Ed 399: Ultimate Bucket List, Pink Drawing Room, Babe Improv
Happy spring!
I am fully 😍😍😍 at all the cherry blossom pics I’ve been seeing on Instagram these last few days. Clearly, people are taking their spring bucket lists very seriously.
Now, whether or not that’s a good segue to our newly revamped Ultimate Richmond Bucket list, I’m unsure. But it’s available, and you should know. From the city’s inarguably best assets to our own favorites (which, TBH, we still don’t think are debatable), we’ve created a beast of a city guide and linked it below. Enjoy touristing in your own city, folks! 🫡
Keep scrolling for RVA’s latest social news, including an amphidromous update, a French bakery relocation, an interactive podcast show, and more.
PODCAST
WEATHER
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy; high of 64°, low of 49°
Thursday: Partly cloudy; high of 80°, low of 64°
Friday: Afternoon rain; high of 67°, low of 37°
HAPPENINGS
Wednesday, 6 - 8 pm: TORTURETWINN LIVE AT THE BRANCH
Thursday, 7 - 9 pm: TAKING FLIGHT FESTIVAL
Friday, 5 - 8 pm: ASHLAND FOURTH FRIDAYS
CITY GUIDES
1. THE ULTIMATE RICHMOND BUCKET LIST
Image Source: Babe Improv via RVA Mag
RICHMONDER(S) TO KNOW
Babe Improv: RVA Mag has the scoop on the funniest thing in Richmond right now. The pub recently spotlighted Babe Improv, a Richmond-based comedy duo made up of Elizabeth Byland and Anthony Brazeau, whose fully unscripted performances thrive on risk, trust, and audience suggestions. The pair lean into bold, spontaneous choices and mutual support to create high-energy shows that are never the same twice.
THE LATEST:
Image Source: Idle Hands Bread Company
Image Source: Bernie’s Subs & Pizza Shop
Image Source: James River Film Festival
Image Source: Maymont
SOCIAL NEWS
Say it, spell it, say it. An eighth-grader from Moody Middle School just won the 2026 Richmond Raceway Regional Spelling Bee in his first appearance, advancing to the national stage after eight rounds of competition. Shivkumar, who previously finished as a district runner-up before winning his school and district bees this year, secured the regional title by correctly spelling “amphidromous,” crediting his success to extensive independent study of word origins, roots, and parts of speech. Taran will next compete at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, scheduled for May 26 to 28 at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. (Henrico Citizen)
Now we need our own pink drawing room. In case you missed it up top, after a two-year closure for major renos, the historic Maymont Mansion celebrated its reopening last Saturday and now has regular visiting hours from 11 am to 5 pm, Thursdays through Sundays. Built in 1893 for James Dooley and Sallie Dooley and gifted to the city in 1925 as part of the larger Maymont estate, the mansion has undergone $11.75 million in upgrades funded by a federal grant and fundraising, including restoration of its original red slate roof, installation of new HVAC and fire detection systems, structural repairs, and conservation work on more than 1,000 objects. While much of the first floor remains familiar, the second floor has been reconfigured to better reflect the Dooleys’ era, with expanded space dedicated to James’s belongings and newly displayed pieces such as a restored painting previously housed at Swannanoa. In other words, get over there ASAP and feast your eyes. (The Richmonder)
It’s *like* you know them. Two live podcast events have the shared goal of moving beyond parasocial listening by inviting audiences into the convo. Last week, performers Jana Prentiss and Nesziah Dennis revived their paused podcast, The Wonder Twins, as a live Podcast-Cabaret fusion at The Basement, blending music, comedy, fashion, and special guests under the guidance of Tariq Karriem of BLK VA Theatre Alliance, with the goal of fostering accountability, spontaneity, and genuine audience connection. On March 29, Mike Smith and Theo Beidler, hosts of the music history podcast You Wanted a Hit, will celebrate their 100th episode with an interactive live show at Get Tight Lounge, featuring audio-visual elements, crowd participation, and a deep dive into a notably controversial hit song. (Style Weekly)
