Plus, debut novel out from local author
 
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Did we just become best friends?

How to make friends in Richmond
RICtoday_KeepVirginiaCozy_Volunteers
Meet new friends and clean up local neighborhoods by volunteering with Keep Virginia Cozy. | Photo via Keep Virginia Cozy
Whether you just moved to the 804 or have been here all your life, it might seem hard to meet new people. Here are some local tips and tricks to get out and make friends in the River City.

Our suggestions are based on finding new friends through your passions and interests — so even if you don’t meet your BFFL (best friend for life), you’ll still likely have a good time.

three small dachshunds joyously sprinting towards the camera

Human and pup friendships can be formed at Richmond Dachshund Meetup Group — one of dozens of social organizations in Richmond.

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Photo via Dachtoberfest

Social Clubs

The website Meetup can be a useful tool to find local groups. In Richmond, there are groups for different interests — cinema, running, game development, community service — as well as identity groups, like older adult clubs and organizations for women.

River City Sports & Social Club is one of the larger clubs for adult recreational sports. Leagues include basketball, bowling, cornhole, dodgeball, and skee-ball, depending on the season. You can form your own team or — to meet new people — register as a free agent and get placed on one.

Bonus: If you’re looking to make connections through business rather than socially, we’ve got you. Check out these networking groups.

RICtoday_PickleballCourts_BryanPark

If you’ve got one pal, there are typically other pairs looking for a friendly face-off on the pickleball courts.

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Photo by RICtoday

Classes

You can develop a skill and find people with similar interests by enrolling in a class or program.

Try your hand at loom weaving, pickleball, aerobics and more through Richmond Parks and Recreation’s programming. Pro tip: Follow the Instagram to see when new classes are announced and open for registration.

Multi-week classes at Visual Arts Center of Richmond can also be a fun way to learn something new and build relationships with classmates over a longer period of time.

