• Submit your poem here by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 16.
• Include a title + author’s name in your submission. Titles are an exception to the rule, and do not need to pull words from the newsletter.
• Poems, excluding title and author’s name, must be 75 words or less.

• While we’ve placed a pretty big limitation on your poem’s words, the form + direction is up to you — and we can’t wait to see what you all come up with.
• The Editorial team behind RICtoday will narrow submissions down to a group of finalists based on style, originality, artistic quality, and creativity. Finalists will be announced in our Friday, April 21 newsletter and we’ll ask our readers to vote for their favorite poem. The winner’s poem will be featured in our Wednesday, April 26 newsletter.
• Pro tip: To make the process easier on yourself, you can print out today’s issue, highlight the words you find most interesting, and cross them out as you include them in your poem.
• Don’t forget to keep track of your articles (words like “the” or “and”).

• UR Symphony Orchestra | Wednesday, Apr. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Modlin Center for the Arts Camp Concert Hall, 435 Westhampton Way, Richmond | Free | Enjoy the talents of the University’s largest music ensemble as they perform a varied program of classical repertoire.

• Pollyanna, Dollar Signs | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 6:30 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall, 623 E. Main St., Richmond | $15 | Pulses and Holdover will also play at this night of rock and power punk.
• Improv: Action Pack | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Coalition Theater, 8 W. Broad St., Richmond | $5-$10 | A team of veteran improvisers bring you a night of laughs with guest acts.

• After 5 Fridays: Quatro Na Bossa | Friday, Apr. 7 | 6-8 p.m. | VMFA, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Explore the museum and enjoy the sounds of the Brazilian Bossa Nova band in the atrium.
• Test Pattern 07: Holland Andrews | Friday, Apr. 7 | 7-10:30 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Experience work by the vocalist, composer, and performance artist.

• Spring Market | Saturday, Apr. 8 | 12 p.m. | The Answer Brewpub, 6008 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Shop from local vendors, enjoy beer pours, and fill up on Ato’s Sisig & Grill, Eat My Eggroll, and Noah’s Rockin’ Buns.

• Carytown Egg Hunt | Sunday, Apr. 9 | 12 p.m. | Carytown Shopping District, West Cary Street, Richmond | Free | Bring the family to hunt for eggs in local businesses and find treats and discounts inside.

• Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival | Sunday, April 30 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, 99 Harry M. Hallman Jr. Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC | Free | This festival pays tribute to Mount Pleasant’s local shrimping and fishing industry with a boat parade, live music, a shrimp eating contest, and activities with the Charleston Harbor for a backdrop.*

Fact or Fiction: Air filters only need to be changed once a year.

Fact or Fiction: Your HVAC system does not need to have a tune-up before you start using your air conditioning.

• 88º | Mostly sunny | 8% chance of rain

• The trickle down of special elections is over. The governor is not calling a special election to fill the former seat of Del. Lamont Bagby, recently elected to the Virginia Senate. Get more details. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Henrico, Goochland, and Hanover residents who recycle should look out for new 95-gallon carts to be delivered between May 15-June 30. Starting in July, all recyclables must be placed inside the official CVWMA carts for collection.

• If you live, work, or visit along the Route 60 corridor, Chesterfield County wants to hear from you. The county is trying to identify transportation needs and possible improvements in that area. Head to the website to learn about the study and submit your feedback.

• Up All Night Bakery is shifting its retail operation from Lakeside to its storefront in Bellevue. The bakery will maintain the Lakeside shop for wholesale production through this year. Both locations will be closed Monday, April 10-Friday, April 14 for the move.

• The neighborhood around Hardywood Park Craft Brewery near the future Diamond District is set to grow even more. A DC-based developer filed plans for a 314-unit building called The Porter. The new complex would rise near the corner of Ownby Lane and Hermitage Road. (Richmond BizSense)

• Get a preview of this month’s First Friday exhibit at a community mixer tomorrow from 5-8 p.m. at Gallery5 in Jackson Ward. The Downtown Neighborhood Association is hosting the party which promises snacks, drink specials, and live music by Classical Revolution RVA.

• The Byrd Theatre is hosting the first-ever Richmond Animation Festival on Sunday, April 30. An $8 ticket gets you access to the animated shorts program at 5 p.m. and the 7 p.m. screening of the feature film “Cryptozoo,” followed by a Q+A with the filmmakers.

• Maymont Farm is welcoming five new kids on the block plus three chicks this week. The baby goats are visiting from their Hanover home for a few weeks, while the little chicks will join Maymont’s flock. Meet the animals during normal hours or at the Dominion Energy Family Easter event this Saturday.

• The Altria and Carpenter theaters both made Pollstar’s 2023 Q1 list of top theaters. The Altria was placed at No. 26 in the world while the Carpenter Theatre came in No. 49 in the world. The two venues were the highest ranked in Virginia.

• In the market for a new job? Check out these open positions with Woodfin - Your Home Team. Bonus: See what a typical day is like for their plumbers.*

• Trying to talk someone into an April vacation? Just show them these hotel deals on Expedia. We love: The Islander Resort that’s on a private beach in the Florida Keys.

• $1.4 million towards a First Time Homebuyer’s Assistance program for city employees who want to live within city limits
• $650,000 to establish a Tuition Assistance Program
• $500,000 to continue the language incentive program for employees who provide multilingual services