Under a pagoda // Xavier Judon, 2, and his mother, Melissa, strike a playful pose under a handcrafted pagoda set up for last Saturday’s ChinaFest! Year of the Fire Rooster. The family-oriented event took place at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Please see more photos, B2.

Cityscape // This eye-catching “Social Justice Window” attracts attention to independent Chop Suey Books, a popular 15-year-old bookstore in Carytown. It’s a thought-provoking display in which trenchant commentaries sprout like daffodils from the books, mostly from African and African-American authors. Location: 2913 W. Cary St.

Checking the pulse of the city // Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, center, leads a group of about 40 people Wednesday during a tour of the Brookland Park Boulevard business corridor in North Side. Accompanied by City Council President Chris A. Hilbert, 3rd District, Mayor Stoney was shown buildings tagged with graffiti that need to be cleaned as well as Scott’s Funeral Home’s new chapel. The mayor also met business owners along the route, including including the proprietors of the renovated Two Pillars Tattoo and Sign Shop. Walking to his left is Richard A. Lambert Sr., president and owner of the funeral home. Saying he wants to be a “hands on, visible mayor,” Mayor Stoney plans to walk the Jefferson Davis Highway corridor in South Richmond next week with 8th District City Council member Reva M. Trammell.

Rallying for ‘sanctuary’ // With signs and chants, more than 100 immigration advocates rally Monday afternoon outside City Hall to urge Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney and the Richmond City Council to declare Richmond a “sanctuary city” and defy stepped-up federal efforts to deport people who lack green cards or student, work or visitation visas. Later, advocates pushed their view during the public comment session of the evening’s council meeting. So far, they have not moved government leaders, including the mayor, who has avoided using the “sanctuary” term.

Last week, Mayor Stoney announced he would continue the longstanding city policy of promoting Richmond as a “welcoming, inclusive” community that leaves inquiries about immigration status to federal agents except in the case of non-citizens taken into custody for crimes. The city appears to be seeking a middle way to avoid tangling with the Republican-dominated General Assembly, which has passed legislation seeking to punish “sanctuary” localities that restrain their police from doubling as immigration agents. Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to veto that legislation.

VCU Hall of Fame inductees // Former Virginia Commonwealth University standouts share the limelight after their induction last Saturday into the VCU Athletics Hall of Fame. The inductees and their sport are, from left, Boris Kodjoe, men’s tennis, 1992-1996; Martina Nedelkova Somoano, women’s tennis, 1997-2002; Kristine Austgulen, women’s basketball, 1999-2003; Jen Parsons, women’s soccer, 2001-2004; and Matthew Delicate, men’s soccer, 2000-2003. Inductee Eric Maynor, men’s basketball, 2005-2009, a former NBA player who now plays in Italy’s top pro league, wasn’t able to return to campus for the ceremony. Mr. Kodjoe, now a successful actor, observed during his remarks that five of the six inductees are immigrants. Mr. Kodjoe was born in Austria. He was the first VCU Ram to win the Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional title.

Funeral home’s new addition // Mia Mimms, president of Mimms Funeral Home, shows off the latest addition to her business — a state-of-the-art crematorium. The interior also includes a display of urns.

Funeral home’s new addition // The facility, which opened last week and cost about $450,000, is located across the parking lot from the funeral home’s chapel.

Funeral home’s new addition//The interior also includes a display of urns. This is the first active African-American-owned funeral home in the Richmond area to have such a facility on its property. Ms. Mimms spent two years winning city permission.