Richmond's 2026 Boardwalk and More Famous Critters (Drunk Raccoon, Browns Island, AI artwork) #027

By Billy Briefman · December 12, 2025 · 1:10:02 read

Category: Arts & Culture

Show: Unscripted RVA

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Got thoughts? Send us a text here:

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10% OFF your next purchase at Point 5 in Carytown:

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In this episode we unpack the Browns Island closure and the proposed 2026 riverfront “boardwalk,” what it could fix, and where projects tend to stall in RVA.

We visit the recent viral drunk raccoon story and how it jumped to national outlets. The story of a raccoon busting his way into an Ashland/Hanover ABC store, ransacking its shelves and passing out drunk in its bathroom on Friday, Nov. 28 has garnered national attention. It’s inspired Virginia ABC advertisements, themed cocktail recipes, a mass scavenger hunt and even a pet election.

Most of all, a limited-time merchandise campaign has raised over $200,000 for the Hanover County Animal Protection Shelter as of the time of reporting.

Then: CoStar’s planned “digital skin” and the broader AI billboard debate in an arts town.

We zoom out to connecting downtown districts, Shockoe street upgrades, and the tension between adaptive reuse and clashy infill (including the Fairfax addition fight).

Then we take a nostalgic turn with Rewind Vintage (VHS, retro gaming) and a quick look at attention economics: why we still make long-form and how big shared moments fade. We close with the typical moon-landing debate :)

Keywords: Richmond VA, Browns Island boardwalk, CoStar screen, AI billboard, Shockoe street improvements, Fairfax addition, non-alcoholic options, Point 5, Rewind Vintage, VHS, retro gaming, long-form podcasts, moon landing debate.

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

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This podcast is produced by ⁠Vera House⁠ — a creative club and media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion creative expression, elevate culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern brands in Richmond.

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