Your picks for Richmond Monopoly

Richmond is getting an official Monopoly board

We couldn’t resist making a fantasy board with some reader suggestions. | Graphic and Mr. Monopoly photo by RICtoday, skyline photo by Stephen Poore

Everyone had thoughts for what deserves a space on the future Richmond Monopoly board.

Before we jump in, here’s how city-specific Monopoly games work.

Judging from the other Top Trumps city editions out there, the customized parts of the game are on the board itself. That said, we loved hearing all the ideas for game pieces and rule changes — so we’re sharing a few of our favorites anyway.

🏟 Properties

We heard a lot of love for museums (favorites included the VMFA, VMHC, and Science Museum), hotels (The Jefferson, Quirk), theaters (Carpenter, Altria, Hippodrome), and outdoor hot spots (Belle Isle, Pony Pasture, Maymont, Lewis Ginter).

VCU, UR, and VUU were mentioned frequently as a higher education trio. Landmarks like Main Street Station, the CSX A-Line Bridge, the Byrd Theatre, the Diamond, and the WTVR TV Tower all got mentions.

🚌 Game pieces

Who wouldn’t want to play as a sidewalk chicken bone? If that wouldn’t be your first pick, we also heard suggestions for a Pulse bus, tennis racket, canal boat, flying squirrel, electric scooter, clawfoot bathtub, and beagle (to honor Bagel).

🎲 Other changes

What if the free parking space were a free community fridge instead? A few people also threw out Hollywood Cemetery as a jail alternative — sounds like a spooky stay.

Instagram user @captain_infinitron suggested a familiar headache for a Chance card: “Nickel bridge toll ate all your change and didn’t register when you went through. Lose $500.”

Reminder: Send your location ideas to Top Trumps by Monday, March 20 so that they can include the best of Richmond in the new game.

What was the worst thing you ever bought? Why was it so bad?

Congratulations to Sarah M. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!

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Monday, March 13

Monday Mini Market | Monday, Mar. 13 | 6-9 p.m. | Crafted RVA, 4900-151 Libbie Mill E. Blvd., Richmond | Free entry | Sip and shop local décor, art, jewelry, and apparel.

Tuesday, March 14

Movie Mythbusting: “Apollo 13" | Tuesday, Mar. 14 | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual | RSVP | Watch the movie in advance and join the VMHC’s Justin Bartel for an interactive discussion on what’s truth and what’s fiction.

Wednesday, March 15

Local Author Talk: Richard Rose | Wednesday, Mar. 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. | RPL West End Branch, 5420 Patterson Ave., Richmond | Free | Local writer and composer Richard Rose will speak about his writing and read from his most recent works.

Thursday, March 16

Valentine Studio Design Preview | Thursday, Mar. 16 | 5-7 p.m. | The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond | Free | Registration is suggested to see this behind-the-scenes look at the sculpture studio reinterpretation.
A “Marvelous” Evening with Caroline Aaron | Thursday, Mar. 16 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Ave., Richmond | $40-$50 | The Richmond native, best known for her role in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” speaks to a hometown crowd.

Friday, March 17

Virginia Opera presents “La Traviata” | Friday, Mar. 17 | 8 p.m. | Dominion Energy Center Carpenter Theatre, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond | $23-$130 | One of opera’s most tragic love stories comes to Richmond.

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

50º | Rain | 64% chance of rain

Biz

The Byrd Theatre Foundation has a new executive director. Benjamin C. Cronly will replace Stacy Shaw, who held the position from June 2020 until this month. Cronly has worked as a financial and insurance advisor and volunteer for the foundation. (ABC8 News)

Sports

The Rams are dancing. VCU’s men’s basketball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament by winning the A-10 Championship with a 56-68 victory over Dayton. VCU is a No. 12 seed and will face No. 5 Saint Mary’s on Friday, March 17 in Albany, NY. 🏀

Eat

There’s a new food truck on the streets of Richmond. Cousins Maine Lobster, a national brand, now has a truck in the River City. Franchisees Yunus and Thameem Shahul plan to eventually operate six trucks around Virginia, DC, and Maryland. (Richmond BizSense)

Listen

Celebrate some of the best of Richmond music by voting for the Newlin Music Prize. The award will go to one album released in 2022 in the Richmond-Petersburg area. Listen to the short list, cast your vote, and (who knows?) find your next favorite artist. 🎶

Trending

Last week’s downtown-area power outage apparently coincided with the premiere of Austria’s Edgar Allan Poe-themed contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest. RVA Redditors shared the tweets between the contest and The Poe Museum, which had closed early that day.

Regional

A seventh-grader from Central Middle School in Charlotte County won the Times-Dispatch regional spelling bee last week. Joy-Den Wilson will now compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June. 🐝 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Today Is

National Napping Day. Yup, the best day ever. Shop our favorite sleepytime picks for a cool and comfy snooze like this kooky but effective eye mask and this cutting edge mattress topper with a water cooling system. 💤*

DYK

Fun local fact: La prima lattina di birra è stata confezionata e venduta a Richmond nel 1935. Find the translation of this fun fact in The Wrap at the bottom of our newsletter.*

Seasonal

Getting adjusted to daylight saving time? Take a sip from one of our coffee partners. Try Midnight Oil from Blanchard’s Coffee or Organic Matcha from Matcha Nude. We’re already feeling refreshed. ☕
To welcome the new season, our online store (Six & Main) is running a Spring Forward Contest. The winner + two friends will receive a prize from one of our coffee or tea brand partners. The contest is running now through Friday, March 24. Learn more on Instagram. 🌸

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Budget breakdown: Housing edition

Here’s a breakdown of Mayor Stoney’s budget proposal

See what’s the budget proposal says about the future of housing. | Photo by @j.will.photography, graphic by RICtoday

Mayor Levar Stoney introduced his budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 to City Council last Monday.

Before the public hearing on Monday, March 27, we’ll be digging deeper into a few areas of interest. Up first is housing.

The mayor’s proposal to contribute $10 million to affordable housing projects over the next five years is detailed in the FY 2024 Proposed Capital Improvements Plan.

For fiscal year 2024, the following line items are proposed:

$1.4 million to establish a first-time homebuyer fund for city employees who want to live within city limits
$500,000 to expand alternative housing programs
$800,000 for the Eviction Diversion Program

The budget also includes funds for homeless services. The mayor wants to hire another homeless services liaison and allocate $1.75 million towards a year-round emergency services shelter.

Next time, we’re talking education. Toss us your questions and we’ll try to get them answered.

THE WRAP

DYK, translated: The first ever can of beer was packaged and sold in Richmond in 1935. Brush up on your Italian skills with a subscription to Babbel (currently 60% off exclusively for RICtoday readers now through Sunday, March 19).*

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: If that Trending News Note left you scratching your head, no worries. Eurovision is still a niche event in the US, although it’s gaining popularity. Check out each country’s entry for the May contest on the official YouTube page. 🎶

Missed our last newsletter? Get the tricks of the plumbing trade.

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Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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