The Diamond’s final week of games is packed with “FUNN,” including a hot dog happy hour, several returning player spotlights, and a few fan participation opportunities. | Photo by RICtoday
It’s time to say farewell to The Diamond, Richmond’s premier baseball stadium since 1985. As one torch passes to another, we set eyes across the outfield to CarMax Park, Richmond’s $100+ million stadium, opening for the 2026 season.
This week marks the end of the Flying Squirrel’s 2025 baseball season and The Diamond’s final days of action, but we’re not quite ready to say goodbye. First, we want to reminisce.
Share your memories
Do you have a photo from your first-ever game? Ever caught a fly ball with your bare hands? Did you find love at a baseball field? How did you see the Diamond evolve over the decades?
We want to hear it all, and we’d love to see the photos that take you back in time as well. Submit here or down below, and your story may be spotlighted in a farewell Diamond feature later this week.
Leslie and The Dots: Shockoe Sessions Live | 7:30-9 p.m. | In Your Ear Studios | $15 | Make it a spontaneous night with this studio-style concert of Richmond-based talent.
Wednesday, Sept. 10
“Conversations with Mothers” | Wednesday, Sept. 10-Saturday, Oct. 4 | 8 p.m. | Robert B. Moss Theatre | $15+ | Immerse yourself in the comedic and heartwarming dynamic between a conventional Italian matriarch and her free-spirited son.
Thursday, Sept. 11
Flowers After Five | 5-8 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $20 | This week brings Abrams Bridge to the garden, covering hits by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Historians on Tap | 6:30 p.m. | Strangeways Brewing | Free | No tuition required — just a generous professor giving a lesson of revolutionary drama to a room full of people drinking beer.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Top Stitch + Friends | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Top Stitch Studio | Free | Sustainable sewing studio Top Stitch invites local vendors to set up shop with specialized goodies like hand-built books, matcha drinks, good-luck charms, and plant-powered perfumes.
Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Show | 8 p.m. | Get Tight Lounge | $20+ | Obsourne fans and metal heads 21+ can join together to honor this late rock legend.
A Barb is born. The people have voted, and Maymont’s new porcupette is officially named Barb, a play on the animal’s barbed quills. Meet our newly named friend + her roommate Sandy at The Robins Nature Center.
Coming Soon
New biz Griffin Coffee and Bakery is setting up shop in Carytown, filling the former spot of Claudia’s Bake Shop. Evolved from Griffin Lounge in Petersburg, the menu will focus in on Middle Eastern drinks and treats. Think sand-brewed coffee, Turkish delights, and baklava.
Closed
Wong Gonzalez on East Grace Street is permanently closed. The Latin + Asian fusion restaurant first opened in 2016, marking nearly 10 years of business. The announcement suggests that patrons can still count on Wong’s Tacos in Short Pump and Midlothian.
Plan ahead
Altria Theater is heading “Back to the Future” (musical edition) for one week only — Tuesday, Jan. 20, through Sunday, Jan. 25. Secure your spot in the DeLorean with early ticket sales. Pre-sale is open now + public on-sale opens this Friday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m.
Community
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a lineup of festivities at the Latino Farmers Market, open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rockwood Park. September events include a dance class, bilingual story time, and a performance by the Kadencia Orchestra and Mambobones Dancers.
List
Local podcast “Eat it, Virginia!” set the table with a roundup of restaurants worth watching through the rest of 2025. Fresh faces like Bar Buoy, Lafayette Tavern, and Janet’s Cafe + Bakery made the docket, and we would throw in Thai Boat, opening soon in the Fan. See what other exciting openings are on the horizon.
Transit
The Department of Public Works is installing a mesh safety net under Lee Bridge to support pedestrian and cyclist safety. Construction is anticipated through November. In the meantime, the bridge’s northbound right lane and bike lane will be closed during nighttime construction hours.
Family
It may be The Diamond’s final series, but the fun isn’t over yet. From Tuesday, Sept. 9 to Sunday, Sept. 14, join the Richmond Flying Squirrels for giveaways, fireworks, and a special sendoff as they celebrate their iconic home one last time. Snag tix.*
Sports
College football Saturdays, NBA playoffs, championship golf — it’s all included on ESPN Unlimited, plus Disney+ and Hulu for your first 12 months. Stream everything for $29.99.*
The Buy
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The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Since I didn’t grow up in Richmond, my nostalgic baseball memories take me back to Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. Here’s my most memorable story:
When I was a kid, my parents let me get a Build-a-Bear stuffed animal for my birthday — an occasion that coincided closely with my first-ever major league baseball game. I got to pick one outfit for the bear; I chose a pink baseball uniform, and I had a master plan in mind.
When it was time for the big game, I insisted on carrying the stuffed animal around Progressive Field for the whole day. (I think I even wore a color-coordinating outfit.) My mastermind plan became clear to everyone else when we landed on the Jumbotron screen together, and in my mind, we had successfully claimed superstardom.
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