Mattress storein Richmond, VA

The heartbreaking death of a 2-year-old boy from Warrenton in 2022 after a nurse mistakenly gave him a fatal dose of painkiller sparked a first step to unwinding a 13-year-old deal between two of the General Assembly’s lobbying powerhouses and creating an exemption to the current cap on medical malpractice awards.

Artemis McRae’s parents took him to the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital emergency room with stomach pains that turned out to be a routine case of appendicitis.

But the 1,000 milligrams of Tylenol that a traveling nurse mistakenly sent through an IV left the vivacious toddler with a failing liver and swelling pressing his brain. After a two-week struggle, it proved to be insurmountable damage.

If he had been able to survive, the 2011 compromise would have limited a malpractice award to $2.6 million. That is unlikely to be anything nearly enough to cover the medical and nursing care bills for someone who would never be able to care for himself, his father, Carson McRae, told the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. The cap rises by $50,000 a year through 2031.

“I have to ask you, what is the life of a child worth?” he said.

The 2011 compromise negotiated between health care providers and trial lawyers was meant to end the regular wrangling over Virginia’s caps on medical malpractice awards.

State Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, has proposed creating an exemption from Virginia’s caps on medical malpractice awards when a case involves a child under 10 years old. It is meant to help families cope with what can be a lifetime of heavy costs for care for children harmed by medical negligence and malpractice.

“This committee is Courts of Justice and this is about justice,” Stanley said Monday. He said Virginia’s broad cap is unique.

Scott Johnson, general counsel for the Medical Society of Virginia, led a parade of a dozen medical society and hospital lobbyists opposing the measure. He said it would send the cost of healthcare soaring, as doctors and hospitals scramble to pay for dramatically higher malpractice insurance bills.

He said the cost of malpractice insurance was exorbitant before the General Assembly enacted a schedule of annually rising caps on awards and that only some providers could afford it.

Shari Barkin, physician in chief and chair of the pediatrics department at VCU Health’s Children’s Hospital of Richmond, said ending that cap could force the hospital to reconsider offering some of the higher-risk pediatric services it now provides.

Stanley said only 42 Virginia cases since 2005 found damages to adult or child patients exceeding $2 million, before the state law caps then rolled back the award. He said the cost of ending the cap for children’s cases would be easily affordable, since the cases were rare.

Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, whose legal work has included defending insurers, as well as drafting a brief defending the malpractice cap for a state Supreme Court case, said the current system is broken — and he blamed insurers for this.

Because the cap limits awards, insurers find it makes economic sense for them to battle every claim in court, rather than launch good-faith negotiations to pay a fair settlement, he said.

“If I hurt someone, I pay insurance to make sure that person is made whole,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, noted that the medical groups’ compromise with trial lawyers over award caps was approved by legislators who for the most part are no longer in the General Assembly.

The committee approved Stanley’s bill 8-4.

The bid to legalize skill games that has been put on a fast track in the state Senate was derailed on Friday when a special House of Delegates panel gutted the House version of the Senate bill.

Skill games are the slot-machine-like devices that have popped up in the thousands in convenience stores and truck stops across the state, despite the General Assembly’s effort to ban them in 2020.

Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, submitted a 70-plus page replacement to the House version of this year’s Senate bill to legalize the games, with significantly higher license fees and taxes and stricter oversight of the machines’ operations.

Since legislation has to pass both House and Senate — including, in the House, Krizek’s special subcommittee — before it can reach the governor, the panel’s action almost certainly means the Senate version is not going forward, at least not without significant modification.

Krizek’s rewrite imposed tighter rules — to keep kids from playing the games, on advertising, and on making sure the machines are not rigged — than the Senate bill or the identical version proposed by Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake.

“Your bill doesn’t have these safeguards,” Krizek told Hayes.

“What we’ve really been trying to do with our gaming is to be very particular making sure we were really benefiting the commonwealth,” he added.

He said he was sympathetic to the convenience store owners who say skill games have been a business-saving source of revenue, which was why he proposed his revision, despite his reservations about adding yet another option for gamblers.

The battle over skill games is one of the most heavily lobbied this session. It pits skill game operators and their convenience store allies against firms that distribute video gaming terminals, which are pure games of chance. Skill game operators say their devices are not pure games of chance because small actions by players, in response to prompts, mean there is skill involved in playing their devices.

