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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A grassy area of colorful wildflowers.
Travel and Outdoors
How to turn your Richmond yard into a mini wildlife haven
Help beautify your neighborhood, and become part of a nationwide habit network.
March 10, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A sign with a black background, and image of a Cadillac car, and the text "Pink Cadillac Diner;" The sign is outside on a pink building wall.
Travel and Outdoors
8 underrated day trips from the Richmond area
Eager to get on the road, but don’t want to travel too far? Try these nearby destinations for day trips.
March 9, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A dock in Woodstock, Virginia.
Travel and Outdoors
Northern Virginia day trips to add to your bucket list
Looking to escape Northern Virginia without going far? Here are eight day trips to go on throughout the year.
March 9, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A hand-painted emblem represents Legend Brewing Company's "My Faire Lady" beer. The painting is in the shape of an oval with two overlaid gold and navy blue banners below the bottom rim of the oval; the first, outer layer of the oval includes the text, "My Faire Lady" and a wreath of greenery; the interier oval includes encompassing greenery over a red background on the top section and a green background on the bottom section; a white unicorn, central to the emblem, rears its front legs upward, and a woman wearing a navy blue dress with red and gold accent + a gold hood sits atop the unicorn, weilding an upward sword.
Events
RVA Ren Faire + Legend Brewing Co. collab on specialty beer + release party
“My Faire Lady” debuts this weekend. Learn about the beer, the party, and the inspiration behind the beer’s hand-painted symbol.
March 3, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A pink pillow with a needlepoint-made patch that reads, "Ask me about my needlepoint."
Culture
Where to find needlepoint supplies around Richmond, VA
Needlepoint is one of the hottest “anolog” hobbies right now. Find our where to find supplies and meet other stitchers.
March 2, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
Two people on a dark-lit dance floor; streamers, balloons, and dancefloor decorations surround them; they stand in front of a projector screen with an image of several people.
Events
Plan Ahead: 30+ March 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.
February 26, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A collection of sticky notes and pieces of colorful paper pined to a map, laid out on a table; the notes have writing on them.
City
Help shape RVA’s future with these three feedback opportunities
We found three online surveys to help you share feedback on budgeting, parks, and public safety.
February 25, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_varina_library_FEB
Culture
Library speed dating: Varina Area Library
Fall in love with your local libraries in and around Richmond.
February 23, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
An exhibit from The Valentine Museum of the lunch counter from Richmond sit-ins
History
Honoring the legacy of the Richmond 34
In February 1960, 34 Virginia Union Students were arrested for a sit-in protest — a pivotal moment in Richmond’s Civil Rights Movement.
February 20, 2026
 · 
Katie Potter
RIC_repair_cafe_FEB
Culture
Q+A: Repair Café RVA shares its most sentimental mend
“A thing is so much more than a thing when it connects you to a person, especially when it connects you to a person who might not be with you anymore,” said Repair Café RVA founder Jenny Kobayashi Malone.
February 17, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A pool table underneath a purple-hued light in the back of Fuzzy Cactus; the table stands on a black and white checkered floor; in the background are various decorations, a table with two chairs, pool sticks, and a jukebox.
Culture
10+ places to play pool in Richmond
Whether you’re a novice or a pool shark, there’s a table for you in the River City
February 12, 2026
 · 
David Lefkowitz
Two people sitting at a table, one looking at a clock; the person is wearing a blue T-shirt and blue vest with glasses resting up on the brow line.
Culture
Q+A : One Year of Repair Café RVA
Rounding the corner on Repair Café RVA’s first anniversary, we chat with organizer Jenny Kobayashi Malone about community impact, milestone repairs, and future goals.
February 10, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_brandcenter_grads_FEB
Business
VCU Brandcenter alums land big-name Super Bowl commercial
Learn how these two Brandcenter students catapulted from graduation to the Super Bowl, and get an early look at the ad they helped create.
February 4, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A Google Street View screenshot of the exterior facade of Penny Lane Pub.
Culture
Film documentary to spotlight Penny Lane Pub owner in Richmond, VA
“Big Scouse” will look into the living legacy of Terry O’Neill, the man who founded Penny Lane in downtown Richmond.
February 3, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
Monks with the Walk for Peace walking through Richmond, VA.
Walk for Peace reaches 100-day milestone in Richmond, VA
The Venerable Monks of the Dhammacetiya passed through Richmond for the Walk of Peace on Sunday, Feb. 1, and Monday, Feb. 2.
February 2, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RICtoday_ICAVPMMediaCenter_Podcast
Culture
Listen Local: 20+ podcasts in Richmond
Whether you’re interested in local news, music, sports, or wellness, there’s a River City podcast for you.
January 29, 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 pile of red and silver matchbooks from Lafayette Tavern; the red side reads "Lafayette Tavern" and the silver side reads "Restaurant & Bar / Wine, Beer, Cocktails / Steaks & Seafood / Air Conditioned" with the restaurant address.
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
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