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Henrico's new arena plan could bring major concerts and nightlife

Here's a look inside the county's draft plan for what to do with the former Best Products site.

News

More than a year after the $2.3 billion GreenCity project collapsed, Henrico has unveiled <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a draft plan" data-vars-click-url="https://henrico.gov/pdfs/planning/DraftBestProductsandBrookRoadCorridorMasterPlan.pdf" data-vars-content-id="c8b92cb9-a5f4-4a45-979d-dd05ffe35d1e" data-vars-headline="Henrico&#x27;s new arena plan could bring major concerts and nightlife" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://henrico.gov/pdfs/planning/DraftBestProductsandBrookRoadCorridorMasterPlan.pdf" target="_blank">a draft plan</a> for redeveloping the former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Best Products" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/30/henrico-best-products-demolition-eagle-statues" data-vars-content-id="c8b92cb9-a5f4-4a45-979d-dd05ffe35d1e" data-vars-headline="Henrico&#x27;s new arena plan could bring major concerts and nightlife" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/30/henrico-best-products-demolition-eagle-statues" target="_self">Best Products</a> headquarters site.Why it matters: The county-led concept includes turning the space into a walkable entertainment district with an arena, restaurants, nightlife, housing, parks and connections to the Fall Line Trail.

Richmond tourism is growing — and more events are coming

Major tournaments, conventions and events are boosting bookings this year.

The Richmond region saw just over 19 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tourists" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/01/richmond-then-and-now-nyt-travel-coverage-tourism" data-vars-content-id="3984b145-4ea2-4757-ad37-4d5ce15ad260" data-vars-headline="Richmond tourism is growing — and more events are coming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/01/richmond-then-and-now-nyt-travel-coverage-tourism" target="_self">tourists</a> last year.Why it matters: That&#x27;s 800,000 more people who visited — and spent money — in the region than the year before.

Richmond's newest pop-up bar skips the alcohol

Soft Times Lounge is launching Wednesday as a sober nightlife series bringing bar culture, but without booze.

Food and Drink

No booze. Still a bar.<ul><li>That&#x27;s the idea behind <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Soft Times Lounge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/softtimeslounge/" data-vars-content-id="c87a51e2-e5a4-4eae-b1a6-ff51e92cd54f" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s newest pop-up bar skips the alcohol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/softtimeslounge/" target="_blank">Soft Times Lounge</a>, a new Richmond pop-up series launching Wednesday for those who want the energy of a night out, but without the alcohol.</li></ul>Why it matters: Richmond doesn&#x27;t have many dedicated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sober nightlife spaces" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/2435886340264929/2435886360264927/" data-vars-content-id="c87a51e2-e5a4-4eae-b1a6-ff51e92cd54f" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s newest pop-up bar skips the alcohol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2435886340264929/2435886360264927/" target="_blank">sober nightlife spaces</a>, even as more and more people <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dial back on drinking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health" data-vars-content-id="c87a51e2-e5a4-4eae-b1a6-ff51e92cd54f" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s newest pop-up bar skips the alcohol" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/13/alcohol-drinking-rate-low-health" target="_self">dial back on drinking</a> — or cut it out altogether.

Hang opens in Scott's Addition with $3 beers and $5 tacos

The spinoff from the Lunch.Supper team is promising "never-ending happy hour" prices.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hang" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/hang_rva/" data-vars-content-id="a7c90214-cf37-4dbc-a991-9036b1febd49" data-vars-headline="Hang opens in Scott&#x27;s Addition with $3 beers and $5 tacos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/hang_rva/" target="_blank">Hang</a>, Lunch.Supper&#x27;s new Tex-Mex concept spinoff in Scott&#x27;s Addition, is opening Tuesday with $3 beers, $5 tacos and $8 cocktails.Why it matters: &quot;We want it to be a never-ending happy hour,&quot; longtime Lunch.Supper manager Amanda Fritts told Axios.

