Home is more than four walls and roof. Home is a door opening to you, your family, your pets, your lifestyle, your neighborhood, your community, your city. It’s all encompassing on so many levels.
Gratifyingly RVA
A thank you to RVA
All Photos by: Jo Ann Breaux
RVA Proper
Since this is the month of Gratitude I wanted to express mine for RVA. I’m grateful for many things in my life and not ones I need to share on this particular month, but I thought I would point out all the things about RVA I am grateful for, so let’s slap those hands together and give thanks:
RVA, I am grateful to you for…
Our Natural Habitat. I love our topography here. From hills, to parks, to the Mighty James, we are truly blessed to have such beautiful scenery.
Our Restaurants. Sure, we have fantastic food, but the culture that was created here through the restaurant scene has been memorable and delightful.
Our Artists. I love how RVA fosters our art scene. Whether it’s the murals, VCU’s art program, or our tattooists, RVA is great at showcasing its artists. Ed Trask you are a pioneer! I enjoy doing First Fridays and I find solace in our galleries and museums.
Our Musicians. I am so grateful for RVA’s music scene. You have provided me with a lifetime of great shows and I couldn’t be more thankful. Thanks for Avail, Lamb of God, Gwar, Chance Fischer, Bio Ritmo, that Lucy Dacus chick, and so many more. I however am not grateful for the lack of venues we have for live music.
Our Neighbors. I truly feel like RVA is a place that really pulls together to help others in their time of need. From our activists, to our non-profits, to our places of worship, our neighbors help our communities thrive and that’s a beautiful thing to see.
Our Location. So grateful that we are so close to beaches, mountains, and major cities. There are so many great things to do a stone’s throw away.
Our Kevin Bacon. RVA has an uncanny ability to have usually less than 6 degrees of separation from it’s denizens. There is a vast amount of generational “…by proxy” here and it does feel nice to meet new people to discover they know your old people.
Our Outdoor Recreation. From Capital Trail to a short trip to King’s Dominion to fishing on the James to our many hiking/walking trails, RVA caters to all walks, jogs, and cycles.
Our Fans. I love our sports teams, but I love the support of the fans the most. It really is great being in a local stadium hearing RVA roar with cheers for their teams.
Our Local Business. We have such amazing business owners who provide unique experiences and wares. I love that you can get taxidermy, custom boots, and a hand sculpted planter all in one day, and top it with a stop at a local distillery while eating a locally made ice cream sandwich.
I am grateful we live in the smallest big city that has provided me with some really remarkable moments.
We are grateful to RVA for…
I asked my friends if they could be grateful to RVA for one thing, what would it be. Turns out it was harder to say just ONE thing.
“The lifelong friendships I have made through the decades have been significant in RVA. The music and art scenes have impacted my life greatly. The architecture, the parks, the river, and the hidden gems for me as well. I just contradicted my “one thing” rule.”
“GWAR”
“Friends”
“Friendsmusicbeer. One thing.”
“The River and Bernie’s Subs”
“It’s ideal. The most ideal place I’ve lived. A perfect combo of diverse friends, creativity, food, family, art, music, history (and a reconciliation of its past), lovely architecture, medium sized charm, great parks, chill vibe, beer, bikability, walkability and decent/tolerable weather most of the year.”
“Maymont Park. I really think that having a 100 acre rolling park in the middle of the city is the most beautiful and wonderful thing. You can go there and sit on a blanket for eight hours and no one cares.”
“My first visit to Richmond was as a Junior in High School, I participated in the VMFA’s 3 days in March program that brought HS art students from across the state to Richmond for a 3 day event. To this day I love the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and visit often. This summer my daughter took a couple classes at VisArts and I’d hang out at the VMFA. Read until they opened and then wander the halls.”
“Good honest down to earth friends and the most hard working colleagues I’ve ever worked with 🙏🏽💃🏻
And of course the southern charm”
“Hollywood Cemetery where my parents are inurned.”
“Friendships”
“Friends”
“My friends.”
“Family, Friends, Food, Music, Art, & More!”
“Friends & Music…”
“Friends. The amazing outdoor places- the River, Maymont, etc.”
“College education. Tough because life long friends is important too.”
“A pretty tight/strong alternative scene.”
“Meeting my best friends there.”
“Just one? I can think of several. I love RVA!”
“Amazing, lifelong friends!”
“Very little traffic”
“That the James Runs through it!”
“For always feeling like Home, no matter how long it’s been.”
“Meeting my best friends there.”
“What a great foody town it’s become.”
“The river.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “the James river and the trails that surrounds it, are indeed magical!”
“The James River.”
“Beautiful Park System and lovely architecture in spots.”
“My kids”
“Too many to list. So let’s complain instead. I miss the sketchy Richmond of my youth a fair bit.”
