All Things Richmond

Walter Witschey and The Temples of Doom

2009-09-10T08:27:00.001-04:00

Not actually Walter Witschey

Have you ever wanted to be an armchair Indiana Jones, discovering lost cities in the jungle? Explore the ancient ruins of Mesoamerica with Walter Witschey, Maya archaeologist, professor of anthropology at Longwood University, and director emeritus of the Science Museum of Virginia. In this class, Dr. Witschey will share his ongoing research from numerous visits to Mesoamerica and with modern remote-sense data. He will also present new findings in deciphering the ancient Maya script that, until now, has hidden from us the life and times of the Maya kings and dynasties.$25/VHS members; $30/nonmembers

September 17th

5:30-7:00 pm

Virginia Historical Society
428 North Boulevard,
Richmond, Virginia 23220

Phone:
804.358.4901

Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 10-5
Sunday 1-5 (galleries & shop only)

The Grand Opening of Richmond CenterStage

2009-09-09T01:15:00.000-04:00

Host:
Richmond CenterStage
Type:
Music/Arts - Opening
Network:
Global
Date:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Time:
4:00pm - 4:30pm
Location:
Grace Street, between 6th and 7th streets
Email:
www.richmondcenterstage.com
Description
Hope everyone can make it! Sure to be an awesome evening. The Ribbon Cutting will take place at 4 PM on the sidewalk, with performances by Richmond's nine resident companies at 8PM. Restaurants, nightlife and arts galleries along Broad Street and downtown should keep you busy in the meantime.

Downtown Dinners

2009-08-25T23:16:00.005-04:00

Deveron Timberlake takes a look at the dining options near CenterStage.

"In general, the drinking is better than the eating in the short radius from CenterStage, but most everything is affordable and therefore more palatable. Here’s where to go now for before — and after — theater sloshing and noshing:"

Gibson’s Grill
700 E. Broad St., 644-2637
http://www.gibsonsgrill.com/
Café Rustica
414 E. Main St., 225-8811
Capital Ale House
623 E. Main St., 780-2537
http://www.capitalalehouse.com/
O’Neill’s Penny Lane Pub
421 E. Franklin St., 780-1682
http://www.pennylanepub.com/
T-Miller’s Sports Bar & Grill
500 E. Broad St. in the Marriott, 648-2255
http://www.tmillerssportsbar.com/
Coming Attraction
Pie is the newest in a local restaurant group that includes the Fan’s Si Tapas and downtown’s Bank and Vault. This Italian restaurant in the former Berry-Burk building, at 525 E. Grace St., is under construction with an anticipated late-fall opening.

This is only a partial list. Others that I can think of are:

Louisiana Flair (Open late from 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM Friday and Saturday)
322 E. Grace St 612-9066
Kenn-Tico Cuban Bar and Grill - Opening early October
2nd & Grace next to Chic Chapeau
LeMaire @ The Jefferson

Since you will most likely drive you could take in any of the great restaurants on Broad east of Belividere

The Belvidere at Broad
Tarrants Cafe
Tarrantino's Pizza
Twenty-Seven
Popkin's Tavern
Comfort

As the season picks up expect more restaurants to start opeing late. Downtown should soon be full of places to eat and stroll. Given enough traffic, may some of the many art galleries will extend their hours making downtown a true arts and entertainment district.

See the full coverage of CenterStage in this week's Style.

River District Canal Cruises

2009-08-19T16:13:00.010-04:00

Enjoy 40-minute historically narrated tours of the James River and Kanawha Canal along the historic Canal Walk. These covered boats accommodate up to 35 passengers and depart on the hour from the Turning Basin in downtown Richmond’s River District.

Richmond’s canals were first begun in 1789 after George Washington lobbied the General Assembly to proceed with his vision of a canal and turnpike system that would connect the harbors of the east to the trade and market opportunities in the west.

For more information call 804-788-6466 or 804-649-2800 or visit http://www.ventirerichmond.com/.

Canal Turning Basin - Dock and 14th Streets

$5 adults, $4 seniors & children 5-12,

Age 4 and under Free

Thursday-Saturday Noon-7pm,

Sunday Noon-5pm

Through September 27

Flown the Coop

2009-08-19T06:55:00.002-04:00

From the DGIF weblog:

All three have flown

"Following the first successful flight of the young male, the two juvenile females were somewhat more cautious. One of the females slowly scaled the roof line using a strand of holiday lights (the lights are unplugged) and finally reached the apex of the roof. The other perched on the box that houses the camera equipment. Both females practiced getting the wind under their wings for some time before finally taking flight. Both of the two females flew strongly and were able to gain altitude."