Find even more options based on your interests with our guide to classes for adults.
Events
Thursday, Jan. 11
  • Moon Hooch | Thursday, Jan. 11 | 7 p.m. | The Broadberry, 2729 W. Broad St., Richmond | $21 | The three-piece Brooklyn band will play with local act Kenneka Cook.
  • “Clue” | Thursday, Jan. 11 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $9 | The cast of this mystery movie board game-inspired includes Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Lesley Ann Warren.
Friday, Jan. 12
  • A Tribute to Gospel Legend Richard Smallwood | Friday, Jan. 12-Saturday, Jan. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond | $15-$86 | Dr. Henry Panion III conducts this tribute to the Grammy-winning arranger with community choirs.
  • Breaking the Chain | Friday, Jan. 12 | 9-11:59 p.m. | River City Roll, 939 Myers St., Richmond | Free entry | Rock out at this tribute to Stevie Nicks fronted by Desiray Lorain.
Saturday, Jan. 13
  • “Saviors” Listening Event | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 5 p.m. | Plan 9 Music, 3017 W. Cary St., Richmond | Free | Be among the first to hear the new Green Day album, plus score freebies and merch.
  • UR Men’s Basketball vs. George Mason | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 6 p.m. | Robins Center, 365 College Rd., Richmond | $15-$32 | See the Spiders take on the Patriots at this home game.
Sunday, Jan. 14
  • SwapMeet RVA | Sunday, Jan. 14 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main St., Richmond | $5 | Kids get in free for this vintage flea market with jewelry, decor, candles, treats, and more.
  • Celebrate MLK | Sunday, Jan. 14 | 3 p.m. | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond | $10-$86 | This all-ages concert honoring Martin Luther King Jr. will include renditions of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “March from Montgomery Variations,” and “We Shall Overcome.”
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
News Notes
Arts
  • A new exhibition opens at The Walls tomorrow at 6 p.m. “Inherent Vice” includes paintings featuring botanical and anatomical imagery by Naomi McCavitt, aka Thicket Design. Pro tip: Find the gallery inside The Steele Group | Sotheby’s International Realty building in the Fan.
Drink
  • Roastology has announced that it will move to a new location in Scott’s Addition. The address has yet to be announced, but the coffee shop expects to open its doors before March 1.
Biz
  • Crescent Simples, a local simple syrup business, is moving into the former Bryant’s Hard Cider location in Shockoe Bottom. Megan and William Miller started Crescent in 2019 and have been operating out of incubator space Hatch Kitchen. (Richmond BizSense)
Read
  • Local author Rachel McRady’s debut novel, “Sun Seekers” came out this week. The book follows a family as they navigate grief and a struggle with dementia. Meet McRady at a launch event at Book People on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. (Style Weekly)
Eat
  • Natalie’s Taste of Lebanon is launching a new concept to host various wine dinners and pop-ups. The first edition of Voyage at Natalie’s will bring Thai pop-up Nam Prik Pao to the Stratford Hills restaurant on Monday, Jan. 15. Tickets are still available.
Watch
  • A VCUarts alum will attempt to outwit, outplay, and outlast 17 other castaways on the upcoming season of “Survivor.” Tevin Davis is from Goochland and graduated with a BFA in Theatre Performance in 2021.
Awards
  • Voting is still open for the 2024 RVA Sports Awards. Cast your vote for athlete, team, coach, and moment of the year — plus even more — before Monday, Jan. 15.
Read
  • Have too many books? There’s probably no such thing. But if you want to part with a few, Shelf Life Books has brought back its walk-in buy back program. Check what they’re looking for and you could get cash or store credit.
Travel
  • Start your next international trip at Chesterfield County Public Library. The Clover Hill branch is now an official Passport Acceptance Facility, meaning you can submit your application, get your picture taken, and pay necessary fees at the library. Appointments start on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Plan Ahead
  • Mark your calendar for a Keep Virginia Cozy event on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. Meet at Hatch Local Food Hall to help clean up Hull Street and Shockoe Bottom near the Richmond Slave Trail in honor of Black History Month.
Fun Fact
  • Did you know 38,000 of you welcome us into your inbox every morning? We’re asking you to take two minutes to tell us more about yourself so we can continue to write about things you find interesting. One lucky RIC survey participant will win $500. Take the survey.
Health
  • Anxiety can make every day a challenge. Connect with a therapist on BetterHelp + take the first step towards a calmer mind. Save 25% with BetterHelp’s New Year offer.*
 
Awards

🏆 Richmond’s got Good Food

Richmond businesses land Good Food Awards
RICtoday_Afterglow_Coffee_ScottsAddition
Afterglow won for Pygmies Lot, a coffee from SOPACDI co-op in Democratic Republic of the Congo. | Photo by RICtoday
Four Richmond-area businesses are among the winners of the 2024 Good Food Awards. The national awards recognize specific products from small businesses in 18 different categories.

The categories include beer, preserves, confections, snacks, and more. Richmond’s winners were recognized in the coffee, cider, spirits, and elixirs categories.

☕️ Afterglow Coffee Cooperative
The worker-owned roastery won for Pygmies Lot, from SOPACDI co-op in the Republic of the Congo.

🐝 Blue Bee Cider
Three of Blue Bee’s ciders came away with the Good Food label: Harvest Ration, Hewe’s Crab, and Harrison.

🍅 Texas Beach
This River City brand makes Bloody Mary Mix that can be found at several local grocery stores, incuding Union Market, Stella’s Grocery, Libbie Market, and Little House Green Grocery.

🍊 MOTHER Shrub
Based in Midlothian, MOTHER Shrub was lauded for its Grapefruit Drinking Vinegar.
The Buy

The Buy 1.11.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A candle warmer lamp. It slowly heats your candle from the top down, giving you all the fragrance without an open flame and making candles last longer.
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The Wrap
 
Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin
From the editor
If you still have to get rid of your Christmas tree — or if you have paper, electronics, or household hazardous waste you’d like to dispose of — here’s your reminder that the city’s Bring One for the Chipper event is this Saturday. Get all the details.
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