Breaking down the numbers

• The cost of living is 13% higher in Baltimore.
• To maintain our standard of living, we would need to bring in $56,549 to our Charm City household.
• The median cost for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,823, which is $540 more than Richmond.

• 2023 Bizarre Market | Friday, Dec. 1 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Visual Arts Center of Richmond, 1812 W. Main St., Richmond | Free entry | Richmond’s much-loved handmade pop-up shop has gifts for everyone.
• VCU Men’s Basketball vs. Norfolk State | Friday, Dec. 1 | 7-9 p.m. | Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St., Richmond | $25-$30 | The Rams battle the Spartans at home.

• RVA Krampus Walk | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Aquarian Bookshop, 12 S. Thompson St., Richmond | Free | The 11th annual Krampusnacht walk through Carytown starts at Aquarian with a costume contest and apple cider donuts.

• Caroling in Monroe Park and Holiday Market | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 3-6 p.m. | Monroe Park, 8 N. Laurel St., Richmond | Free | GHTC Choir, The Hood Temple, RVA Street Singers, and The Greater Richmond Children’s Choir will perform with VCU Brass.

• Classics and Cocoa in the Courtyard | Monday, Dec. 4 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Richmond’s First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave., Richmond | Free | Enjoy cocoa, cider, and s’mores by the firepit, plus “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

• VCU Women’s Basketball vs. Le Moyne | Tuesday, Dec. 5 | 6 p.m. | Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St., Richmond | $5-$10 | The Rams face the Dolphins at home.

• Movie Matinees: “Book Club” | Wednesday, Dec. 6 | 2-5 p.m. | RPL West End Branch, 5420 Patterson Ave., Richmond | Free | Head to the library for snacks and a screening of this lighthearted film starring Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen.

• Broad Street Mexican restaurant Lalo’s Cocina has closed. A sign posted on their door thanked the community for nine years in operation, but said that lagging business and rising inflation proved too much to stay open. Affiliated eateries Chicano’s Cocina, the Patron, and Two Compadres remain open.

• The LEGO Group has awarded $1 million in grants to six local nonprofit organizations: Blue Sky Fund, Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Metro Richmond, James River Association, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, SOAR365, and YMCA of Greater Richmond. LEGO is in the midst of building its $1 billion factory in Chesterfield. (Richmond Family Magazine)

• Barrio Taqueria & Tequila has been sold to the owner of 3 Monkeys, which is right down the street. Richmond Restaurant Group has owned the Barrio building since 2007, trying out three concepts in the space. (Richmond BizSense)

• The Poe Museum will host a 215th birthday party for the iconic poet on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 4 to 10 p.m. Tickets are available for the event, which will feature live music from The Coldharts, the Charles Owens Trio, and the Embalmers.

• Starting on Friday, Dec. 15, Studio Two Three’s Scott’s Addition space will be available to rent for events. The cost of hosting an event at Studio Two Three will go to support the non-profit studio and print shop, which recently moved into its new space in Manchester.

• The dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay is currently the smallest it’s been since the state began monitoring it in 1985. A dead zone is a space that, due to debris and agricultural runoff, doesn’t get enough oxygen to support marine life. ODU researchers attribute the change largely to low rainfall. (VPM)