Plus, tribute bands + ice cream parlors
 
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Today’s Forecast

97º | 15% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:14 a.m. | Sunset 8:17 p.m.
 

🐤 The Duck Race is back

The RVA Duck Race returns for 2024
A photo of hundreds of rubber ducks floating together in the Brown's Island canal
The Richmond Duck Race returns to the canal on Saturday, Aug. 3. | Photo via Sweet Talk Strategy
The RVA Duck Race and Festival of Inclusion will return to Brown’s Island this weekend. Over 18,000 rubber ducks will be dropped into the canal and cheered on as they float to the finish line. The winning duck’s owner will receive $10,000.

The party starts Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Autism Society of Central Virginia.

The first 10 ducks to cross the finish line will earn prizes, including a $1,000 Wawa gift card, a $250 Wegmans gift card, a one-year membership to Flagstop Car Wash’s RVA Wash Club, and VIP experiences with the Kickers and the Flying Squirrels.

You can purchase ducks online, and you don’t have to be present at the race to win. The more ducks you buy, the cheaper they are each — and the better your chances of taking home a prize.

A photo of hundreds of rubber ducks floating down a canal.

The owner of the first-finishing duck will receive a $10,000 prize.

|

Photo via Sweet Talk Strategy

In addition to the faux-fowl regatta, the event will feature Virginia’s largest sensory-friendly festival. The Festival of Inclusion, now in its third year, is designed to include and accommodate individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Eight zones spread across the festival will feature different sensory-friendly experiences for participants to enjoy. Options will include the Creation Zone, the Movement Zone, and the Expression Zone. Plan your day ahead of time and read the full list of each zone with its corresponding activities.
 
Events
Thursday, Aug. 1
  • Eviction Defense Center | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 2-5 p.m. | RPL Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St., Richmond | Free | Get guidance and learn how to use the Virginia Poverty Law Center’s new online Eviction Defense Center.
  • Flowers After 5 | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 5-8 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond | $0-$20 | Join Jackass Flats for an evening of country tunes.
Friday, Aug. 2
  • Manchester Manifest First Fridays | Friday, Aug. 2 | 5 p.m.-12 a.m. | Southside Contemporary Art Gallery, 1309 Hull St., Richmond | Free entry | Take in live music and art, shop local businesses, and enjoy food trucks at this monthly celebration in Manchester.
  • Abram’s Bridge | Friday, Aug. 2 | 9-11:55 p.m. | Brambly Park, 1708 Belleville St., Richmond | Cost of purchase | See the local tribute band perform all of The Boss’s biggest hits, live staples, and deep cuts.
Saturday, Aug. 3
  • 16th Annual Citywide Back to School Rally | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Martin Luther King, Jr. MS, 1800 Mosby St., Richmond | Free | Richmond students and teachers can get free supplies at this summer fest hosted by Northside Coalition for Children.
  • Little Raven Reading Hour | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 10:30-11 a.m. | The Poe Museum, 1914-16 E. Main St., Richmond | $10 | Students grades 1-5 are invited to the Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden for a morning storytime and crafts.
Sunday, Aug. 4
  • Richmond Reggae Wine Food & Music Festival | Sunday, Aug. 4 | 12-6 p.m. | The Grounds, 10300 Courthouse Rd., Chesterfield | $25 | Enjoy island grooves, a variety of wines, and food with live music by Eclipse Int’l The Band and KRA Band.
Monday, Aug. 5
  • Skywatch | Monday, Aug. 5 | 9-10 p.m. | RPL Belmont Branch, 3100 Ellwood Ave., Richmond | Free | Join the Richmond Astronomical Society and spot celestial objects in the sky.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Open
  • Kline’s Dairy Bar is open in Chesterfield. This is the seventh location for the regional chain, which started in Harrisonburg in 1943. The new ice cream parlor set up shop in Cosby Village, a still-developing shopping center just off of Hull Street Road. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Coming Soon
  • Now that The Hop has closed, Susie’s — a Jewish cuisine concept that’s been popping up since 2021 — is permanently moving into the Cary Street space. Richmond restaurant veteran Yael Cantor is at the helm of the new spot, which is named for her grandmother. (Richmond BizSense)
Award
  • Nominations are open for Storefront for Community Design’s 2024 Golden Hammer Awards. The nonprofit started giving these awards in 2000 to recognize professionals and community members revitalizing Richmond neighborhoods. Submit your nominations before Sunday, Sept. 8.
Festival
  • Print Fest 2024 is coming to Starr Hill Brewery on Saturday, Sept. 28. The market and art show will feature 55 local artists and opportunities to support Richmond Community Fridges. A portion of drink proceeds will go to Richmond Community ToolBank.
Announced
  • Kings Dominion has announced a new coaster to open next year in celebration of the park’s 50th anniversary. Rapterra will be 145 feet tall, 3,086 feet long, and will feature a twisty, high-speed course.
Shop
  • Get more from your Costco membership — this week only, get a $40 digital Costco shop card and $60 off an order of $200+ on Costco.com when you buy an Executive Membership on our deals site.*
 
Listen

🎶 Celebrate local music through your speakers

A collaborative Richmond Spotify playlist
Screen Shot 2022-03-17 at 3.00.37 PM
Add whatever songs suit your Richmond vibe to our playlist. | Screenshot by RICtoday
On Tuesday, the Newlin Music Prize announced a total of $12,500 in grants to local musicians and bands. All those who received funds were former winners or nominees of the local prize.

Over 40 artists took home grants. Check out the full list of recipients.

We love the Richmond music scene — so we made a collaborative playlist for locals, by locals.

Want to spread the local love? You can add your own go-to tracks. Over the years, readers have helped us add over six hours of tunes.

If you see a song we’re missing, just open the collaborative playlist, add it to your library, and add the songs that make you think of Richmond.

Note: Some of the tracks on the playlist may include explicit language.
Hit play on RVA
The Buy

The Buy 8.01.24 (Affiliate)
This Turkish cotton beach towel — it’s extremely absorbent, made with 100% natural cotton, and is the perfect soft aqua blue companion for your next trip to the ocean.
More worth The Buy
Answered

On Tuesday, we asked readers when the first hard plastic bike helmet was invented
46.7% of respondents answered correctly — the first modern bike helmet hit the market in 1975. That helmet, introduced by Bell Auto Parts, featured “a hard plastic shell padded with a foam-like material.”
See the results
 
The Wrap
 
David Lefkowitz.png

Today’s edition by:
David
From the editor
Way back in 2017, I was actually one of the founding members of Abram’s Bridge. I was 17, and by far the youngest member of the band, but for what it’s worth — I still remember the solo for “Born to Run.”
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