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The legacy of the Richmond 34
The Valentine has a sit-in exhibit using actual chairs from the lunch counter. | Photo via @thevalentinerva
Yesterday, Feb. 22, marked 66 years since a group of 34 Virginia Union University (VUU) students were arrested during a sit-in protest in downtown Richmond — a pivotal moment in Richmond’s Civil Rights Movement.
If you want to learn more about the legacy of the Richmond 34 in person, consider visiting The Valentine (pictured above) or the Black History Museum. For now, we can share some history:
February, 1960
Following Martin Luther King Jr.'s visits to VUU and the impactful 1960 Greensboro Sit-In, more than 200 VUU students organized similar protests across downtown Richmond. Multiple days of marches and sit-ins went without incident.
More protests and picketing ensued on Broad Street after the arrests of the Richmond 34.
Photo via Thalhimers Protest Photograph Collection, The Valentine
It wasn’t until a few dozen protesters sat down and asked for service at the famous “whites-only” Richmond Room — the lunch counter at the then-segregated Thalhimers department store — that police got involved.
Bummer — the Winter Olympics are officially over. The good news? We can start looking ahead to the Games’ return to US soil at Los Angeles 2028. You’ve got until Wednesday, March 18, to register for tickets, and a little longer to brush up on your Olympics sports skills.
National Banana Bread Day. If you want to celebrate the traditional route, a local bakery like Montana Gold in Carytown has you covered. If you’re feeling experimental, Lift Coffee has a Banana Bread Latte.
Seasonal
There are 13 days until the clocks go forward for daylight saving time. That means a few things: spring is on its way, the sun is setting later, and summer will be here before we know it. Welcome in the excitement with these 10 picnic ideas.
Mansion Monday
A taste of “Wuthering Heights” awaits at a rain-swept private island for sale in the UK. Once owned by the royal family, Ynys Gifftan has no electricity. That won’t be a problem at this 1937 colonial home in the West End, fit with elegance, a significantly less rugged landscape design, and a whole-house generator. (The Times)
Travel
The world’s smallest country is making upgrades for visitors. The Vatican is enhancing the experience at St. Peter’s Basilica by expanding terrace access to negate long wait times, and increasing translation offerings. Richmond International Airport is the place to start your adventure. (AP News)
Job
Manifesting a new job for 2026? Let us help. Our Job Board has 240,000 active listings across industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and information technology. Search open jobs now.
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The Buy
Chef-curated tasting menus, skyline tours, spa days, and more thanks to unbeatable deals on Groupon. New deals drop daily, so there’s always something new to try. You can even stack deals: book date night now, schedule a deep tissue massage, and still have room in the budget for a weekend brewery tour.
Did you know? Since 2024, Richmond Performing Arts Alliance has been carefully curating archival pieces and local artwork to honor the legacy of the Richmond 34. The ultimate goal: Raise $25,000 to open a permanent gallery.
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