Richmond Tree Week will host a variety of volunteer events, giveaways, and community gatherings. | Photo by Max Posner (Richmond Tree Week 2023)
This weekend marks the start of Richmond Tree Week, which runs Saturday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 8. Entering its sixth official year, this annual event series celebrates the leafy canopies that keep our community shaded in the summer and beautiful year-round.
The week branches out with 30+ free events, including volunteer days, walking tours, bike rides, giveaways, and — what would Tree Week be without this mention? — a tree-hugging contest.
You can dig through the full lineup of events, but we narrowed down a few spotlights to help prep the soil:
Mini-Forest Planting | Monday, Nov. 3 | 3-5:30 p.m. | Blackwell Park | Sign up to help plant 83 tree saplings in a “high-density mini-forest.”
“The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue” Author Talk | Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 6-7:30 p.m. | First Baptist Church of Richmond | RSVP to join author Mike Tidwell to chat about his new book, get a copy signed, and view a short film presentation.
VCU Men’s Basketball Season Opener | 7 p.m. | Siegel Center | $34+ | Cheer on the VCU Men’s Basketball Team as they take on Wagner in the season tip-off — you won’t want to miss the energy, excitement, and Ram pride.*
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Submit photos of your own house decor or your favorite sightings.
Photo by RICtoday
Holiday
Today’s Halloween house comes to us from the Museum District, near Carytown. While it may not be as extravagant as our other features this week, we feel a simple fondness for this classic set-up, and the warm glow of the windows is the cozy cherry on top.
Cause
Canned soups. Vegetables. Rice. Cereals. Those are among the “most needed items” at Central Virginia’s Feed More organization. While balancing increased demands, the organization is asking locals to donate food, money, or time as they’re able.
Announced
Speaking of Feed More, Birdie’s on West Broad is kicking off its holiday pop-up season with a food drive on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The twist? A donation of 10 food items or $20 is the only way to lock in a coveted reservation.
Biz
Rostov’s Coffee + Tea, established in 1979, is under new ownership, but the change still feels close to home. Stepping in is Dinah Easterday, a Richmond local who has been visiting Rostov’s since she first moved to the area. (CBS 6 + Richmond BizSense)
Environment
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is assessing the environmental impacts of the recent 50-car train derailment near New Kent, VA. The department considers the area within the top 3.5% of Virginia’s ecological core and expresses concern about potential impacts on the Chickahominy River and surrounding communities.
Sports
Did you see the Spider in the World Series? Mark Budzinski played for the University of Richmond Spiders back in the mid-1990s. Now he’s the first base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays as they face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (University of Richmond Magazine)
List
The Health Equity Fund has announced continued funding for seven community organizations addressing health disparities, including Shalom Farms, Healthy Hearts Plus, Health Brigade, and Drums No Guns. Selected programs will receive a total of $135,000 in renewed funding.
City
Pothole on your street? RVA 311 makes it easy to report issues through their website, mobile app, or by calling 3-1-1. It’s a quick, no-fuss way to reach city services when something needs attention. Explore what you can request.*
Stat
50%. That’s how much you’ll save on Halloween décor at Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia now through Thursday, Nov. 6. Find costume options, DIY supplies, and decorations for less. Who doesn’t love a good deal? We sure do.*
Number
21. That’s how many months you could enjoy 0% APR with a balance transfer card. Read: You can tackle credit card debt while enjoying stellar perks, like up to $200 cash back. Discover top cards + apply.*
Read
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The Buy
A foaming toilet cleaner you’ll be sad you didn’t make the switch to sooner. Splash Foam Cleaner is the fast, hands-free way to clean toilet rings, stains, and grime. The best part? It does all the hard work for you. Read: No more toilet scrubbing in your future.
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.
There’s nothing scarier than going into Hallo-weekend without set plans... or maybe I’m projecting. Either way, we found lots of new Halloween parties to throw into our events section today, including GWAR Bar’s prize-winning party, a dog costume contest, and even a Halloween line-dancing hoedown. There’s something for everybody.