by Noah Maggin The sign hangs proudly, centered above the bar, in the tornado of commotion within Mama J’s Kitchen. “Welcome to our home,” it reads, “where great memories are made with family and friends.” What better way to comfort diners and encourage them to feel at home? Opened in 2009, Mama J’s truly Read more about Just the Way Mama J Envisioned[…]
by Noah Maggin Imagine strolling down the Deuce on a sweltering Saturday night in the summer of 1935, and ducking into the hottest club south of the Mason-Dixon line: Richmond’s Hippodrome Theater. Soothing jazz emanates from the theater’s front doors as locals and visitors line the sidewalk, eager to witness the artistic virtuosity of legendary Read more about The Cultural Heart of Jackson Ward[…]
by Noah Maggin During Jackson Ward’s heyday as the so-called Harlem of the South, the Hippodrome Theater on Second Street brought Richmonders together with stars of African-American culture, providing welcome relief from the day-to-day grind of the early 20th century. After catching fire in 1945, the Hippodrome was revived and then fell on Read more about Restoring the Hipp[…]