"Don't ask me how I did it. I just did it. It was hard."The big picture: Those lines have been used in more than 113,000 TikToks as a sound people use over their video — and they're from Richmond rapper Chandler's song "NOTHIN' TO IT."Zoom in: The TikTok where he released the first clip of his new song at the end of March has nearly 9 million views.Another video where he's wearing an "OG FOUR LOKO SURVIVOR" hat and has the caption "when you accidentally rap a really relatable line" has 6.3 million views.Other TikToks with the sound have used the following captions:"How did you pull a 6'0 baddie as a 5'3 dude?""When the blacked out friend makes the last cup" (in beer pong)."How did you survive middle school as a Horse Girl?"

Spring Richmond Restaurant Week is here.Why it matters: Restaurant Week helps promote Richmond's independently owned restaurants and serves as a major fundraiser for Feed More, the region's food pantry.How it works: Every year in spring and fall, dozens of local restaurants put together a special three-course menu for a set price.This year's spring event starts Monday, April 22 and runs through Sunday.There are 31 participating restaurants this spring offering three-course menus for $35.24 per person, with $5.24 going to Feed More.All locals have to do is visit any of the participating restaurants and eat.New to the event year:1933 Public House,...

Virginia hasn't legalized recreational weed sales yet, but that doesn't mean you can't get legally high.The big picture: Since Virginia became the first southern state to legalize marijuana consumption in 2021, the path to a legal market has been a doobie (sorry, a doozy).The closest Virginians got to legally buying weed was this year, when Democrats sent a retail marijuana market bill to Gov. Youngkin.He vetoed it, but not before bluntly saying,"Anybody who thinks I'm going to sign that … must be smoking something."The intrigue: A loophole allowing the sale of THC-containing products like Delta-8, closed last July. So that...

One of the largest collections of Japanese samurai armor in the world will be on view at VMFA beginning Saturday.Why it matters: "Samurai Armor" offers Richmonders a rare opportunity to see this stunning collection up close, and with 360-degree views of many of the intricate suits.The big picture: The samurai period spanned nearly 700 years of Japanese history, running from 1185 to 1868.Samurai (which means "those who serve") were the military elite soldiers of the nation's warrior culture. Their armor, made from iron and leather and passed down through generations, is a symbol of the samurai legacy.What's inside: Around...

Virginia may only be part of the way toward fully legal recreational marijuana, but that's not deterring travelers looking for a 420-friendly vacation. State of play: U.S. states that blazed the marijuana legalization trail now have a high concentration of weed-friendly vacation rentals, a new study by Upgraded Points shows.

A bill Gov. Youngkin signed into law on Thursday makes it illegal for the NCAA to punish Virginia schools for paying their student athletes.Why it matters: No other state in the U.S. has done this, which could give Virginia schools like UVA, Tech and JMU a recruiting advantage, according to ESPN.The big picture: The legislation allows Virginia universities to compensate athletes through name, image and likeness (NIL) deals starting July 1.They can't be paid for their athletic performance but can be paid for marketing campaigns they're used in with university dollars.Zoom in: The move overrides the NCAA's rules, which ban schools from directly signing NIL deals with their student-athletes.What's next: Virginia could be the catalyst to other states following suit, per Sports Illustrated. Virginia Tech's athletic director Whit Babcock told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Tech might start charging for spring football tickets and use the money as NIL proceeds.

Harrison Roday, a first-time candidate vying for Richmond mayor, has raised more money than any other person running for local office in Virginia this year. The big picture: That's according to an Axios analysis of campaign finance reports out this week, which show him raising nearly six times as much as Andreas Addison and 6.5 times more than Michelle Mosby — two other Richmond mayoral candidates.

Venture Richmond just unveiled a $30 million plan to upgrade Brown's Island with enhancements like permanent bathrooms, seating, shade and water fountains.Why it matters: The proposed plan will fundamentally change the look of the island, which around 1 million people (and 8,540 dogs) visit each year, per Venture.The big picture: Brown's Island is the city's six-acre, riverfront park that hosts dozens of annual events, including Friday Cheers, Folk Festival and Riverrock.It's been a part of the James River Park System since 1987 and is managed by the nonprofit downtown booster organization, Venture Richmond.Visitation has surged since the T. Tyler Potterfield...

The unofficial holiday for getting high (off weed) is this Saturday, and whether you partake — or just want plans after the Monument Avenue 10K — Richmond has a jam packed day to legally celebrate it.But first, for our Swifties:💿 For $20, you can hear the new Taylor Swift album "The Tortured Poets Department" at the Broadberry on Thursday when it drops at midnight.🥳 If you can't make it, the Canal Club has another Taylor Swift album release party starting at 8pm. $20 at the door.Saturday (aka 4/20)😋 In case you get an early round of the munchies, Main Street...

