Editor Elise: Like most corner-market fans, I’ve had my fair share of Keya’s chips — both the Bombay and Black Salt flavors. The Bombay chips are my favorite; my friend’s curious pup is unfortunately undecided, as he could not eat them. | Photo by RICtoday
Virginia Living revealed its 2025 Made in Virginia Awards, and local snack brand Keya’s Snacks brought home the Grand Prize.
Founded by Richmonder Keya Wingfield, the colorfully packaged potato chips took our independent corner markets and grocery stores by seasoned storm this year. The chips have since hit the shelves in regional Kroger, Publix, and HomeGoods stores.
Keeping her Snack Manifesto in mind, Wingfield’s business moves are paying off in real time. Virginia Living considered the Bombay Spice + Black Salt potato chips, priced at $2.49 -$5.49 per bag, “a snack sensation across the state.”
Want to stock up for your next movie night? Try out Keya’s store locator.
Snow day alert. Richmond city offices and government buildings are closed today.Keep an eye out for slick roads and stay safe — perfect excuse to sip something warm and dive into some snowy history.
Travel
The TSA checkpoints at Richmond International Airport are getting a ~$200 million glow-up. Take a look at the conceptual designs. Renovation proposals include main terminal upgrades and a consolidated checkpoint, new security lanes and escalators, concessions improvements, and for the vibe, more natural light. (WRIC + Richmond BizSense)
Announced
See Richmond’s skyline light up for the winter season… safely at home. Along with today’s office closures, planned festivities for RVA Illuminates have been canceled. Locals can still tune in to catch the lighting live with WRIC Channel 8 starting at 5:45 p.m. tonight.
Cause
The Purrfect Bean cat cafe is temporarily closed due to one cat’s accidental flooding fiasco earlier this week. It didn’t take long for other local small businesses to step in with helping hands. The result: An impromptu fundraiser this Saturday, Dec. 6, at Byrd Park (with matcha + tiramisu). (WRIC)
Arts
You could be Richmond’s next Poet Laureate, an influential community figure inspired to connect locals through literary art. Applications for the 2026-2028 role are open now through Monday, Jan. 12. Joanna Lee passes the poetic torch — who will Richmond’s third laureate be?
Election
Richmond has a special election coming up on Tuesday, Jan. 6. State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi was recently elected Lieutenant Governor, leaving a vacant seat in the 15th District (portions of Richmond + northern Chesterfield). See who’s campaigning so far. (Virginia Mercury)
Pets
Cats are naturally mysterious — but their health doesn’t have to be. With Basepaws Cat DNA Test, you’ll uncover your cat’s breed mix, genetic traits, and potential health risks that other tests miss. Get 47% off for Cyber Week and gain science-backed insights into your feline’s health.*
Building and sustaining leadership, collaboration, and accountability to advance safety is a core policy of the Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. Explore the Action Plan for our community — and help create long-lasting change for all transportation system users.*
Here’s how Virginia Living debuted its 2025 Made in Virginia Award winners yesterday. Front and center — unmissable — is a bag of Keya’s Richmond-made Bombay Spice potato chips. Scroll back to the top to find more local winners.
A foaming toilet cleaner that tackles stains, rings, and odors with zero scrubbing. Splash Foam Cleaner offers a hands-free way to achieve a sparkling clean toilet in three easy steps: pour, let it foam, and flush. It’s that easy.
Now boarding. 63% of you got this one right. The first Amtrak departed from New York on May 1, 1971, en route to Philadelphia. Richmond’s Amtrak services started that same day.
Pics or it didn’t happen. At the beginning of the week, I told you all I joined the wildlife department to chuck trout into Shields Lake at Byrd Park. You didn’t doubt me, right?
By April 2026, there will be five restockings at both Byrd + Dorey parks. Why now? Why trout? Let me pass the mic to The Richmonder so you can find out.
This is the look of pure joy one might get after safely heave ho-ing a dozen trout into a lake on a brisk and beautiful Richmond morning. (The next Poet Laureate should write an ode about this).
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