12.07.2023

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Today’s Forecast

49º | Sunny | 5% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:24 a.m. | Sunset 5:07 p.m.

Where to take your holiday visitors

Where to take visitors in Richmond

Richmond has plenty of great places to take visitors. | Photo by @cwclarke_photos

The winter holiday season is here, and for many folks that means travel. For others, that means hosting visitors.

If you have family or friends to entertain this holiday season, look no further than this guide to River City fun. Your guests will be asking themselves why they haven’t just moved here already.

🍻 Drink

You can find a delicious local beverage for any time of day. Fueling up for a day of exploration is easy in a town overflowing with coffee shops. And, if later in the day you find yourself craving a local brew, Richmond’s got you there, too.

An RICtoday sticker held in front of a Hardywood brewery glass — Richmond’s known for its local beer and coffee.
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Photo by RICtoday

🍕 Eat

Start your day with local brunch, or grab a slice on the go from one of the city’s numerous pizzerias. Craving a burger? Richmond’s got the best in the country. If a member of your group is vegetarian or vegan, fear not — there’s no shortage of options in town for a meatless foodie.

🛝 Family fun

Looking for kid-friendly things to do around town? Educational destinations like the Children’s Museum, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the VMFA can be fun for all ages. If the great outdoors is more your style, try one of the Richmond area’s expansive parks.

A photo of the James River Park System trails on a sunny day — Even in the coldest time of the year, the James River Park System has no shortage of beautiful trails to explore.
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Photo by RICtoday

🪩 Hit the town

It’s not hard to show your guests everything Richmond has to offer without breaking the bank. Spend the day wandering the city’s endless thrift stores, then head out and see a show — there’s no need to spend a fortune on tickets to see a great concert. Or, if you’re feeling brainy, take your pick of local trivia spots.

Did we miss anything? Where are your favorite spots to bring visitors to Richmond? Give us your recommendations.

Let us know

Events

Thursday, Dec. 7

Blues Night | Thursday, Dec. 7 | 6-10 p.m. | Strangeways Brewing, 3110 W. Leigh St., Richmond | Cost of purchase | Enjoy a local brew and some blues.
“You’ve Got Mail” | Thursday, Dec. 7 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $8 | See the classic rom-com starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan on the big screen.

Friday, Dec. 8

Drawing: Portraits with Contrast | Friday, Dec. 8 | 5-7 p.m. | VMFA, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | $20 | Teens aged 13-17 can learn how to effectively apply value and shading using black and white drawing media to draw high-contrast, expressive portraits.
Richmond Ballet Presents “The Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond | $25+ | Join Clara on a magical journal to the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Saturday, Dec. 9

18th Century Chocolate Making Demonstrations | Saturday, Dec. 9-Saturday, Dec. 30 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Join the VMHC every Saturday in December on a journey through history and discover the ways in which chocolate was prepared and enjoyed in 18th-century Virginia.*

Sunday, Dec. 10

RTA Run-A-Latke | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 9:30 a.m. | Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Ave., Richmond | $25-$45 | Sign up for the 1 Miler or 5K and enjoy a post-race party with hot chocolate, donuts, and latkes.
UR Women’s Basketball vs. Appalachian State | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2 p.m. | Robins Center, 365 College Rd., Richmond | $7 | Cheer on the Spiders as they take on the Mountaineers.

Monday, Dec. 11

Monday Movie Night: “Ice Age” | Monday, Dec. 11 | 4:30-6 p.m. | RPL Broad Rock Branch, 4820 Old Warwick Rd., Richmond | Free | Bring the family for a movie, popcorn, and drinks.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Family

Richmond Athletics Spider Kids Club offering three membership tiers this athletic season

Spiders Kids Club members enjoying themselves at a signing event, courtesy of Richmond Athletics.

Spider Kids Club is a great way for kids to get involved with Richmond Athletics. | Photo provided by Richmond Athletics

Good news, RIC: Richmond Athletic’s Spider Kids Club is back this year, with three membership tier options for kids to enjoy in the 2023-24 school year. Tier options include Spiderlings ($20), Spiders ($35), and WebstUR Jr. ($50).

Each tier includes additional perks, but all Spider Kids Club members enjoy:

Complimentary tickets
Giveaway entries
Birthday parties
Member T-shirts, and more

Kids 13 and under are eligible to join the Spider Kids Club, with memberships lasting through July 30, 2024.

See all membership perks

News Notes

Holiday

This evening marks the beginning of Hanukkah — the Jewish Festival of Lights. Celebrate at the Short Pump Hanukkah Party this Saturday, Dec. 9 or strap on some skates at next weekend’s Chanukah on Ice.

Coming Soon

A legal cannabis dispensary is replacing an ABC store in the Laburnum Park Shopping Center. The Cannabist Co. — the Richmond area’s only legal marijuana dispensary — is coming to the eastern Henrico shopping center some time next year. (Richmond BizSense)

Arts

The VMFA has begun the process of repatriating 44 ancient art pieces that were stolen from their nations of origin. The museum parted with the pieces after law enforcement provided “irrefutable evidence” that the pieces had been looted. (VPM)

Traffic

Plans from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority show that two major traffic chokepoints are slated for improvement. Route 288 and Staples Mill are on the docket to receive highway shoulders and an additional lane, respectively. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Try This

Take in the holiday lights this year via an N.E.V. — that’s Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. RVA in a Day, a new green-energy powered tour company, has launched with a tacky light tour around the River City.

State

Local governments will now have to work together to coordinate water supply on a regional level, thanks to new regulations from Virginia’s State Water Control Board. Under the new requirements, plans must account for current water sources, water use, and environmental conditions. (Virginia Mercury)

Pets

Step one of your dog’s wellness journey: Nom Nom. The vet nutritionist-developed meals are perfectly portioned for a vibrant, joyful life. Get 50% off your first order.*

Asked

In search of a $12 lunch

What’s your favorite cheap lunch in Richmond?

New York Deli has been a Richmond lunch staple for almost a century. | Photo by RICtoday

Richmond has an abundance of high-quality local eats — that much isn’t up for debate. Now we’re on the hunt for the city’s best fast, cheap lunches. The sort of place you can swing by on your lunch break and spend less than $12.

When we’re looking for new spots to dig in, our readers never fail to point us in the right direction. So we’re asking you — where’s your favorite spot to grab lunch for under 12 bucks? Point us in the right direction — bonus points if you give us some menu recommendations while you’re at it.

Give us the scoop

The Buy

The Buy 12.07.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The best sunglasses for people on our gift list who love being outside. Bonus: They’re 20% off today.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

Full disclosure — today’s lead story came from me assembling a list of places to take my grandparents when they visit in a few weeks. Top of my personal list? A bagel from Nate’s, a stroll through Byrd Park, and a trip to Congregation Beth Ahabah‘s archives.

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