Elise Steele.jpg

Elise Steele

Newsletter Editor

Elise moved to Richmond on a whim after graduating from college in 2021, and she’s loved the city ever since. When she’s not crafting the next RICtoday newsletter, she’s probably spending time outside, shopping local thrift stores, reading (as a proud library book borrower), or making a trip to Lamplighter for a Thai Coffee + Slayer Bagel.

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RICtoday_Skyline_DevelopmentNews
Events
Plan Ahead: 20+ February events in Richmond
Bookmark this page to your favorites tab so you can quickly return and find the top events happening each month in Richmond.
January 28, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
Mascots Nutasha and Nutzy holding a ticket with the text "CarMax Park" and "I've secured my spot." The two mascots are in the stands at CarMax Park, where seats are marked with "Sold" signs.
Sports
Flying Squirrels to host ticket lottery for Opening Night
Baseball fans and anyone curious about the new stadium have until Friday, Feb. 27, to enter a randomized ticket lottery for Opening Night at CarMax Park.
January 27, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
An orange tabby cat looking into the camera.
Culture
Charleston pets: Our reigning cats
We asked readers to send us photos of their Charleston-resident pets. And they delivered.
January 27, 2026
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
RIC_real_estate_JAN
Real Estate
1960s time-capsule sells in Northside, RVA
Take a brief tour through 1960s nostalgia.
January 24, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
Two individuals holding snow shovels at Richmond ToolBank,; Individuals stand in front of industrial shelves holding additional snow shovels, and between a shopping cart carrying more snow shovels.
City
Richmond ToolBank lends free snow shovels to locals
Local nonprofit Richmond TookBank has pooled its resources together to help equip Richmonders for the winter-weather weekend.
January 22, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_VMFA_Expansion_JAN
City
A closer look at VMFA’s $261M expansion
With new project renderings, Richmonders can better understand what VMFA’s upcoming expansion will look like.
January 21, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_Development_JAN
City
Keep up with the crane: Ongoing development projects around Richmond
There’s a lot to look forward to in Richmond over the next few years. See what new developments are in store and when construction is expected to wrap up.
January 16, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RICtoday_Skyline_DevelopmentNews
Development
Your guide to understanding development news in Richmond, VA
Become a development terminology expert fast than you can say “Special use permit for a mixed-use zone.”
January 13, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_vegan_club_friends_MAY
Culture
Find your niche: 50+ social clubs in RVA
New to the city or just looking to meet some new people? Our guide can help you find folks who with similar interests.
January 12, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A doodle sat on a wooden pier by a lake. It is a marshy lake with classic Lowcontry foliage surrounding it.
Culture
Charleston pets: Paws up for the pups
We asked readers to send us photos of their Charleston-resident pets, and they delivered. Here’s our roundup of Holy City pups.
January 7, 2026
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
RIC blizzard 1996
City
30 years later: Remembering Richmond’s blizzard of 1996
Where were you when the blizzard hit?
January 7, 2026
 · 
David Lefkowitz
A cypress swamp at First Landing State Park; the surface of the water features a prismatic, multicolored effect.
Travel and Outdoors
Quest for a “rainbow swamp” near Richmond, VA
This prismatic phenomenon has captivated curiosity in Virginia Beach, but you might be able to find the mystical occurrence closer to home.
January 6, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A Slippery Slope mocktail in a clear glass with one square ice cube; the glass sits on a wooden surface.
Food
Mocktails + non-alcoholic drinks in Richmond
Whether you’re sober, trying out Dry January, or just want more options for delicious drinks, here are several local menus with robust NA options.
January 5, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A white restaurant facade with top-lining blue and red stripes; a white, yellow, and red sign with an illustration of a person's face and shoulders; The sign reads "Auntie Ning's Filipino Food."
Food
Restaurant roundup: New and coming-soon to Richmond
Try out these new places and see what to look forward to in the River City’s restaurant scene.
December 29, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_gilpin_court_community_farm_DEC
City
Gilpin Court art installation unveiled + redevelopment plan set in motion
Over the past few days, Gilpin Court has made headlines with two new community-shaping developments.
December 17, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
RICtoday_Richmond_Skyline_Night
City
26 reader questions for 2026 in Richmond, VA
