IN OUR FINAL EDITION – April/May 2021

As we bound into spring 2021, it really does feel like change – actually, renewal – is in the air.

The pandemic that has defined our world for the past year will, of course, continue to do so. But if ever there were a season to take the phrase "Discover Richmond" to heart, we seem to be entering it.

So in this edition, we highlight a natural gem that, oddly, is bounded in part by the busy interstates that traverse Richmond. Fortunately, Bryan Park doesn't let nearby traffic rob it of its charm, though it has had its share of bumps in the road. We take a look at the park's journey from seedy to special, which seems fitting in this moment of renaissance.

Still in the spirit of the outdoors, we check in on a remarkable little critter that has carved out quite a niche – and a very, very small one at that. We highlight beauty in a "bottle." We go back a century and pedal our way through another pandemic. And we take note of a now-retired teacher who has the Chesapeake Bay in his veins.

In other features, we spotlight the organization Jack and Jill, now in its eighth decade in Richmond of uniting Black mothers (and fathers) in developing social, cultural and educational enrichment for their children. And we visit Virginia State University's Randolph Farm, which has been a central element of the historically Black college's commitment to agriculture and education.