General Assembly 2024: confrontation or compromise on taxes?

The House rewrite would allow skill games while imposing stinging license fees: $1 million a year for the firms that make them, $250,000 a year for the firms that distribute them and handle the money; and $3,000 a year for each machine a convenience store or truck stop hosts.

The Senate bill proposes annual fees of $250,000, $10,000 and $100 per machine, respectively.

The House rewrite levies a 30% tax on electronic games versus 15% in the Senate version.

The rewrite also requires the machines be connected to a central monitoring system overseen by the Virginia Lottery, much as slot machines in casinos are.

It cuts the number that stores or truck stops can operate: from five to two at convenience stores and from 10 to five at truck stops.

The gutted House bill is similar to yet another alternative still slated to be considered by the Senate’s General Laws Committee, which usually considers gaming bills. Senate leaders steered the first Senate bill with its lower fees and taxes — backed by Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth — away from that panel to a friendlier committee.

All of the bills say people under 21 are barred from playing the games.

Lucas has said that as chair of the Senate Finance Committee, she can use her political muscle to persuade fellow legislators to support the first Senate bill.

While the General Assembly banned the games in 2020, a court injunction froze enforcement until late last year.

Such games have been an important source of income for convenience stores, restaurants and truck stops, especially during the pandemic, and several have organized to lobby for the first Senate bill.

But lobbyists for nonprofits allowed to run charitable gaming operations, such as bingo, for fundraising, as well as those from casinos and the horse industry, which depends on historical horse racing games as well as live races, said skill games needed much tighter regulation than Hayes’ bill and the Senate proposed. They said they still had concerns with the House rewrite.

“We have enough gaming in Virginia,” said Todd Gathje of the Family Foundation.

Krizek’s rewrite passed a special House panel by a 6-0 vote.

Richmond, Virginia, is a city with a deep and complicated history. It also has a reputation as a hip landing spot for young professionals and new businesses. The Commonwealth's River City is home to picturesque neighborhoods that could give Charleston's Rainbow Row a run for its money and craft companies like Belle Isle Moonshine that swear they couldn't have planted roots elsewhere. Thanks to its culinary creativity, Richmond has recently gained traction as one of the South's best food destinations, ranking with cities like Nashville, New Orleans, and Savannah. From the treasured local haunts to the buzzy newcomers, dine at any of these restaurants, and you'll soon understand that Richmond's growing culinary scene is just beginning to showcase everything it has to offer.

"Here, Szechuan peppercorn-dusted oysters and scallops with carrot-miso butter feel at home alongside cornmeal biscuits and refried lentils," Priya Krishna writes of Alewife, voted the South's Best New Restaurant just a few years ago. "It's a place that [chef and owner Lee] Gregory says exemplifies the growing diversity of Richmond's population and foodways." Order the Siren's Song—a signature sampler platter that changes by the hour, repurposing the night's food scraps or odds and ends into supremely innovative Mid-Atlantic tasters. Current starters include Virginia oysters, smoked trout, and Wagyu beef tartare, served with cilantro, a fish sauce, benne, and rice crackers. As for entrees, catch the Grilled Whole Rainbow Trout with farro verde, broccoli raab, Calabrian chili, and Italian sausage.

Mama J’s

This 2020 South's best local restaurant feels like home, from the relaxed dining room to the generous portions of fried chicken and catfish. Mama J's is Richmond's go-to spot for authentic soul food. It's a family-owned-and-operated spot in the historic Jackson Ward area that celebrates the tradition of eating good food with family. You'll find fried chicken, trout, crab cakes, pork chops, beef brisket, and barbeque spare ribs on the menu—and that's just the lineup of entrees. There's a whole host of sandwiches, starters, and sides to try too. If you didn't bring your appetite, snag a seat at the bar—the signature drinks are all named after the Mama J family members.

Brenner Pass

Seated in the city's growing Scott's Addition neighborhood, Brenner Pass is the sophomore eatery from Top Chef contestant and Richmond native Brittany Anderson. The restaurant serves Alpine cuisine inspired by the mountain pass that borders Italy and Austria. Stop in to order Gruyere and Emmentaler fondue for the table, whole-roasted Virginia trout, and dry-aged ribeye au poivre. After dinner, continue the regional adventure next door at Anderson's Black Lodge, where you'll find classic cocktails, caviar, shot pairings, and late-night bites like fondue fries and hotdogs with Alpine-influenced toppings.