Gold teeth, fake eyelashes, three curtain rods and a tub of yams — these were among the most unique items Richmonders left in their Ubers last year.Driving the news: Uber's annual lost-and-found index is out, and the folks at the ridesharing company shared the Richmond-specific items with Axios.These were items left between April 2023 and March 2024.Why it matters: Everyone forgets things, but Richmond might be the only city in the nation where riders travel with — and forget — their TV remote, Uggs and at least one birth certificate.Zoom in: Here are the 10 most unique items left by...

They're coming. Billions, if not trillions, of a rare breed of cicadas — Brood XIX — are about to crawl out of their underground bunkers, where for 13 years they've been suckling on tree roots, waiting to emerge.Why it matters: Richmond is one of a handful of places in Virginia likely to experience this wonder of nature firsthand.State of play: These aren't just any old, everyday cicadas. Some of the red-eyed Brood XIX are expected to surface with a fungus that turns them into hypersexual, frantically-mating zombies that spread the fungus like an STD and keep going until their genitals...

Data: Flex Association; Map: Axios VisualsNearly a quarter of a million Virginians are gig workers.Why it matters: App-based work offers a flexible way to earn a living or just make an extra buck — but many such workers are fighting for better pay, benefits and more.By the numbers: There are 222,000 app-based workers in Virginia, comprising 4.9% of the state's total workforce, per the study.The big picture: About 4.3% of the overall U.S. workforce takes part in app-based work, demonstrating gig companies' influence.That's 7.3 million app-based workers nationwide.How it works: That's per an Axios analysis of a new study from...

Richmond has plans to move its Department of Social Services into the Richmond Times-Dispatch building, according to a 93-page ordinance outlining the lease agreement.Why it matters: This would change where residents seek help with child protective services, refugee support, food stamp applications and Medicaid assistance.The big picture: The city's goal is to consolidate the department's two locations, Southside Plaza and Marshall Plaza, into 113,000 square feet of office space on 300 E. Franklin St.This means taking over 325 parking spaces plus the second and third floors and parts of the first.The newspaper's staff is on the fourth floor.The latest: A...

Kids in Virginia are increasingly seeking mental health care in emergency rooms, per new Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association data. The big picture: VHHA found that the number of pediatric patients visiting ERs for anxiety and depression in the beginning of 2023 surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Why it matters: ERs weren't...

The city of Richmond sent late notices to 58% of delinquent meals tax accounts during a recent seven-month period, according to a new report from the city auditor. Why it matters: The other 42% considered delinquent between July 12, 2022 and Feb. 13, 2024 did not receive any notice telling them they owed a balance.

Last week, Gov. Youngkin signed a bill lowering the membership of Virginia's Potato Board from seven to five people. Why it matters: It's a reminder that there's a state board dedicated to all things potatoes, complete with a Potato Fund to advertise and research them. The big picture: The Board...

Richmond police are ramping up patrols in "hotspots" and activating an 11pm curfew for teens in response to a spate of gun violence that killed four teenagers in the last two weeks.Why it matters: Eight Richmond Public School students have been shot, and four of them killed since Easter. Elementary school students were among the youngest victims; a 14-year-old middle school student was the youngest killed.The big picture: In an emotional press conference Monday, Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards, Mayor Stoney and RPS superintendent Jason Kamras pleaded with the community to help them curb the sudden increase in violence."The common...

More than half of babies born in Virginia in 2023 had birth mothers in their 30s and older, according to provisional CDC data. Why it matters: In the last few years, age 35 has gone from the start of "geriatric pregnancy" to potentially a maternal-age sweet spot. By the numbers:...

The Virginia NAACP is threatening to sue Gov. Glenn Youngkin over an alleged failure to provide public records on how his office is handling DEI issues. The big picture: The lawsuit the civil rights group intends to file says the administration violated state FOIA law by not turning over requested information within the legally defined timeframe.

After eight years writing Good Morning, RVA, "Richmond's premiere zoning and rezoning newsletter," citizen journalist and author Ross Catrow is calling it quits, he wrote in Friday's edition.Why it matters: For nearly 20 years and through three iterations of RVA-branded outlets, Catrow has been an essential part of the local media landscape.State of play: Catrow is taking a job with the city's Office of Strategic Communications and Civic Engagement and wrote that his professional transition makes it the perfect time to hit pause — and reclaim his morning sleep.Flashback: Catrow's start in local news came in 2005 when he and...