The songs that instantly take Richmonders back to college

The answers span five decades, and range from Billy Joel and Snoop Dogg to Green Day and Fetty Wap.

Culture

And now, let&#x27;s dive into the songs that took us (and our readers) back to the college years.

Jack White and LCD Soundsystem to headline Iron Blossom 2026

The lineup also includes Dijon, Geese, Portugal. The Man and Phantogram, organizers announced Monday.

Iron Blossom finally dropped its 2026 lineup.Why it matters: The rumors were true: Jack White and LCD Soundsystem are headlining.

Iron Blossom 2026 tickets to go on sale with no lineup

The "blind faith" presale starts Thursday at noon.

Presale tickets for Iron Blossom&#x27;s fourth year go live <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Thursday at noon" data-vars-click-url="https://ironblossomfestival.com/" data-vars-content-id="8f16068a-44d1-4418-b993-68336929ce51" data-vars-headline="Iron Blossom 2026 tickets to go on sale with no lineup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ironblossomfestival.com/" target="_blank">Thursday at noon</a> and run through Sunday night.Why it matters: The music festival&#x27;s organizers want people to buy tickets with &quot;blind faith&quot; for a lineup they&#x27;ve yet to announce.

Parties are going phoneless to bring back the old days

It's an up-and-coming trend tapping into a resistance to always being online, and it's made it to Richmond.

The new way to party is the old way to party: Phoneless.Why it matters: It&#x27;s an up-and-coming trend tapping into a growing, multi-generational resistance to always being online, and Ern Weaver brought it to Richmond.

The Bad Bunny songs to know ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

For anyone tuning in to the Puerto Rican artist's history-making halftime show and needs a crash course.

Sports

Ahead of the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Benito Bowl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/04/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-latinos" data-vars-content-id="124bfa82-b9a5-470b-946d-5f30f72c53d3" data-vars-headline="The Bad Bunny songs to know ahead of Super Bowl Sunday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/04/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-latinos" target="_self">Benito Bowl</a>&quot; on Sunday — more commonly known as the Super Bowl — we&#x27;ve put together a crash course on the Bad Bunny songs to know before his halftime show.Why it matters: The Puerto Rican <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reggaetonero" data-vars-click-url="https://www.speakinglatino.com/word/reguetonero/#:~:text=A%20term%20used%20to%20refer,that%20originated%20in%20Puerto%20Rico." data-vars-content-id="124bfa82-b9a5-470b-946d-5f30f72c53d3" data-vars-headline="The Bad Bunny songs to know ahead of Super Bowl Sunday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.speakinglatino.com/word/reguetonero/#:~:text=A%20term%20used%20to%20refer,that%20originated%20in%20Puerto%20Rico." target="_blank">reggaetonero</a>, fresh off an Album of the Year win at the Grammy&#x27;s, has become one of the most famous artists in the world.<ul><li>But it&#x27;s OK if you&#x27;re among those who are just now getting familiar.</li></ul>

Richmond-area leaders reveal their top songs and artists of 2025

Guess which one had "Trash Panda" by Ray Wyatt as their most-listened to song.

Just in: We got the top songs and artists of 2025 from the people who run Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico. The big picture: Local leaders listen to everything from Phil Collins and Imagine Dragons to Shaboozey and Sam Cooke. <ul><li>One of them had a most-listened-to song named after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="raccoon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/05/viral-drunk-raccoon-virginia-ashland-liquor-store" data-vars-content-id="23f0ea7d-9a18-475f-96be-cdbe67e5a265" data-vars-headline="Richmond-area leaders reveal their top songs and artists of 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/05/viral-drunk-raccoon-virginia-ashland-liquor-store" target="_self">raccoon</a>.</li></ul>

Richmond's 2025 Spotify Wrapped

It includes the city's top Spotify podcasts, some of which might surprise you.

