Plus, community meeting for Shockoe Hill memorial
 
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6AM City In-house

Today’s Forecast

80º | 4% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:31 a.m. | Sunset 7:52 p.m.
 

⚾️ Breaking down your ballpark thoughts

Tell us what you think about the new ballpark renderings
RICtoday_BallparkRendering_DiamondDistrict_NamingRightsStadium
People identified Carmax and Altria as likely suspects for buying the naming rights to the new ballpark, although nothing has been reported yet. | Rendering via city documents
Last week, we broke down the renderings for the new baseball stadium and asked for your thoughts on the Squirrels’ future home.

Here’s what you had to say about the new ballpark — and what questions are still up in the air.

Some comments have been lightly edited for clarity, spelling, and grammar.

Make sure there’s shade

Prioritizing shady spaces was top of mind for a lot of people, especially given the heat of the summer baseball season.

“PLEASE plant trees and design maximum shaded areas!!”
– @beccaponderosalita

“I imagine taking inspiration from the Diamond and installing some giant sun sails in the southwestern corner to provide light diffusion and cooling without obscuring the view.”
– @spillow804

Others recommended adding more cooling features, like water mist stations and plenty of water fountains.

RIC_DiamondExterior

Some readers said the new designs don’t look as iconic, architecture-wise, as the classic Diamond.

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Photo by RICtoday

Needs more RVA

Some readers thought the renderings could use a little more River City flavor.

“It needs a more RVA architectural feel. [The rendering] looks like it could be in Anytown, USA.” – J.J. M.

“They look kind of utilitarian. It should be a GEM.” – Sharon T.

In the project narrative, the design team said the ballpark “will have an industrial, warehouse feel meant to pay homage to Richmond’s railway lineage.”

The renderings reference the possibility of public art to be installed after the stadium is built.

Questions for the future

Several people commented with questions about the plans to make the stadium accessible and sustainable.

The Urban Design Committee made environmental recommendations to the design team about being sensitive to light pollution, using permeable hardscape materials, and including sustainable stormwater features where appropriate.

There were also questions about how many fans the new stadium will seat. The design team said it will accommodate ~10,000. At full capacity, the Diamond seats ~12,000, however the top rows have been covered for several years, reducing seating capacity to ~9,500.

RICtoday_BallparkRendering_DiamondDistrict_BeerGarden

Hardywood and Legend were popular suggestions for breweries that should be included in the new beer garden.

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Rendering via city documents

Dreams for the whole district

While these renderings only concern the future ballpark, people also shared wishes for the future Diamond District which will surround the new stadium.

We’ll keep readers updated on these developments — including the future of a bike-ped path, opportunities for local businesses, and more Diamond District details.
Children's Museum of Richmond
 
Events
Thursday, Aug. 22
  • UnHappy Hour: Poe Goes Punk | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 6-9 p.m. | The Poe Museum | $10-$12 | Bat Boy, Doll Baby, and Teens in Trouble will entertain the crowd with drinks from Funktastic Meads & Beer and eats by 1115 Mobile Kitchen.
  • Kelly McFarling and Scott Hirsch | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall | $17 | Get ready for a night of folk and rock tunes with these singers.
Friday, Aug. 23
  • Flying Squirrels vs. Altoona Curve | Friday, Aug. 23 | 6:35 p.m. | The Diamond | $10-$25 | The first 1,500 fans ages 21 and older will receive a Margaritaville Hawaiian shirt in honor of Salute to Jimmy Buffett night.
  • LaMP | Friday, Aug. 23 | 7 p.m. | The Broadberry | $25 | The group — made up of Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, and Ray Paczkowski — will play with Sidechick.
Saturday, Aug. 24
  • Richmond Moon Market | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 12-5 p.m. | Stone Brewing Tap Room | Free entry | Shop from local artisans at this curated craft and wellness market also featuring live music, food, workshops, and speakers.
  • FCSP Dunk for a Cure | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 12-10 p.m. | Hardywood Park Craft Brewery | Free entry | Register to get dunked and raise funds to support clinical research and connect patients with cancer to support services.
  • Headliners: A Pop Dance Night | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 8 p.m. | The Broadberry | $20 | Dance the night away to the biggest hits of the summer, featuring the music of Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Billie Eilish.
Sunday, Aug. 25
  • “Mary Poppins” | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 2 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $9 | The screening of this Disney musical will be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Community
  • The city is exploring ways to improve the intersection of Laburnum and Hermitage. Check out alternative options, see the results of a previous survey, and talk with project engineers at a public open house on Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Linwood Holton Elementary.
Civic
  • Learn more about the Richmond mayoral candidates at a forum on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The event will be broadcast on VPM/PBS and 12 On Your Side, livestreamed on YouTube, and aired on VPM 88.9 FM. Check election dates and see what’s on the ballot with our guide. (VPM)
Open
  • A new salon is open in Rocketts Landing. Bloom Salon & Suites comes from local hair care pros Lenise Robinson and Star Davis. Meet the team at the grand opening celebration, set for this Saturday, Aug. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. (Richmond BizSense)
Outdoors
  • Get outside this weekend and help clean up the Cannon Creek Greenway Trail with the Richmond Clean City Commission. All supplies will be provided; volunteers should wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Register in advance and remember to bring a water bottle.
Read
  • Friends of the Richmond Public Library is hosting a book drive. Bring your used hardbacks, paperbacks, CDs, and DVDs to Main Library on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Drop offs will be accepted at the rear entrance.
Film
  • Over 170 films from 25 countries will be screened Sept. 24-29 as part of the Richmond International Film Festival. The event will open with screenings of “Saturn” and “A Mother’s Promise.” Check out the full program.
Cause
  • Virginia Community Voice is raising funds to help support its Art Reconciliation and Civic Advocacy program. ARCA allows youth in South Richmond to participate in public art projects and community advocacy. Donate to help reach the $15,000 goal.
Health
  • Did you hear that? Most hearing aids have one processor. These bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. No wonder 385,000+ customers love them.*
Eat
 
Community

City to host meeting for Shockoe Hill Memorial

City to host public meeting for Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground Memorial
RICtoday_ShockoeHill_Map_1818
A map from 1818 shows the African Burying Ground near 5th Street and Shockoe Creek (top right). | Map via Library of Virginia Special Collections Map Collection
You can learn more about the process to design a permanent memorial at the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground at a community meeting on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Black History Museum.

The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground was opened in 1816, replacing the African Burial Ground in Shockoe Bottom. The cemetery began as two one-acre plots but expanded to be one of the largest burying places for free and enslaved African Americans in the 19th century.

The event will include remarks from Lenora McQueen, whose ancestor Kitty Cary is buried at the site. Light refreshments will also be provided.

RSVP to the meeting by sending an email. Free parking will be located at Richmond Alternative School, down the street from the museum.
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The Wrap
 
Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin
From the editor
I’ve already marked my calendar for the Friends of RPL Fall Book Sale — it’ll be at Main Library Nov. 1-3. Donate your old books now, buy new-to-you ones later, and support RPL the whole time.
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