIEW: This weekend, Virginia Opera’s “Così Fan Tutte” comes to Richmond, and with it, a taste of the roaring '20s and a sense of humor about the frailty of love. Energy Center for the Performing Arts

Virginia Opera’s “Così Fan Tutte” brings a taste of the Roaring ’20s to Richmond.

27/02/2025

[Former] Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase (R), who has been called "Trump in heels," announced yesterday that she is running for governor, the latest to launch a primary challenge against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R). Here are some file photos of her from the Style vaults by Scott Elmquist.

The photos are from July 4, 2020 at the Virginia State Capitol during a Second Amendment rally. She was a sitting State Senator and running for Governor.