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Exclusive: Richmond has more empty apartments — and rising rents

Vacancies have climbed as new units opened, yet Richmond renters are still paying more than last year.

News

There are a lot of apartments sitting empty in metro Richmond, per new vacancy data the CoStar Group shared exclusively with Axios. Why it matters: Richmond has more apartments available after a record building boom, but that hasn&#x27;t solved the region&#x27;s housing crisis — especially for renters who can&#x27;t afford the new supply.

Scoop: Richmond wants to push Virginia to lower BAC limit

The idea, aimed at reducing traffic crashes, has struggled nationwide — and Richmond-area lawmakers aren't sold yet.

Richmond officials are considering asking Virginia lawmakers to drop the state&#x27;s blood alcohol content limit from 0.08 to 0.05, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The move could pull Virginia into a growing national debate over lowering BAC limits to reduce alcohol-related crashes — a push that&#x27;s repeatedly stalled in statehouses.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opens in Short Pump this week 

The Short Pump spot serves 100-plus dishes by conveyor belt, with robot drinks and prizes.

Food and Drink

Richmond&#x27;s wait for conveyor belt sushi is over: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kura Revolving Sushi Bar " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/28/kura-conveyor-belt-sushi-restaurant-short-pump" data-vars-content-id="b097b091-4d16-4fa8-a4ef-eabbd3b4a0cd" data-vars-headline="Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opens in Short Pump this week " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/28/kura-conveyor-belt-sushi-restaurant-short-pump" target="_self">Kura Revolving Sushi Bar </a>opens Tuesday in Short Pump. Why it matters: The California-based chain specializes in serving sushi on a belt, drinks via robot and dispensing prizes for clean plates.

14 things to do in Richmond this Labor Day weekend

From First Fridays to Dolly karaoke, Richmond has plenty going on for the long holiday weekend.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s unofficially the last weekend of summer. Here are a few cool things to do if you&#x27;re stuck in town.

Keanu Reeves returns to Richmond after 2024 viral moment

His last visit included a surprise bookstore stop and a sidewalk cigarette that was all over the internet.

Music

Keanu Reeves is back for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="another round" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/04/keanu-reeves-national-richmond-dogstar-tickets" data-vars-content-id="e1e96e5a-ef22-415d-b891-f5a234dddca8" data-vars-headline="Keanu Reeves returns to Richmond after 2024 viral moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/04/keanu-reeves-national-richmond-dogstar-tickets" target="_self">another round</a> in Richmond.Why it matters: Last time he visited, he <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="went viral" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1etag1v/keanu_reeves_casually_chilling_typing_and_smoking/" data-vars-content-id="e1e96e5a-ef22-415d-b891-f5a234dddca8" data-vars-headline="Keanu Reeves returns to Richmond after 2024 viral moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1etag1v/keanu_reeves_casually_chilling_typing_and_smoking/" target="_blank">went viral</a> for smoking a cig on the sidewalk before his concert at The National — like a true Richmonder.

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.