The most-streamed song on Spotify this year in the U.S. — and Richmond — was &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="luther" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNY_2TEmzho" data-vars-content-id="899e2bd0-9e7e-4cbb-81ee-292f387315bc" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s 2025 Spotify Wrapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNY_2TEmzho" target="_blank">luther</a>&quot; by Kendrick Lamar and SZA.Why it matters: Knowing people&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spotify Wrapped," data-vars-click-url="http://otify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-tops-global-artists" data-vars-content-id="899e2bd0-9e7e-4cbb-81ee-292f387315bc" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s 2025 Spotify Wrapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://otify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-tops-global-artists" target="_blank">Spotify Wrapped,</a> the platform&#x27;s annual roundup of users&#x27; listening habits that came out this week, has become an annual tradition.

Gwar's Blöthar auctioned off a signed bidet to John Oliver

It was to raise money for public media — and someone bid over $6,000 for it.

Comedian John Oliver auctioned off a signed bidet from Gwar&#x27;s frontman Blöthar to help save public media.Why it matters: That&#x27;s a sentence most of us thought we&#x27;d never read.

Metallica's "Enter Sandman" causes seismic activity at Virginia Tech show

The ground shook twice during "Enter Sandman."

<figure><img alt="a gif of a concert" height="438" id="8b25a4e2-6496-4543-98a4-b0eb3614cd4f" src="https://images.axios.com/m_o1ap1i69AmixBllBd2_MBuNu0=/filters:no_upscale()/2025/05/09/1746820285352.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>The sold-out crowd when Metallica played &quot;Enter Sandman&quot; Video: Courtesy of Metallica and Virginia Tech</figcaption></figure>When Metallica performed at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Virginia Tech&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/09/20/the-current-40-cent-ice-cream-scoops" data-vars-content-id="1382ccda-3c66-4fba-aa0a-630029d5649b" data-vars-headline="Metallica&#x27;s &quot;Enter Sandman&quot; causes seismic activity at Virginia Tech show" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/09/20/the-current-40-cent-ice-cream-scoops" target="_self">Virginia Tech&#x27;s</a> stadium for the first time ever on Wednesday, the ground shook — twice.The first was when Metallica took the stage and teased the intro to &quot;Enter Sandman,&quot; a song that&#x27;s defined the Hokies&#x27; team entrance — named <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of the best" data-vars-click-url="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1547957-power-ranking-the-25-best-team-entrances-in-college-football" data-vars-content-id="1382ccda-3c66-4fba-aa0a-630029d5649b" data-vars-headline="Metallica&#x27;s &quot;Enter Sandman&quot; causes seismic activity at Virginia Tech show" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1547957-power-ranking-the-25-best-team-entrances-in-college-football" target="_blank">one of the best</a> in college football — for 25 years.

Richmond's favorite songs from this year's Rock & Roll HOF nominees

We love "Wonderwall," "Ms. Jackson" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," according to TouchTunes.

TouchTunes, a jukebox company used by local bars and restaurants, found Richmond listeners&#x27; top song for each of the 14 artists nominated for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/39268120.56/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2NsZXZlbGFuZC8yMDI1LzAzLzExL3JvY2stcm9sbC1oYWxsLWZhbWUtb2Rkcy0yMDI1LW5vbWluZWVzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/621cf7632d0d7c1ea2551892B04dc8c36" data-vars-content-id="69e40219-1a6b-42a0-837e-eb0ab4c69939" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s favorite songs from this year&#x27;s Rock &amp; Roll HOF nominees" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/39268120.56/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2NsZXZlbGFuZC8yMDI1LzAzLzExL3JvY2stcm9sbC1oYWxsLWZhbWUtb2Rkcy0yMDI1LW5vbWluZWVzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/621cf7632d0d7c1ea2551892B04dc8c36" target="_self">Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame</a>:

Music

The songs that instantly take Richmonders back to college

Jack White and LCD Soundsystem to headline Iron Blossom 2026

Iron Blossom 2026 tickets to go on sale with no lineup

Parties are going phoneless to bring back the old days

The Bad Bunny songs to know ahead of Super Bowl Sunday