Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: What really changed after Richmond’s water crisis rocked the region in 2025?
Make time for Sensory Friendly Morning on the Richmond Patch calendar
Coffee in hand, Richmond? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What really changed after Richmond’s water crisis rocked the region in 2025?
- Why is Richmond’s pygmy hippo Poppy drawing fans from across America?
- How one Northside restaurant worker became indispensable to The Smoky Mug
Also on today's calendar: Sensory Friendly Morning and 9 more events.
Find out what's happening in Richmondfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? . 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Richmondfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Monday: A couple of morning showers, with a high of 60 and low of 27 degrees.
- Tuesday: Cooler; breezy in the morning, temps: high: 40, low: 29.
- Wednesday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 45 and low of 34 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. 2025: The year Richmond's water woes got the region boiling (richmondbizsense.com) — Richmond’s massive January water outage and boil advisory disrupted daily life for days and sparked months of debate over how the city supplies water to the region. The article walks through plant failures, leadership fallout, regional tensions with Henrico and Hanover, and the still-unresolved funding and governance questions that could shape Richmond’s water reliability in 2026. 
2. Zoo hosts party to celebrate beloved pygmy hippo Poppy's 1st birthday (wtvr.com) — Families from around Richmond packed the Metro Richmond Zoo in Moseley to celebrate beloved pygmy hippo Poppy’s first birthday with cake, kids’ activities, and special stickers. The zoo highlighted how Poppy’s fame has drawn thousands of visitors from across the country, boosting attention on this regional attraction just outside the city. If you haven’t visited yet, Poppy’s become a true local celebrity.
3. Richmond restaurant worker honored for exceptional dedication: 'You name it. He can do it.' (wtvr.com) — A beloved employee at The Smoky Mug on Richmond’s Northside is being celebrated for his hard work, versatility, and upbeat attitude after being honored by the “Eat It, Virginia” podcast and CBS 6. Coworkers say Ingram Barnett has mastered nearly every role in the restaurant, stepping in wherever needed and inspiring the team after moving into the neighborhood and rebuilding his confidence.
4. Republican state Sen. Bryce Reeves withdraws from U.S. Senate race (wavy.com) — A U.S. Senate shakeup with Richmond ties just unfolded: Republican state Sen. Bryce Reeves has ended his bid to challenge Sen. Mark Warner, citing a serious family health matter and timing concerns. Speaking from Richmond, he says he’ll refocus on his General Assembly work and plans to seek reelection to the state Senate in 2027 instead.
📸 Around Richmond
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Richmond
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Sensory Friendly Morning
Virginia Museum of History & Culture , 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd , Richmond
9:00 am - Book Babies
North Avenue Meeting Room
10:30 am - Noon Year's Eve
Goochland Branch Library , 3075 River Rd W , Goochland
11:00 am - Preschool Storytime
North Avenue Meeting Room
11:00 am - New Years Eve at Dave & Buster's - Richmond
4001 Brownstone Blvd , Glen Allen
4:00 pm - NYE! with Antoine Scott
Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant , 11800 W Broad St , Richmond
7:00 pm - KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Richmond
Movieland At Boulevard Square , 1301 N Arthur Ashe Blvd , Richmond
10:50 am - Burlesque Bingo
Blue Bee Cider , 4811 Bethlehem Rd , Richmond
8:00 pm - Contemporary Modern Dance w/Allisen 3rd-5th grade
Robinson Theater Community Arts Center , 2903 Q St , Richmond
3:45 pm - PE Games w/Robinson Staff 3rd-5th
Robinson Theater Community Arts Center , 2903 Q St , Richmond
3:45 pm - Tomorrow, the War with Max Watman
Fountain Bookstore Inc , 1307 E Cary St , Richmond
6:00 pm - Zarna Garg: Million Dollar Excuses
Funny Bone Comedy Club 11800 West Broad Street Suite 1090 Richmond, VA 23233
7:00 pm
Tuesday December 30
Wednesday December 31
Friday January 2
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
Thursday January 8
📣 Richmond Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Richmond PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Simple Solutions Psychiatry, LLC — (434) 259-8085
Now Accepting Aetna & Humana Clients for MHSS Support - Daniel Yoon - eXp Realty — (804) 896-2694
Latest Updates on New Construction Communities & Incentives
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Many thanks to the young man who helped my daughter shop for pants for her brother in Target yesterday.
Our adult son is on the autism spectrum and our daughter wasn’t sure of his size. The young man, who was shopping with friends, kindly and patiently… (Nextdoor Fox Hall) - Hermi Update: My neighbors Bob and Stacy lost their beautiful girl Ellie not long ago.
When Stacy saw that Hermi's Bear had crossed the Stuffed animal Rainbow bridge, She and Bob gave Hermi one of Ellie's stuffed bears. He couldn't… (Nextdoor Bellevue)
- We're very sorry to pass along the news that beloved Richmonder Bill Martin, director of The Valentine, died today. The former Style Weekly 2024... (X: StyleWeekly)
- Climate change brings new species, new challenges to the Bay... (X: RTDNEWS)
- Target posted a job opening for Overnight Inbound (Stocking) (T1018) in Richmond. Apply here.
- Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Richmond. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Richmond here.
Ok Richmond! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Lunch and dinner. (From Norine S.)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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