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📜 Odd laws of the land
Channeling our inner Elle Woods, we dove into Virginia’s legal codes, and a few unique laws caught our attention. | Archive via Digital Commonwealth
Calling all smooth criminals. Take a perusal of these curious Virginia laws that you may not have heard before.
Watch where you spit
It’s illegal to expectorate, or spit, in public in the state of Virginia. This includes public buildings, sidewalks, alleys, and pretty much anywhere the public would gather. This act is considered a Class 4 misdemeanor and may result in a fine.
Respect the Smithfield ham
You’re not allowed to label and advertise a ham as a Smithfield ham if it isn’t a genuine Smithfield ham. What makes it authentic? It must be produced in Smithfield, Virginia, of course.
“First dibs”
Let’s debunk some road rage fuel. In Richmond and several other Virginia municipalities, it’s against the law to steal a parallel parking spot from another driver. If an individual is already lined up to back into a spot, they get “first dibs.”
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is expanding
Presented by Children's Hospital Foundation
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU will soon provide even better pediatric care.
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR) is growing to meet Virginia’s pediatric needs, including building out shell spaces, recruitment efforts for top pediatric specialists, advancing research, and intensive training for the next generation of experts.
The growth ensures CHoR remains among the nation’s best, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. In the publication’s 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings, CHoR was named a top 50 hospital in eight of 11 ranked subspecialties, including Cancer (#39), Neonatology (#43), Neurology & neurosurgery (#40), Gastroenterology (#50), and more.
Our local hospital isn’t stopping there, either. CHoR’s treatment plans go beyond the exam room: they’re also expanding programs like music therapy and child life services, and building a Family Resource Center to support families with housing, transportation, food, and other social + emotional needs.
Donate to help CHoR continue to provide unstoppable care to kids.
At the Cirrus pop-up, I tried the mint-chocolate Yuletide-Tini and the Silent Nightcap (a seasonal old-fashioned). My partner went for the spiked Kris Kringle Cocoa, which makes its photo debut at the end of today’s newsletter, along with a few mocktail options.
Photo by RICtoday
Experience
Editor Elise: Earlier this week, I mentioned plans to check out Santa’s Cocktail Shop, a holiday pop-up at the Cirrus Vodka Tasting Room in Scott’s Addition. You can read about my visit in today’s Wrap. Plus,stay tuned (once again). Our next pop-up visit will be Fall Line Kitchen’s igloo dining + holiday express.
Ranked
Richmond’s L’Opossum earned a spot on OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the US. The list featured two restaurants in Virginia — the other being L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls. Rankings take guest reviews and reservation demands into account, and I’ll be taking this news into account for my local restaurant bucket list. (PR Newswire)
Number
$15 million. That’s how much grant money CoStar Group is set to receive from the state. Why? The grant will reimburse infrastructure costs for the real-estate data company’s skyline construction project — a 26-story office building slated for completion in 2026. (CBS 6 + Richmond BizSense)
Try This
Downtown DC is attempting to break a world record: most couples kissing under the mistletoe. On Saturday, Dec. 13, PDA-okay couples are invited to meet under the “National Mistletoe,” a 10-foot-wide suspended holiday installation. For anyone considering the day-trip, you and your boo can sign up to smooch.
Announced
“Glow Big or Glow Home.” That’s the motto of Chesterfield County’s new seasonal tourism initiative, aimed at boosting visitor foot traffic with a lineup of holiday festivies. To aid the campaign, Experience Chesterfield received a $10,000 marketing grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Arts
It’s busy times at the VMFA. Tomorrow, Nov. 22, marks the official opening of the “Giants” exhibit, which we got to preview with some special celeb guests earlier this week. Additionally, the 9th Annual Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival is underway this weekend through Sunday, Nov. 23. See the schedule.
Here at RICtoday, you already know how proud we are to be part of the River City. Every day, we publish stories and guides that link you to local businesses, events, and community stories. Plus, we do our best to keep your calendars decked out through our monthly Plan Aheads and Restaurant Roundups.
We rely on advertisers to keep our daily newsletters free, but we also have a giving campaign that supports us directly. If you love what we publish and would like to support our mission, consider donating — bonus points for sharing your favorite story published this year.
The Buy
Lifetime language learning in Babbel’s biggest sale of the year, with access to all fourteen languages 65% off for Black Friday. Think: Bite-sized lessons, easy-to-grasp grammar, bingeable podcasts, and interactive speaking practice, all simple to fit into your everyday routine. Fuel your own curiosity or grab the 65% off deal as a holiday gift for a loved one.*
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.
Cozied up in a Christmas mug, here’s a look at Cirrus’s holiday-pop-up Kris Kringle Cocoa. For mocktails, holiday visitors can order the Ginger Bells Mule or the Designated Sleigh Driver (a bubbly drink with Roots NA vermouth + pomegranate and citrus). Or you can order a classic hot chocolate, free of alcoholic spirits, but full of holiday spirit.
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