Read More...

Visual Arts Center Reception

2009-08-18T17:31:00.001-04:00

The 2009 Visual Arts Center of Richmond Faculty + Staff + Board Exhibition finishes with a closing reception on Friday, August 21, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., to which the public is invited.

This annual display of work by the Center’s talented array of teachers offers the community an opportunity to get to know the individual artists who make the Center a dynamic place. The show, entitled [work], also include entries submitted by several staff and board members who work as artists in addition to their professional roles. This exhibition remains on view through August 23, 2009. For more information, contact the Center at 804-353-0094 or visit the website at visarts.org.

Located at 1812 W. Main St. in Richmond’s Fan District, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond engages the community in the creative process through the visual arts. For more information, call 804-353-0094 or visit www.visarts.org online.

Opening Ceremonies

2009-08-17T23:12:00.002-04:00

From Stephen Living - Wildlife Biologist for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

"We have a number of volunteers with experience in Identifying birds - along with dgif staff experienced with handling raptors. While all of our "official volunteer" spots are filled you can still feel free to join us downtown in the area around Riverfront Plaza (951 East Bryd Street) tomorrow and Wednesday. You'll be able to ID DGIF staff by our bright orange hats and green polo shirts. Hopefully we will see the young birds fly well and need no assistance. In this case volunteers will help us track where the young birds perch so we can monitor them. Should the fledglings have any problems biologists will be on hand to intervene as necessary.

We'll be placing the door opening mechanism on at about 9:15am (give or take) the door will open 1-3 hours later and then the waiting begins. Our fledge watch effort will last until about 8 pm and start again at about 9 am on Wednesday through 8 - that evening."

Flight Preparations

2009-08-17T17:21:00.007-04:00

Looking more and more like adult birds, the three falcon chicks are almost fully fledged. This In years past DGIF biologists have taken the young birds to remote locations in the Blue Ridge mountains to hone their flight skills. Since the nesting pair have been so successful breeding here in Richmond, the chicks will be allowed to run the fledge downtown in hopes they will imprint on the city and return to start nests of their own.

The chicks are very active now. This may be the best and maybe last time to see them up close and personal.

From the DGIF website.

"Our three young falcons have grown quickly. Only a few scattered tufts of down remain and their juvenile plumage is almost fully grown in. Peregrine falcons typically fledge between 40-45 days after hatching.

The door-opener apparatus will be installed on the pen door on Tuesday morning, August 18th. This will mark 47 to 48 days since hatching for these falcons. The extra time ensures full feather development, and allows these birds to strengthen their flight muscles before attempting their first flights. The “apparatus” is comprised of a weight, bungee cords, and a plastic bottle of ice attached to the pen door. As the ice melts it releases the weight and the door is slowly pulled open by the bungee cords. Depending on the temperature on the release date, the door should open about 2-4 hours after the trigger is attached. We have used this method successfully for three years. Though the adults become aggressive when we attach the device, they quickly calm down after we leave. Past releases have gone very smoothly, with the chicks typically walking from the pen or flying to the ledge, surveying their surroundings for a few minutes or hours, and then taking successful first flights.
DGIF personnel and skilled volunteers will be stationed in the area surrounding the nest building. This will allow us to track the young birds’ first efforts and ensure that they are capable of sustained, controlled flight. This monitoring effort will continue until we are confident in the flight abilities of the fledglings. Should one of the fledglings encounter difficulty and end up on the ground, DGIF staff will recover the fledgling and either return it to the ledge or ensure prompt treatment and transportation to a licensed rehabilitation facility if necessary. "

An Invitation to a Wake

2009-08-16T06:04:00.002-04:00

I got this odd email the other day.

You are all invited to join me in mourning the voluntary, but permanent, expatriation of a painting that has always been too heavy to hang, but has appeared on numerous occasions below one's ordinary sightline. ...

It will sail out of Richmond toward an obscure New York State hamlet on August 27th, never to be seen (except THERE) again.

When you consider it was from sometime Richmond artist Brett Busang, it's not so odd. A casual reading of this email led me to believe that Brett was departing along with his painting.