Sub Rosa Bakery

Led by brother-sister duo Evrim and Evin Dogu (who received James Beard Award-semifinalist status in 2019 and 2020), Sub Rosa Bakery takes "homemade" to new extremes: They "mill their own stone-ground flour from Southern-grown grains and bake homemade bread in a wood-fired oven," writes Hannah Hayes for Southern Living. "Evin's morning selection of delicious chocolate croissants and pastries filled with fig and Appalachian cheese provides reason enough to schedule a wake-up call." No trip to Richmond is complete without something delicious baked by the team at Sub Rosa Bakery.

Longoven is an exciting player in Richmond's diverse dining scene, bringing sophistication and refinement to a city known for its relaxed groove. Located in Scott's Addition, they "offer seasonal tasting and snack menus that change regularly, highlighting the best products from [their] farmers and purveyors." You'll find dishes like chili oil grilled lobster made with pine nut puree, gingered crunch, and pickled spruce on the extended menu, which is available to browse online.

The Roosevelt

Tucked away in Richmond's Church Hill area sits The Roosevelt, a neighborhood gem where you can snack or feast on the menu's offerings, which include small plates like cornbread, smoked chicken wings, and beef tartare, and entrees like fried catfish, seared scallops, and hickory smoked eggplant. The century-old building has been home to numerous restaurant concepts—from seafood to Mexican—but The Roosevelt's pioneering role in Richmond's culinary growth has cemented its status as a modern RVA institution.

Inspired by both rustic and modern Greek fare, Stella's fills their menu with Mediterranean classics like spanakopita, dolmades, and keftedes, as well as flavorful entrees such as moussaka (sautéed eggplant with spiced aromatic ground beef baked with béchamel), braised lamb shank, and crab cakes. The restaurant is one in a long lineage of restaurants named for Stella Dikos, a legend in the Richmond food scene. Stop by Stella's Grocery if you cannot snag a reservation at the sit-down restaurant or want to take some of their Greek classics home. With six locations across the city, these gourmet shops offer baked goods, prepared foods, sandwiches, rotisserie, and gelato.

L'Opossum

This formal-yet-funky fine dining restaurant essentially encapsulates the spirit of Richmond—it is artful and excellent, but it still doesn't take itself too seriously. L'Opossum's clever, elegant menu features playfully named dishes like "Les Escargots à la Ham Biscuit," which comes with a sweet garlic beurre blanc, and "A Brisk Fall Cookout in the Boneyard," which, according to the restaurant's menu, is "roasted rack of lamb atop a chimichurri sweet potato salad" served with "big round blackberry barbecue bordelaise." You're in for an adventure when you show up for a meal at L'Opossum.

More Dining Spots

Richmond's culinary scene is vast, and there are plenty of other spots that you don't want to miss. Here are just a few additional restaurants to consider:

No matter where you land, you'll always find an excellent meal in Virginia's capital city.

Save Your Date in Downtown Richmond

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Whether you're planning a traditional wedding, a small party on a budget, or looking for a unique urban venue - these 17 wedding venues in Downtown Richmond offer a variety of pricing, packages and experiences that provide the perfect place to celebrate your big day.

Bolling-Haxall House

The perfect venue for: A classic wedding within a National Register of Historic Places landmark that's sure to make you feel like you've traveled back in time.

Price: $

Capacity: 300

Neighborhood: Monroe Ward

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Common House

The perfect venue for: A smaller wedding looking for a weather-proof, open-air courtyard with amazing rooftop views.

Price: $

Capacity: 150

Neighborhood: Arts District

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Copper Hall

The perfect venue for: An intimate, historic setting with the perfect mix of history and timeless touches.

Price: $

Capacity: 120

Neighborhood: Manchester

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The Foundry

The perfect venue for: An affordable indoor/outdoor setting that will serve guests beautiful views of the James River and Richmond's historic charm.

Price: $$

Capacity: 500

Neighborhood: Monroe Ward

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Havana 59

The perfect venue for: A multi-level indoor/outdoor layout with Cuban accents at every turn.

