This year will mark the Rams’ 20th appearance in the NCAA tournament, having last participated in 2023. | Photo by VCU Athletics
Are you feeling the madness yet? It’s March, which signals the kick-off of the NCAA basketball tournament, often referred to as the “Big Dance.” Sunday marked the official elections for the men’s and women’s brackets, and Richmond is locked in.
Who are we repping in RVA?
VCU Rams:After an emotional + hard-fought win against George Mason on Sunday, the VCU men’s basketball team claimed the A10 Conference Championship title and punched their No. 11-seed ticket for the NCAA Tournament.
Keep ‘em coming.
UR Spiders:The UR women’s basketball team is dancing to Los Angeles after locking in at No. 8 for the NCAA bracket. Last year, they joined the tournament with a No. 10 seed ranking.
What’s next?
Our two Richmond teams will each head into their first-round games. The results will determine whether they move forward in the brackets + continue their competition for the title.
Bucko on Shockoe Sessions Live | 7:30-9 p.m. | In Your Ear Studios | $15 | Channeling the intimacy of an NPR Tiny Desk concert, get a live + up-close look at this honky-tonk-rock group based in Richmond.
Wednesday, March 19
Conservation and Sustainability Talk and Walk | 10-11:30 a.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $22 | Start your morning with a relaxing walk through Richmond’s botanical gardens paired with a discussion of conservation led by a garden guide.
Trumpeting Equality: The Women’s Suffrage March of 1913 | 2-3 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join this virtual lecture on the history and impact of the 1913 suffragette march — hosted by the director of the Virginia War Memorial.
Spring Equinox Breathwork and Seed Swap | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Quarry | $15 | Set your seasonal intentions and welcome spring growth at this meditative breathwork class + seed swap hosted by Luisi Cano, the founder of Padme Wellness.
Thursday, March 20
Evening of Magic RVA | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | TheLAB | $25 | Sign up for a unique + entertaining evening at this close-up magic show in Chimborazo.
This must-see exhibit features 20 skyscrapers built by one of only 23 LEGO® Certified Professionals worldwide. | Photos provided by Science Museum of Virginia + James Horan for Museums of History NSW
Get ready to be wowed by impressive LEGO® replicas of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. Think: The Empire State building, Burj Khalifa, CN Tower, and more. Each model is a work of art, celebrating architectural wonders across North America, Asia, and Australia.
The real fun happens in the interactive construction zones, where you’ll find 200,000 loose LEGO bricks waiting for you to build your own “towers of tomorrow.”
Psst… One of the models is so massive, it’s taken over the Science Museum’s Rotunda.
Whether your family is full of LEGO® lovers or just looking for a fun day out, this hands-on exhibit will take your creativity to the next level.
VCU’s former Chili’s location will reopen as a university catering facility at Cary and Belvidere Residential College. The $8.5 million renovation will also prompt the closure of AVO Kitchen, with an expected completion date in the fall. (Richmond BizSense)
Announced
Indigo Girls just joined the 2025 Groovin’ in the Garden concert lineup at Lewis Ginter. This Grammy-winning duo — best known for their authentic songwriting + guitar-strumming skills — will perform on June 25, but you can reserve tickets this Friday, March 21.
Opening
Rams House sports bar on West Broad Street is under new ownership by Javier and Nathalie Codero, who also operate two food establishments inside local hockey rinks. With a refreshed menu, the bar plans to reopen by the end of the month. (Richmond BizSense)
Small Biz
Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co. is celebrating 20 years of Richmond business. To help congratulate them, shop a special release of one of their long-time favorite brews, Obraje Geisha, or simply stop by in person and show your support + grab your favorite drink.
Kids
Registration just opened for the Forest Hill Spring Classic, a fun-filled children’s bike race for ages 2-12. Race day will be on Sunday, April 27, but you can go ahead and register the bike-riding kid in your life now. (South Richmond News)
Community
Do you have a favorite restaurant? What about a pet-friendly spot? We want you to use your voice + passion for local biz and vote for RICtoday’s Best. Voting ends Friday, Apr. 25.
Learn
March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Virginia Lottery is highlighting the importance of education and support. If you or someone you know needs help, consider these resources. Reminder: You must be 18 or older to play.*
Travel
The opposite of sticker shock? Going’s free travel membership, which alerts you when flights leaving your airport are 40-90% off. You’re welcome.*
Outdoors
With spring comes outdoor concerts + music festivals — luckily, these hearing aids are the world’s first with multi-stream processing, designed to help you engage in conversations effortlessly (even in noisy environments, like that must-see show).*
Stat
0%. That’s how much interest this card offers into 2026 — no wonder experts call it “hands down” one of “the best balance transfer cards."*
The Buy
The Buy
A reusable, exfoliating soap bag. Slip any soap bar into this bag and use it like a body scrubber to get a rich, soapy lather fast.
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