I’ve been wanting ahead to engaged on the Finest & Worst concern since I joined Richmond journal final yr. I favor to assist small companies at any time when attainable, so I recognize having a concise, well-organized listing of native favorites. (Typically the web provides too many choices, you already know?) And it’s satisfying to highlight practically 600 entrepreneurs and their companies; the range and character of their contributions make Richmond distinctive.
Plus, each metropolis journal within the nation has a “finest” listing, however we’re one of many few cheeky sufficient to showcase the “worst,” too. It’s a chance to blow off steam and poke a bit enjoyable, in addition to be aware our readers’ day-to-day gripes, which we’d be capable of deal with in a extra significant method down the street. After all, there’s a distinction between saucy and callous, so the listing doesn’t deal with systemic points corresponding to racism, inequality, homelessness and gun violence that plague our metropolis and plenty of others — however you might be certain we have now articles within the works to shine gentle on these rather more critical matters as properly.
After years of difficulties associated to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m glad to see that the scenario provided a blooming alternative to a bunch of businesspeople: flower farmers. It seems that world provide chain issues offset decades-old laws and made it simpler and extra inexpensive to buy native for flowers, so space farmers acquired an sudden enhance in enterprise (Web page 78).
As at all times, there’s a lot extra within the concern. Fulfill your summer time meals cravings with our end-of-season eating information (Web page 206), number of sides sized for a crowd (Web page 216) and listing of locations to seek out rum-forward drinks (Web page 217). Distract your self from the canine days with festivals, live shows, reveals and expos, plus a novel tackle a metropolis tour (Web page 56) — or get out of city altogether (Web page 70). For these already considering summer time’s finish, our Personal Colleges Information (Web page 161) highlights faculty information, provides recommendation for selecting a faculty and features a listing of native choices.
Lastly, a particular due to everybody who voted within the Finest & Worst survey and the entire companies who promoted it. Share your ideas about Finest & Worst, or the rest, by emailing editor [at] richmag [dot] com.