Price: $

Capacity: 296

Neighborhood: Shockoe Bottom

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Hippodrome Theater

The perfect venue for: A reception featuring a big band on a 1920's stage where legends such as Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald have performed.

Price: $

Capacity: 180

Neighborhood: Jackson Ward

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The Jefferson Hotel

The perfect venue for: A storybook wedding with picture-perfect photo ops and a grand staircase.

Price: $$$

Capacity: 300

Neighborhood: Monroe Ward

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John Marshall Ballrooms

The perfect venue for: A luxurious environment of chandeliers and grand windows boasting city views with all-inclusive options.

Price: $$

Capacity: 350

Neighborhood: Financial District

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Lily Black RVA

The perfect venue for: An intimate gathering featuring contemporary architecture and fixtures.

Price: $

Capacity: 75

Neighborhood: Jackson Ward

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Linden Row Inn

The perfect venue for: A romantic gathering that offers a secluded sanctuary in the heart of downtown Richmond.

Price: $

Capacity: 125

Neighborhood: Monroe Ward

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The Loft

The perfect venue for: An intimate ceremony surrounded by original windows, exposed brick, lofty ceilings, and modern amenities.

Price: $

Capacity: 75

Neighborhood: Jackson Ward

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Main Street Station

The perfect venue for: Large celebrations featuring stunning scenes in a spacious setting that offers versatility and scale.

Price: $$$

Capacity: 300+

Neighborhood: Shockoe Bottom

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Poe Museum

The perfect venue for: The eclectic couple looking for unconventionality without sacrificing the romance or memories.

Price: $

Capacity: 150

Neighborhood: Shockoe Bottom

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Quirk Hotel

The perfect venue for: An all-in-one package that offers accommodations, customization options and an authentically curated space.

Price: $$

Capacity: 100

Neighborhood: Arts District

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The Renaissance

The perfect venue for: A classic and timeless vision that offers stress-free solutions to your wedding planning.

Price: $$$

Capacity: 250

Neighborhood: Arts District

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Richmond Marriott

The perfect venue for: A stress-free wedding experience that offers plenty of space and convenience for you and your guests.

Price: $$

Capacity: 2,000

Neighborhood: Financial District

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The Valentine Garden

The perfect venue for: An urban oasis featuring a fountain courtyard, manicured green space and magical ambience.

Price: $

Capacity: 150

Neighborhood: Court End

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Find more Valentine Garden details here.

To meet the growing demand for maintenance-free retirement living, Avery Point, an Erickson Senior Living-managed community in Short Pump, Va., is expanding its selection of residences and amenities in 2024.

The community added to its array of independent living apartment homes with the opening of Boynton Place in January and the scheduled opening of Wilton Crossing in the summer. The new resident buildings feature 195 stunning apartment homes with a variety of one or two-bedroom designs, spacious 9' ceilings, and a choice of patio, balcony, or screened porch.

Avery Point's new dining venue, The Fireside, debuted in January. The restaurant features freshly prepared dishes and accommodations for any occasion, including a private dining room and outdoor terrace seating for residents and guests.

New amenities include a creative arts studio, billiards room, a library reading room, and a woodshop—giving residents even more opportunities to enjoy their favorite hobbies, share their talents, and connect with others.

"Demand for Avery Point is at an all-time high," said Executive Director Todd DeLaney. "We are excited to have more homes available in our magnificent community so more people can enjoy our active, affordable, and maintenance-free retirement lifestyle."

Since opening in 2022, Avery Point has established itself as the area's premiere senior living community by offering maintenance-free apartment homes and an array of amenities and activities. In 2023, the community was named Best Senior Living Facility by the readers of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in the publication's annual Best of Richmond awards.

Every stunning apartment home at Avery Point has convenient access to resort-like amenities, including a swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, theater, salon, on-site medical center, restaurants featuring chef-prepared cuisine, library, dozens of clubs, walking paths, and much more.

To learn more about independent senior living at Avery Point, visit AveryPointCommunity.com to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and more.

Avery Point® is a not-for-profit community, managed by Erickson Senior Living and supported by National Senior Communities, Inc. (NSC), the largest independent board of continuing care retirement communities in the nation. NSC's purpose is to represent the financial interests of residents to promote the highest quality programs and services for the best possible value. For more information, please visit AveryPointCommunity.com.