Turtle exploring Belle Isle (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship. Hameen Hurling Jr, 4, showcases his creative talents on a chalkboard in the kids area at the event. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship.Tina Braxton of SheJeepsRVA shows off her ride for fellow Jeep enthusiasts in the festival crowd on Saturday. SheJeepsRVA is a local group of women Jeep owners who gather for rides, community events and outreach. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship. Jerry Stevenson shops for a hat with Michael Kassel Wyatt at the Jackson Ward event on Saturday. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Second to Fun-Mayah Walker-Taylor of Ezibu Muntu performs on the Eggleston Hotel Community Stage during the annual 2nd Street Festival in Jackson Ward. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second Street Festival-Dancer Mayah Walker Taylor, right, and drummer Zion Utsey, left, of Ezibu Muntu perform on the Eggleston Hotel Community Stage on Saturday, Oct. 4, during the annual 2nd Street Festival in Jackson Ward. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship. The MeLinda Ford Quartet performs at the Joe Kennedy, Jr. Jazz Stage, blending classic and contemporary jazz with smooth rhythms.(Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship. Members of Foxxc Steppaz, Twyleta Dabney, right, and Britney King, left, show off their synchronized stepping.

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship. A street party’s not a party without line dancing and Kemel Patton, known as the “the Line Dance King of RVA” moves the crowd. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Fun first at Second-Street Festival-The 2nd Street Festival marked its 37th anniversary Oct. 4-5, filling Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward with music, food and community spirit. The annual event celebrates the culture and legacy of Jackson Ward — once known as “the Harlem of the South” — and the neighborhood’s role as the heart of Richmond’s Black community. The free festival featured three stages of live entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, an Artists Row, and a marketplace showcasing local talent and craftsmanship. Brianna Royal and Davin Washington Jr. serve fried treats to a long line of customers at the Croaker’s Spot tent. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Cityscape slices of life and scenes in Richmond-CoStar Group’s new, 750,000-square-foot addition to its existing corporate campus overlooking the banks of the James River in downtown Richmond will feature a 26-story office tower and a six-story, multifunctional amenity building. CoStar’s expanded Richmond campus is expected to accommodate more than 3,000 CoStar employees in research, technology, operations, marketing and sales. It will also serve as a training site for the company’s fleet of drone pilots. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Taste of Armenia-Richmond’s oldest and longest-running food festival returned Friday, Oct. 3, as St. James Armenian Church on the corner of Patterson and Pepper hosted its annual Armenian Food Festival. The two-day event brought the community together for authentic Armenian cuisine, from savory kebabs to sweet pastries. The festival showcased not just food, but the warmth of a community keeping its rich cultural traditions alive. On Friday, Oct 3 Stella Bandazian and Seta Kupelian set out items sourced directly from Armenia to sell at the gift shop of the long-running food festival. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Taste of Armenia-Richmond’s oldest and longest-running food festival returned Friday, Oct. 3, as St. James Armenian Church on the corner of Patterson and Pepper hosted its annual Armenian Food Festival. The two-day event brought the community together for authentic Armenian cuisine, from savory kebabs to sweet pastries. The festival showcased not just food, but the warmth of a community keeping its rich cultural traditions alive. Avetik Topchyan performs traditional Armenian music with Hooshere and the VA Roonks. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Taste of Armenia-Richmond’s oldest and longest-running food festival returned Friday, Oct. 3, as St. James Armenian Church on the corner of Patterson and Pepper hosted its annual Armenian Food Festival. The two-day event brought the community together for authentic Armenian cuisine, from savory kebabs to sweet pastries. The festival showcased not just food, but the warmth of a community keeping its rich cultural traditions alive. Gro Hovhannsyan dances to music by the band Hooshere and the VA Roonks at the event. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Food as Function-The local food scene took center stage at The Function, a barbecue and fish fry at Charlotte’s Southern Deli celebrating Virginia’s culinary heritage and the talents of Black chefs. Organized by Charlotte’s owners Nikki Gregory and Paul Polk with local food writer James L. Ford III, the event showcased Southern traditions reimagined by some of the area’s most creative culinary voices. Leah Branch was among the featured chefs at the event in downtown Richmond. (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Food as Function-The local food scene took center stage at The Function, a barbecue and fish fry at Charlotte’s Southern Deli celebrating Virginia’s culinary heritage and the talents of Black chefs. Organized by Charlotte’s owners Nikki Gregory and Paul Polk with local food writer James L. Ford III, the event showcased Southern traditions reimagined by some of the area’s most creative culinary voices. Jason Muckle mixed cocktails at Charlotte’s Southern Deli.

Food as Function-The local food scene took center stage at The Function, a barbecue and fish fry at Charlotte’s Southern Deli celebrating Virginia’s culinary heritage and the talents of Black chefs. Organized by Charlotte’s owners Nikki Gregory and Paul Polk with local food writer James L. Ford III, the event showcased Southern traditions reimagined by some of the area’s most creative culinary voices. Guests enjoy plates of barbecue and fish during The Function at Charlotte’s Southern Deli, an event spotlighting Virginia’s food traditions and Black chefs. (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Dozens of educators, local lawmakers and community members rally to urge the Richmond School Board to reject a collective bargaining proposal. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Dozens of educators, local lawmakers and community members rally to urge the Richmond School Board to reject a collective bargaining proposal. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Dozens of educators, local lawmakers and community members rally to urge the Richmond School Board to reject a collective bargaining proposal. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Delegate Mike Jones of the 77th District speaks at a rally outside City Hall. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

New paddle hits court Professional pickleball player James Ignatowich visited Richmond’s Yello Club to debut new paddles from RPM Pickleball, where he serves as CEO and co-founder. Ignatowich, one of the sport’s highest-paid players and a top-10 athlete on the PPA Tour, led morning clinics offering instruction on game techniques. He later hosted a paddle demonstration and meet-and-greet. The Richmond stop preceded the PPA Fasenra Virginia Beach Cup tournament, where Ignatowich will compete through Sunday.

Honoring the Lost-On Oct. 2, 1925, a 200-foot section of Richmond’s Church Hill Tunnel collapsed during a railway upgrade, burying a work train and killing at least four men. Two laborers were never recovered, and the tunnel was later sealed, leaving the site unstable. On Oct. 2, the Friends of Jefferson Park and the Church Hill Association held a commemoration to honor those lost and mark a century since the tragedy. Richard Lee Bland and Bob Harrison, organizers of the 100th anniversary of the Church Hill Tunnel collapse, share a poster and reflect on their experiences.(Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring the Lost-On Oct. 2, 1925, a 200-foot section of Richmond’s Church Hill Tunnel collapsed during a railway upgrade, burying a work train and killing at least four men. Two laborers were never recovered, and the tunnel was later sealed, leaving the site unstable. On Oct. 2, the Friends of Jefferson Park and the Church Hill Association held a commemoration to honor those lost and mark a century since the tragedy. Multiple markers were placed along the sidewalk of Jefferson Park honoring the men who died in the Church Hill Tunnel collapse. (Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)