RFM team members share books they have enjoyed. Maybe you will, too! Local author Rachel Beanland’s second novel, The House Is on Fire, is based on the true story of the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire and its turbulent aftermath. The worst disaster in terms of loss of life that our…

Most pregnant people have heard of a birth plan and many mothers-to-be write up one to share their preferences for labor and giving birth, so their providers are aware of their wishes. But, have you considered creating a plan for your emotional health and well-being during your pregnancy or after…

Sometimes the biggest expressions of emotion come from the tiniest tots. We’re all born with innate emotions, and it takes time and growth to learn to process them, given individual temperament, home environment, and cultural factors. Fortunately, there are ways to help your kids with this growth and keep your…

It’s that time of year again, the season of giving thanks. You might be compiling a mental inventory of blessings and privileges, jotting down ideas for Facebook statuses, or sorting through pictures for Instagram posts that proclaim gratitude in the most authentic way possible. It truly does a heart good…

If you’re worried about your child’s mental health, you’re not alone.A 2022 report by the Pew Research Center found that mental health was the greatest worry among parents, trumping fears of kidnapping, dangers of drugs and alcohol, teen pregnancy, and getting into trouble with the police. As a mother of…

The fall and winter holiday season is an exciting time for gathering with friends and family to celebrate, and decorating is a big part of the fun. Whether you prefer a traditional or modern look – or something in between – there are many ways to make your space festive…

Operation Silent Night (OSN) is Richmond Animal League's biggest adoption initiative of the year. The annual event runs from December 1 through December 20, adoption fees are lowered to just $10, and adoption hours are extended with one mission in mind – to clear the shelter and find every pet a…

I was a little hesitant to go full-holiday in my note since so many of you pick up RFM as soon as it hits the stands (thank you!), but since I started seeing Christmas things in stores in August, I guess I’m safe now that it’s at least the first…

What are the spaces in Richmond that make you feel welcomed, cared for and creative? Studio Two Three – a local print shop, artist studio, and community event space – has been this place for hundreds of Richmond artists for more than fourteen years. During a storm in 2022, Studio…

Your holiday to-do list is long: gifts, cards, food, décor, activities before, during, and after each holiday. It’s a long season, and yet it seems to fly by in an instant, leaving you standing in January like the John Travolta Pulp Fiction meme, looking and feeling kind of lost and…

For forty years after Jamestown was founded in 1607, English settlers and Tsenacomoco, a political alliance of six core tribes and more than twenty smaller chiefdoms, were at intermittent war over scarce resources and territory.  The tribal alliance was already well-established by that time, as pressures from population growth and…

In today’s fast-paced world, juggling work, school, and family life can often feel like a monumental task. With so much on our plates, it’s easy to let healthy eating take a backseat. But what if I told you that achieving a healthier lifestyle for your family doesn’t have to be…

In my household, the first drop of rain is often followed by this question from one of my four children: “Mom, can we play with Play-Doh?” Play-Doh, kinetic sand, or air clay are staples in most families. For us, these items stay tucked away most of the time. And here’s…

As a way to deflect the youthful exuberance that Paul Fritz was displaying in a random store decades ago, his father took the six-year-old outside and asked him what he wanted for Christmas. “A train!” Fritz answered. Message heard. On Christmas morning, Fritz found a small-ish train set under the…

In late spring of 2020, Richmond artists Amiri Richardson-Keys and Emily Herr were trying to figure out where they belonged amidst the demonstrations and protests for racial justice. George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis had compelled people in Richmond and around the world to reckon with the broad impacts of systemic…