I am clearly more broken up about this than any of you can ever be, so your collective function will be to feel my pain for a moment

Rather than mourn his departure, we celebrated an all too rare visit to Richmond and a chance to chat and critique. Brett's paintings are a historical record of our city as it was. Many of these locations no longer exist. I am moving his paintings back into feature rotation. He's been a good friend and fortunately we haven't seen the last of Brett Busang.

Here's a couple of paintings that were posted previously. Brett's promised to provide more. I look forward to sharing them here.

Bridges Raised and Bridges Fallen

Bridge Over the Kanawa Canal

Used by permission.
© Brett Busang

The 19th Down Home Family Reunion

2009-08-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Saturday August 15th
Abner Clay Park
Brook Rd. & Leigh St.

Free

The 19th Annual Down Home Family Reunion explores a full spectrum of music, dance, stories, food, shopping and enrichment in this Celebration of African American Folklife. It's a heritage festival that takes attendees on a folkloric journey from West Africa through the Caribbean and into America.

People in the park will revisit and participate in a variety of cultural traditions and Interactive Folkloric Demonstrations. Kentucky native Rosetta Lucas Quisenberry, has published four books showcasing her museum-quality collection of postcards, photographs and memorabilia and more.

Sponsored by the Elegba Folklore Society.

Richmond Folk Festival Needs Volunteers

2009-08-14T12:53:00.008-04:00

The premiere festival in Richmond is less than two months away and preparations are in full gear. It takes an army of volunteers to put this on and your help is more needed than ever. This is an opportunity to act together as one community. Volunteers come from city, county and country. When you help you help create a greater Richmond that is not divided by politics or boundaries. You will make new friends and feel a sense of pride and ownership you will carry with you. Last years festival was the best ever and with your help we will equal and surpass it. There are all kinds of ways you can help, from working on the bucket brigade to helping build the stages.

If you have never been, the Richmond Folk Festival takes place downtown along the James River. It is one of the most spectacular festival sights in the country. You will wander around Civil War sites and a canal dating back two centuries. There is a certain magic in the air as you walk the grounds and mingle with your fellow Richmonders. They are three days of celebration and music worth remembering.

Visit the Richmond Folk Festival website for volunteer and event information.

A Falcon Sighting

2009-08-12T22:27:00.005-04:00

I walked out my front door this afternoon to a unfamiliar screech. I looked up to find a very upset starling harassing a very blase' falcon sitting on top of the RMA garage on 2nd Street. I mistook it for a hawk at first, but it was much smaller and sleeker. It had to be a falcon. It stood motionless for a good five minutes, long enough for me to get my camera and snap a couple pics. I'm so glad to have seen one in person, my first sighting.

Oh for a long lens...

Another Facelift on Grace Street

2009-08-12T09:47:00.004-04:00

This time on the northeast corner of 3rd and Grace. Currently occupied by a salon which is moving, the exterior of the building is being restored in preperation for rental. The interior will be built leases are signed. The upper floors may be converted into apartments.

Summer Sizzle Hike - Cancelled

2009-08-11T06:15:00.002-04:00

Do you want to see our urban wilderness up close in personal?

Do you want to escape from the everyday, get lost along the river and see just how beautiful and remote the James River can be?

You can do this on Saturday, August 15th. This challenging hike takes you on a scenic 10 mile loop through woods and abandoned quarries along both sides of the river.

Remarkably this all takes place within the city limits of Richmond. No other city in America can boast such a spectacular urban park. This hike will challenge you and show you the river in a new way. If you are game, then call the James River Park hotline for time and place. Reservations are encouraged.

Fee: $5
Date: Saturday, August 15th
Bring water, lunch and hiking shoes
Sponsor: James River Park
804 646-8911

PARADISE PARK MURAL OPENING

2009-08-07T11:25:00.013-04:00

Come Celebrate
We made a mural

SAT. AUG 8th
11:30am – 2:00pm
FREE / FUN FOR ALL AGES

NO BS BRASS BAND Parade
March time line up 12:15pm (in the park)

Visual Arts Center craft table – Make a shaker
Meet their Giant Parade puppet
Art on Wheels mobile printing press
Dance - Eat - March - Create
Paradise Park is a Fan Pocket Park
Bordered by Grove, Floyd, Allen & Vine
(entrance through alleys on N. Vine or N. Allen)

More info:

Johnny Z Fest @ Joe's Inn

2009-08-07T11:17:00.000-04:00

From Art 180

A celebration of art, music and community.