A Very Wise Choice
Local business owner, Noelle Parent contributes two businesses to RVA’s downtown area…
Written by: Jo Ann Breaux | Photos by: Jo Ann Breaux
Without knowing what the new year was to bring—a new adorned ring finger for one—it was serendipitous that I would be talking to business owner Noelle Parent. She is the owner of two distinct local businesses here in Richmond. the bridal consignment shop, Blue Sage Bridal and Gifted RVA, which sells beautifully customizable gift sets consisting of locally made products. Her shop sits prettily on E. Main Street and a welcome addition to the downtown area. Downtown has always been this weird desolate place after 5pm. I feel Broad Street in particular is just stale. Boy that bus track was such a good idea! Even in the 80s there was more ambling crowds, think 6th Street Market. I do love seeing businesses like Noelle’s beginning to adorn the streets in and around the area. Now that Comfort is gone, Broad street fortunately still has gems like Steady Sounds, Black Iris Gallery, Charm School, and Little Nomad, but that strip along Upper Franklin and Main, business seems scarce. It just always seems like limbo, it looks like things are changing down there, but you can’t quite tell yet. Noelle herself is surprised at the foot traffic she gets and although she is by appointment only, it is a still nice to have passerby’s peep in . Can you remember the last time, other than First Friday, you took a walk downtown? We both agreed that we would like to see more contribution to a vibrant and stroll-worthy downtown area.
Ok, I’m not here to get into my plans for a better RVA. I’m here to tell you all about this local business owner, a woman after my own heart in that an idea can hit you smack dab in the face and poof, you’re a business owner. First of all, it takes a lot to be inspired enough to start your own business and secondly, it takes a lot to get people who want to push you to do so. This Charlottesville native did it —twice. You might know her from her hospitality role at Quirk Hotel or you could know her from working as a former wedding planner with the Empress of bossdom, Christine Greenberg at The Hive Wedding Collective. I happened to discover Noelle’s wares after visiting Urban Set Bride. The nicely presented kit was notably unique and I immediately thought, “Ooooo closing gifts!”
Noelle is a friendly individual and it’s easy to pick up on her hospitality traits. I like walking into an establishment and feeling invited, comfortable. Blue Sage and Gifted do just that, it has that homey feeling. It was fortunate Noelle landed the historical storefront which houses her two realms, complete with ironically already painted blue walls when she moved in. It is a pretty space and lends itself to having to try on gowns for a few hours.
Parent has lived in RVA for ten years and was a frequent visitor while her brother attended VCU in 2003. Back then, Richmond had a little more grit than it does now, but she found her niche here and eventually became a Richmonder herself. As we discuss the inspiration and successes of RVA’s local businesses, I tell her how amazing it is to see people I grew up with, now contributing to the growth of Richmond, and how she too is a part of that progress.
Noelle houses about 200 consignment and sample wedding dresses. Some still have tags on them (brides change their minds a lot) and some are the stuff dreams are made of. It is not surprise a majority of her samples come from Urban Set, you gotta love the sisterhood! Richmond lost it’s one and only bridal consignment shop before Noelle had an inkling she would take on that task. The nearest one was 2 hours away in Virginia Beach and vendors were getting tired of the inconvenient distance to deliver the samples. So voila, with a bonk on the head, Noelle decided to open Blue Sage to accommodate sample gown deliveries for Richmond.
The appointment only shop carries the most current styles and if you are seeking a dazzling dress at an affordable price point (25-45% off), then you definitely want to peruse her racks. Some of you may not know what exactly a Sample gown is, I can honestly tell you I had an idea but didn’t know 100% what that meant either! Sample gowns are the gowns that salons carry for try ons. They are never worn to an actual ceremony. Noelle says the consignment gowns are sometimes better because they come already bustled, hemmed, and are most affordable (starting at 40% off). I don’t know about you, but from the word engaged, the mark up on weddings is insane! Saving a few hundred on a dress to be worn for a most likely 1.5 (hello, reception wardrobe change), sounds pretty smart to me.
Not a bride? Not a problem. Parent also owns Gifted RVA, which was not intended to share the space with Blue Sage initially, but it turns out her space lends itself to showcasing her products. She had run Gifted through its online medium since its inception, so whether they stay put or not is still in the works. There’s an ease to fulfilling online rather that physical shopping. With usually a 48 hour window, you can have your gift kit delivered or available for pick up at prices starting at $35. Her kits consist of some of the coolest locally sourced products and would make any receiver flattered. A majority of her business comes from the corporate world which has grown exponentially since she started in 2017. They truly make great gifts and not only are you supporting all the locals, but you can also give back. Gifted has a special box just for giving back. It includes products from local Richmond Businesses who give back in their own way. In addition, for each give back box that is purchased, Gifted will give a care package to SafeHarbor to help support those who are struggling with homelessness and domestic abuse. How very Richmond!
Gifted’s gifts make for fantastic closing gifts, birthday and anniversary presents, and impressive client handouts. Some of the vendors she is currently using include, Grateful Heart Shop, Robin’s Egg Essentials, Lammar Marie's Gourmet Popcorn, and Storied Goods to name just a few. She concentrates on seasonal gift giving with September being the biggest birthday month and Holiday season causing space to be rented to complete the multitude of orders, so get in early! Impress your mom in May with a nice kit full of goodies. I’m a big fan of the Grateful Heartshop Richmond keychains and Swig Tumblers.
Whether it’s a beautiful wedding gown you are looking for or a gift that makes a statement or both, Noelle’s wares fulfill a shopper’s desire and supports not just her local business, but others as well. We can hope that others will join Blue Sage Bridal in holy commerce birthing bustling footsteps and future patronage. Now that’s a union worth striving for!