Don’t worry about your screen time. Happening soon, the 32nd James River Film Festival runs March 29 through April 4, bringing a week of independent cinema to venues across Richmond. The festival opens at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with a screening of Charles Burnett’s 1977 drama Killer of Sheep and a tribute to French filmmaker Georges Méliès. Then, on April 2, Studio Two Three will host the 2025 documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk about life during the Israel-Hamas war. The festival also concludes there on April 4 with screenings of the 1982 documentary Land of Look Behind, exploring Rastafarian culture after the death of Bob Marley, and the 1968 musical comedy Head starring The Monkees, with additional online-viewing programming available March 30 through April 1. (Richmond magazine)
The first season at CarMax Park for the Richmond Flying Squirrels starts in two weeks (!!!), and the team has plans to celebrate the ballpark debut with an entire Opening Week (rather than a single Opening Day). Festivities include daily Pregame Blastoff Bash events, rally towel giveaways, themed game nights, plus fireworks, happy hour specials, pets in the park, skydiving, autograph sessions, and kids’ activities. The days-long party will also highlight a collection of public art displayed throughout the ballpark, with select artists completing work on-site, as the team ushers in a new era and thanks fans and community partners who made the project possible. (Richmond Flying Squirrels)
Richmond is one of the best small cities for big careers. A recent study by CoworkingCafe ranked the top 20 small US cities (under 250,000 residents) that offer strong career prospects alongside a high quality of life, and the River City made the cut. Analyzing 298 metros using 19 metrics across salary and income, job market strength, quality of life and amenities, and industry presence, the report emphasizes measurable indicators such as wage growth and unemployment rates. Study author Nicusor Ciorba also noted that affordability was intentionally not overweighted, ensuring that low-cost but economically stagnant cities did not dominate the rankings. (New York Times)
MORE LINKS YOU’LL WANT TO CLICK
🍞 Idle Hands Bread Company is up and running at its new location in the Fan. (Instagram)
🥪 Bernie’s Subs & Pizza Shop is now accepting credit and debit card payments, after 50 years as a cash-only spot. (Instagram)
🌈 Passion Project is home to 50+ local artists and just opened its very colorful doors. (Instagram)
Image Source: Maymont
Weekly Giveaway
Dominion Energy Family Easter at Maymont
This Richmond tradish returns to Maymont on Easter weekend for a family-friendly celebration that’s 100 years in the making. Hop on over on Saturday, April 4, for crafts, games, live entertainment, food trucks, and photos with the Easter Bunny, plus baby animal sightings, princess meet-and-greets, and access to the newly reopened Maymont Mansion. The event’s littlest Richmonders will even get the chance to meet RVA mascots and public safety officers, explore emergency and farm vehicles, and climb aboard a Dominion Energy bucket truck.
This week, we’re teaming up with the folks at Maymont to give away a family four-pack to Dominion Energy Family Easter! That includes tix for two kids and two adults.
To enter, tell us: A rabbit’s >> what << never stop growing?
Last week: Congratulations to last edition’s winner, Tara C, for winning the The Roosevelt giveaway!
Image Source: Penguin Random House
Member Perks
RVAx Book Club
If you’re a bookish Richmonder, come chit-chat lit with us at our next book club meeting! We get together every month to sip, snack, and yap about our latest read, and our next gab sesh happens today, March 25.
Get all the details — and the option to RSVP — when you click here!
New + Trending from RVAx
SAVE THE DATE
👋
Hey, new members!
We’d like to welcome 7 new members this week: Elisabeth C, Maureen N, Michael W, Reggee N, Michelle J, Eso C, and Lisa H, we’re so glad you’re here!
It takes a village, so let us know if you have any questions, thoughts, feedback, tips, or recs! Thanks for reading edition 399 of The Weekly Insider.
Daisy'd and confused 🌼
- The Richmond Experience
Thank you to Maymont for powering this edition of The Weekly Insider from The Richmond Experience!
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