Laura Lee

Contributor at Richmond Magazine (US)

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Articles

Bad Date

1 month ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

Like most high school seniors, Vee Pressley of Deep Run High School in Glen Allen couldn’t wait to attend prom. But when the invitations went out, her heart sank. Prom was scheduled for April 12 — Passover — and she would have to miss out. “Passover is the most important holiday for our family,” says Pressley, who is Jewish. “Every year, I go to Florida to celebrate with my grandparents, my great aunt and my cousins.
Pull up a Seat

1 month ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

No buts about it — Americans are getting bigger. Richmond’s historic Byrd Theatre is making modern moviegoers more comfortable with its Pull up a Seat campaign, raising funds to replace all of its remaining original 19-inch seats with larger, cozier versions. The average male in America weighs 60 more pounds today and is two inches taller than in 1928, when the theater first opened. The average American female weighs 50 more pounds and is a half-inch taller.
Spirited Away

1 month ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

Summer is still months away, and schools are trying everything to keep our students engaged. My social media feed was recently filled with elementary school kids dressed as 100-year-olds to celebrate the 100th day of the school year. Some of them really got into it, donning wigs or powdered-gray hair, wearing spectacles, and using canes and walkers.
The A-List

1 month ago | richmondmagazine.com | Kim Catley |Laura Lee |Diane McMartin |Joan Tupponce

From the dress to the caterer, you made your voices heard by voting in 101 categories for your top local wedding professionals. The 2024 results include multi-year winners alongside new vendors making their mark. No matter how long they’ve been helping couples in RVA, these businesses and individuals work tirelessly to make matrimonial dreams come true.
Natural Mystique

1 month ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

Empty nesters Chris and Christy Davoud wanted to incorporate their love of nature into the new home they were building in Midlothian’s Canterbury Farms neighborhood. “Chris is a very outdoorsy guy and loves to hunt and fish, and Christy is the perfect fit with him,” says Lauren Utsch, owner of Lauren Christopher Designs. While Utsch says Chris gives her “Yellowstone” vibes, they steered away from the masculine lodge aesthetic that’s featured on the Paramount network TV series.
Bring your kids to 'Peter and the Wolf'

1 month ago | enquirerjournal.com | Laura Lee

MONROE, N.C. — The Union Symphony has teamed up with the Union County Playmakers for a fresh take on the children’s classic, “Peter and the Wolf," this spring. The show is at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Dowd Center Theater, 120 S. Main St., Monroe. Symphony artistic director Deanna Tham breathed new life into “Peter and the Wolf” by collaborating with the Union County Playmakers.
Sunday Story: Leading Lady

2 months ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

Fans of Patricia Cornwell’s crime novels can soon watch their favorite forensic pathologist on television. This month, Amazon Prime Video will wrap up production of “Scarpetta,” starring Nicole Kidman as the brilliant and compassionate Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Scarpetta’s character was inspired by a local legend: Virginia’s first woman chief medical examiner, Dr. Marcella F. Fierro. “Without a doubt, I would not have created a female medical examiner if not for Marcella,” Cornwell says.
Breaking the Mold

2 months ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

It’s a cliche, and it’s also true: Children really are the future. Every generation has a chance to make its mark, but at some point, the next generation will advance with new philosophies, concerns and approaches. So how do we prepare our children for their time as leaders? We checked in with four local independent schools to see how they approach a monumental task. Lynnhaven School opened in 2012 with a mission of education centered on an acronym: PBL.
Public Knowledge

2 months ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

Gov. Linwood Holton founded the Virginia Governor’s School program in 1973 for students who excel in academics and the arts. Funded by the General Assembly, governor’s schools are known for small-group instruction, hands-on experiences and demanding academics. Of the state’s 40 programs, two year-round options are located in the Richmond region. Each year, 1,200 incoming freshmen compete for just 190 spots at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies.
Roll the Credits

2 months ago | richmondmagazine.com | Laura Lee

Richmond plays a role in some of this year’s most anticipated shows and movies — whether it’s “Scarpetta,” starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, or “Atlantis,” the semi-autobiographical musical by Pharrell Williams.