Holly McDedeContributor

Dec 11, 2024 | richmondside.org | Holly J. McDede |Holly McDedeContributor

On a recent Tuesday, dozens of elementary school students at Richmond’s Nystrom Elementary flooded into the cafeteria for lunch. Some kids were twirling in circles or dancing, others were munching on apples before they even sat down. The were loud, excited, and ready to eat. On the menu — meat or vegetarian lasagna paired with garlic focaccia breadsticks made by a local bakery.

Oct 24, 2024 | richmondside.org | Joel Umanzor |Holly J. McDede |Holly McDedeContributor

A new street vendor food plaza aimed at legitimizing unregulated sellers celebrates its official launch downtown today. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for noon today at the city parking lot on Macdonald between15th Street and Marina Way. The pilot program informally launched on Sept. 21 and is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the city’s website. Vendors can also sell at the city’s Civic Center and Marina Bay Farmers Markets.

Oct 8, 2024 | richmondside.org | Holly J. McDede |Holly McDedeContributor

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, dozens of community members took turns painting a Richmond street bright purple. The result was a large-scale street mural on Bissell Avenue in front of RYSE, a space for young people to learn, heal and organize. The initiative, which took place on Sept. 17, National Voter Registration Day, was part of the nonprofit organization’s broader call-to-action, with the election just weeks away, for voters to consider the needs and wants of young people.

Oct 3, 2024 | richmondside.org | Holly J. McDede |Holly McDedeContributor

While other East Bay cities like Berkeley and Oakland have held “restaurant week” events for at least a decade, Richmond has celebrated just a single day of restaurant deals in recent years. That’s all about to change as restaurants across Richmond prepare for a full seven-day spotlight in 2024. Richmond is finally getting its own Restaurant Week as Taste of Richmond – an annual event celebrating Richmond culinary traditions that typically lasts a single day – is expanding. From Oct.

Oct 2, 2024 | richmondside.org | Holly J. McDede |Holly McDedeContributor

This is the third in a series of stories about the three Richmond City Council voting districts that will elect council members Nov. 5. Richmondside reporters walked around the neighborhoods conducting impromptu interviews of voters. (Read District 1 and District 6 at these links.) For more, see our local elections page. Voters in Richmond’s City Council District 5 will be electing a political newcomer to succeed longtime Richmond politician Gayle McLaughlin, who opted not to run.