Dear Richmond: After the Storm, The Sun Still Rises
It’s just an old green mailbox—weathered by time, nearly swept away by the rising river, and now standing strong once again as spring approaches. Nestled quietly in the James River Park System, this humble box has become a beacon of reflection, resilience, and community connection. After a recent stretch of heavy rain and floodwaters, we […]
Dear Richmond: The Connection We Share While Walking Different Paths
Have you stumbled upon the hidden “Dear Richmond” mailbox nestled in the James River Park System yet? Tucked away on a quiet trail near the park headquarters, this unassuming green mailbox holds something very Richmond: a community journal filled with the thoughts, hopes, and reflections of those who’ve taken a moment to pause and connect. […]
Resurrecting the Sound: Bogart’s Ghost and the Rebirth of Richmond’s Underground
Walk down N. Lombardy St. in the Fan District, and you’ll likely find ghosts. You’ll hear echoes. And if you listen close enough, you’ll understand the lingering power of Bogart’s, even though the doors of the restaurant and music venue have been shuttered since 2009. Thanks to Bogart’s Ghost, an immersive experience launching this week, the […]
Dear Richmond: Have You Found It?
Have you found our Dear Richmond mailbox yet? Keep an eye out when walking the trails of the James River Park System for an opportunity to find this special place, and make sure to leave a message in the community journal found inside the mailbox. In 2020, in the midst of COVID-19, Richmond Grid teamed […]
Dear Richmond: Connection and Shared Human Experience
It’s just an old green mailbox. But what’s inside can make all the difference. Nestled along a side trail near the James River Park headquarters, this unique find is home to the Dear Richmond journal. We’re honored to serve as the caretakers of this odd little mailbox and to collect the community journals inside every […]
Dear Richmond Community Journal’s New Home
Shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic began, the Richmond Grid team quietly worked with the James River Park System to hide an old mailbox in a secret spot in the park as part of a journal writing experiment. Initially located near a granite cliff covered with ivy, the vintage mailbox became home to the “Dear Richmond” […]
Memory Wars: A Podcast That Looks Outside of Our Borders to Learn Lessons
Mallory Noe-Payne, Virginia Public Radio IQ’s Richmond bureau chief, and Michael Paul Williams, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, have launched “Memory Wars,” a podcast examining race and prejudice. The new podcast was inspired by Mallory’s Fulbright grant funded residency in 2021 that provided an opportunity for her to listen deeply to people’s […]
You’re Not Alone: Messages of Hope from the Dear Richmond Journal
Have you found our “Dear Richmond” mailbox hidden in the James River Park yet? Once you do, make sure to grab the journal inside, find a nearby rock to sit on while you flip through its pages, and share your thoughts with others who stumble upon this community journaling project too. Below are some of […]
Cheats Movement and Grid Launch Digital Magazine
We’ve partnered with The Cheats Movement, in collaboration with Bizhan Khodabandeh, to publish VOICES digital magazine, a community project reflecting a truly historic time. The digital magazine, featuring 26 essays and 40 photographers, is available for download on The Cheats Movement (https://thecheatsmovement.com/download-richmond-grid-x…) and Richmond Grid websites (https://richmondgrid.com/voices). VOICES is a community essay project created by […]
Dear Richmond: Words of Encouragement
Hidden deep in the James River Park System, tucked quietly under a moss-covered granite cliff, is the Grid Mailbox. Inside you’ll find the Dear Richmond journal, a collaborative writing experiment created with the James River Park System. For those who stumble upon it, the community journal serves as a special place to write a love […]