The Collegian
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Sticky Rice karaoke nights draw students downtown

<p>Courtesy of&nbsp;Sticky Rice Online.</p>

Courtesy of Sticky Rice Online.

Looking for something to do on a Tuesday night? Head downtown to the Fan district where Sticky Rice, a sushi restaurant by day, turns into a karaoke bar by night, packed with Richmond locals and students.

Downtown Richmond offers UR students a lot to do, including the James River, the shops on Cary Street and some of the best restaurants in the nation. For those 21 and over, it also presents plenty of nightlife options. Although there are always new places to explore, Richmond students have some favorites they return to week after week. Sticky Rice karaoke night has become one of these mainstays -- it's the perfect venue for everything from a casual Tuesday night to a birthday celebration.

Karaoke aside, Sticky Rice is a popular restaurant known for top-notch sushi and buckets of tater tots that add a unique twist to the menu. The restaurant hosts a number of events each week, including Wednesday night bingo and half-off select sushi after 10:30 p.m. on Mondays. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every night, it hosts a happy hour with half-off tater tots and a variety of drink specials.

Peter Acquafredda, RC '17, has been a fan of Sticky Rice for most of his time at UR. "I heard about Sticky Rice from one of my upperclassmen friends my sophomore year," he said. "The first time I went I really liked the environment and have kept going back. It's one of the places I'll miss in Richmond when I graduate.”

The majority of karaoke night attendees are Richmond locals, providing a change from the UR campus environment. Located in the Fan, there are plenty of other restaurants and bars close by, including a Richmond favorite, Pearl Raw Bar. 

On Tuesday nights, the line to get into Sticky Rice often stretches down the street, especially as the night progresses. Claiming a table requires arrival before karaoke officially starts, usually by extending a sushi dinner later into the night. Even just for a taste of Sticky Rice’s famous tater tots alone, the effort is well worth it. Add in an extensive karaoke list, drink specials and shake bombs, and it’s easy to understand why many students attend. 

“It’s really easy to get caught up in the excitement on campus with so much happening all the time, so I really enjoy the break of heading out into the city during the week,” Sam Groner, RC '18, said. “One of my favorite spots is Sticky Rice on Tuesdays since it’s karaoke night. It’s always a good time and it’s fun running into other Richmond students there.”

For anyone interested in giving Sticky Rice karaoke a try, take note that the restaurant strictly enforces a rule of 21 and over for the event.  Karaoke starts at 10:30 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information, visit Sticky Rice online or @sticky.rice.rva on Facebook. 

Contact lifestyle writer Bracken Woolley at bracken.woolley@richmond.edu. 

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