The countdown is (almost) complete

Countdown the holiday season in Richmond with our December calendar

Happy (early) New Year, Richmond. We’re ready to take a week off for some rest and relaxation — but we couldn’t end the year without wrapping up our December countdown.

Since the first of the month, we’ve been rolling out little gifts to readers in the form of local trivia, can’t-miss events, and digital keepsakes.

RICtoday_DecemberCountdown_Week5 — Happy New Year, Richmond.

Sagittarius season has (regretfully) come to an end, and December will be over soon as well. But before 2023 begins, we’ve got six more days of gifts.

Click the button below to unveil next week’s surprises. Bonus: If you haven’t been keeping up with our countdown, there’s a month of presents waiting for you.

GOODBYE 2022

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Dec. 23

Richmond Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 23 | 7 p.m. | Dominion Energy Center Carpenter Theatre, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond | $25-$130 | This year’s production features brand new scenery, a new dance, and refreshed costumes.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

“Die Hard” | Tuesday, Dec. 27, Saturday, Dec. 31 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $8 | See the Bruce Willis action movie on the big screen.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Winter Break Wednesdays | Wednesday, Dec. 28 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | $0-$10 | Bring the kids to make winter-themed crafts, inspect artifacts, and explore Virginia history.

Thursday, Dec. 29

The Infamous Stringdusters | Thursday, Dec. 29-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | The National, 708 E. Broad St., Richmond | $33 | The bluegrass band will bring down the house with Kendall Street Company.

Friday, Dec. 30

2022 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival | Friday, Dec. 30 | 5-10 p.m. | Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. 3rd St., Richmond | $5-$7 | Join in one of the largest Kwanzaa celebrations on the East Coast with the Elegba Folklore Society.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

45º | Rain/Wind | 85% chance of rain
Today’s arctic cold front will bring significant cold temperatures and high winds throughout the weekend. The city’s Dept. of Emergency Communications is warning Richmonders to stay off roads as much as possible; wind gusts could reach 55 mph today.

Development

Five development teams submitted responses to the city’s Request for Interest for the first phase of the City Center Innovation District project. An evaluation panel will review the submissions and invite a select number of teams to respond to a Request for Offers in winter 2023.

Civic

Voters in Virginia’s 4th District will decide between Democrat Jennifer McClellan and Republican Leon Benjamin in the special election scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21. McClellan beat State Senator Joe Morrissey in a Firehouse Primary that saw ~27,900 votes cast. 🗳

Read

The semi-annual Friends of RPL book sale returns in January. On Friday, Jan. 6, stop by the Main Library from 7-9 p.m. for half-price books. The next day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., bring your own bag and fill it for only $10 (teachers with school IDs only pay $5).

Pets

Is your furry friend photogenic? Submit a picture of your pet by Saturday, Dec. 31 to Gallery5’s “Best in Show” contest for the chance to win a custom pet portrait commission. The entry fee is $5. All submitted pictures will be displayed in the gallery for the public to vote on. 🐶

Film

Submit a 60-second film to the Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities and you could be included in the 60 Second Short Film Fest. Entries are due Sunday, Jan. 1. The festival will take place at Pine Camp Theater on Saturday, May 13. 🎥

History

Did you know there are 229 National Historic Places in Richmond? Buildings, objects, sites, and districts all across the city are worthy of preservation. Contact your State Historic Preservation Office if you’ve got a tip on an unsurveyed historic place.

DYK

In a recent list, Virginia was ranked No. 7 for number of trees harvested and distributed from local Christmas tree farms — which means your friends and family on the other side of the country could very well have a Virginian tree in their home this year. 🎄 (Stacker)

Drink

Scrambling to find a last minute gift? Enter: Flaviar — a subscription for those who love premium spirits. Send loved ones a gift subscription and they’ll have the opportunity to taste new, rare, and limited edition spirits of their choice each month. 🥃*

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Taking a break

We loved writing about Richmond in 2022. | Photo by @j.will.photography

As we sit down to our laptops for the last time in 2022, it’s nice to reflect back on the year behind us and be thankful for all the great stories we were able to write.

From sampling scoops at 10 local ice cream shops to breaking down the city budget, we had fun sharing this wonderful city with you. Thank you for being a reader of RICtoday.

We will be taking a break next week, catching our breath and spending time with friends and family. Your next regularly scheduled newsletter will hit your inbox Jan. 4, 2023. We hope you’re able to step away as well. And if you find yourself with some downtime, here are a few ways to get out there and explore Richmond:

Donate your time or skills by volunteering with a local nonprofit
Shop at a year-round farmers market
Learn how to spot local wildlife or native plants around Richmond

Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

– Robin

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: Since I won’t be writing another newsletter until next year, I’ll take this opportunity to say happy holidays, happy New Year, and thank you for reading RICtoday in 2022. ✨

Missed Wednesday’s newsletter? Tell us what you want to read about in 2023.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Sarah Leonhardt, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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