Let us know what River City news we should cover in 2026.
December 17, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
Copy image of the Declaration of Independence overlayed with a cut-out image of Nicolas Cage from the film cover of "National Teasure."
Events
Fact or fiction: Watch “National Treasure” with local historians at the VMHC
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture will host a screening of “National Treasure” with live commentary from studious staff.
December 16, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
The St. Pete starter pack 😮_💨 also, our new matcha is the drink of the fall I’m just sayin’ —-.jpg
Food
Find the best matcha in Tampa Bay
We rounded up six locally approved matcha picks so you can get your green fix.
December 15, 2025
 · 
Bailey LeFever
An opened box with three Sub Rosa pastries sitting on a red table.
Food
Sub Rosa Bakery reopening Dec. 16, one year after building fire
Just over one year after a fire caused the beloved local bakery to close, Sub Rosa is ready to open its doors once again.
December 15, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
RICtoday_TackyLight_OregonHill
Culture
The ultimate guide to holiday lights in Richmond
Read our list and check it twice to see how to get the most out of holiday illuminations in RVA.
December 11, 2025
 · 
Robin Schwartzkopf
A close-up shot of a DJ spinning a record, wearing a blue jersey-style shirt with red striped and the number "10;" A partially transparent image of a disco ball is overlaid on the photo.
Events
10 New Year’s Eve events to ring in 2026
Usher in the new year, from noon to midnight, with these parties around Richmond.
December 10, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
RICtoday_UR_VCU_A10_WBB_Overhead
Sports
4 Tha Culture: VCU + UR to join milestone hoops showcase in Henrico
In its debut year, the 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic invites six Division 1 women’s basketball teams to celebrate culture and talent.
December 9, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
A gray fox photographed on a trail camera, mid-walk through leaves in a wooded area.
Travel and Outdoors
The Virginia Gray Fox Project collects trail-cam photos for wildlife research
Organizations throughout Virginia have contributed thousands of photos to the Virginia Gray Fox Project, and we picked our top 10 trail-cam moments.
December 8, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The interior of CobbleStore, which features a clothes rack with hanging clothes, a wall shelf above lined with sneakers, and an overhead lineup of T-shirts on hangers against the wall.
Play
Happy hauling: Thrift shops, flea markets, vintage + resale stores in RVA
See where you can shop secondhand for clothes, household items, and personalized gifts at thrift shops and resale markets around the 804.
December 8, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
A moving gif with the text "2025 Wrapped"; moving componenets include a star shape in the top left corner, three location pins in the top right corner, a sun shape in the bottom right corner, and a mobile phone with a smiley face in the left bottom corner.
Culture
RICtoday Wrapped: Revisiting 2025’s top hits
It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
December 3, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
Aerial Shot of Main Street Station Amtrak
City
How to ride Amtrak in Richmond, VA
Taking the train isn’t just for commuters — it’s also a method of leisure travel that’s growing in popularity.
December 2, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
The outside of an Amtrak train at Alexandria Station.
Airports and Transportation
Your guide to the Amtrak in Northern Virginia and DC
Traveling soon, but not feeling the hassle of flying? Check out this guide to Amtrak routes in and around Northern Virginia.
December 2, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Two deer photographed from a trail camera, facing in the direction of each other; the deer are in a wooded area; the smaller deer on the left has one spots; the bigger deer on the right has no noticeable spots.
Travel and Outdoors
Virginia Gray Fox Project documents thousands of trail-cam cuties
As the Virginia Gray Fox Project prepares to enter its final field season, we picked our top 10 trail-cam moments.
December 1, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
The inside of The Smoky Mug's new location, populated by customers and workers; Wicker light shades hand from the cieling and a colorful mural covers one of the back walls.
Business
Our RICtoday Small Business Saturday shopping picks
The 16th annual edition of Small Business Saturday falls on November 29 — the perfect time to help you add some local flair to your holiday shopping.
November 25, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_NOVA_smithfield_ham_sign_NOV
Weird Virginia laws you might not know about
Have you committed one of these strangely specific crimes? Take a browse through some Virginia laws you might not have known were on the books.
November 20, 2025
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
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