Fun for the whole Family!

Saturday, August 8th
12pm-5pm

200 Block of Shields Ave.
(Between Grove & Hanover)

A block party featuring the Bizarre Market, live music & WRIR DJ's, children's activities, raffle drawings, and a mobile mural unveiling by young artists from St. Andrew's School. In memory of our friend, Jonathan Zanin.

Sponsored by Art 180

ATR Weekend Picks

2009-08-06T19:41:00.004-04:00

Friday August 7th

6pm – 10pm
First Friday -
On and Off Broad Street -
Downtown Richmond
1pm – 2pm
Lions in the Library
Maymont Mansion
8:30pm – 11pm
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Dogwood Dell

Saturday August 8th

10am – 4pm
Children's Museum
Moonbounce Mania -
2626 W. Broad St
2pm – 3pm
An Afternoon with Eliza Poe
St. John's Church -
2401 W. Broad St
8pm – 10pm
"Thoroughly Modern Millie"
Empire Theatre
114 W. Broad St

Sunday August 9th

1pm – 3pm
2009 Summer Reenactment Series
St John's Episcopal Church
3pm – 5pm
VMFA Summer Interlude Series
Bon Air Presbyterian Church
9201 W. Huguenot Road
6pm – 8pm
Music in the Park
Forest Hill Park
42nd St. & New Kent Ave

Have a fun and safe weekend. Send in your tips and events to: allthingsrichmond@live.com.

First Friday - This Friday

2009-08-06T12:30:00.004-04:00

From Curated Culture:

FIRST FRIDAYS VENUE HIGHLIGHTS:

Richmond’s First Fridays doesn’t take a break just because it’s a little hot outside. August is a great time to experience the Art Walk, especially during the cycle of a Full Moon! You’ll find thought-provoking exhibitions, unique shopping, delicious dining, live music, as well as the unexpected performance or two. Visit Downtown Richmond and support your local creative community and our local economy!
Stay Cool!
Curated Culture

FIRST FRIDAYS VENUE HIGHLIGHTS:

From Morning to Night: Domestic Service in the Gilded Age South
Quilting Traditions for a New Time
Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
00 Clay Street The Black History Museum invites you to the opening reception of two new exhibitions that explore the nature of African American domestic work as well as its public and private dimensions.
The exhibitions open on First Fridays August 7, 2009 with a reception from 6:00-8:30 pm, and is free and open to the public.
Poe's Playground & Live Music by the Connor Thompson Jazz Guitar Duo
Linden Row Inn
100 East Franklin Street
Poe's Playground is a satellite exhibition at the Linden Row Inn presented by 1708 Gallery. Linden Row’s lovely outdoor courtyard is the perfect spot to meet friends or make new ones during First Fridays. On August 7, enjoy live jazz by the Connor Thompson Jazz Guitar Duo performing between 6-11pm. Grab a glass of wine or cold beer from their cash bar and make a night of it under the coming full moon!

Click map to download.

Experience something new. Buy more art or start a collection. Bring someone new with you to First Fridays. Visit an Artist Talk. Make it an evening. Introduce art to a youngster. Laugh, love, learn, listen.

Thc Carytown Watermelon Festival

2009-08-06T05:56:00.000-04:00

One of the biggest bashes of the year takes place this Sunday in Carytown. One of two times a year, Cary St. will be blocked off from end to end and vendors, visitors and community groups will take over the street. Don't worry about the heat, there will be and endless supply of watermelon available along with dozens of different types of food and drink. This is a time to celebrate summer, Richmond and the wonderful collection of shops we call Carytown.

Go here for festival information.

Here for a map and directions.

Lots of Falcon News

2009-08-05T11:42:00.012-04:00

There has been a lot of news and some adventure from the DGIF Falcon Blog in the past three weeks. The chicks are growing fast and fledging out and moving out of the nest. One even took an adventurous leap or fall onto the Manchester Bridge. Somehow it survived unharmed. All this shows that raising falcon chick on a 22 story ledge is not an easy trick. Here are some excerpts from the blog.

Monday, July 27th:

Banding: Both falcon parents were defensive of the ledge although they often took breaks, perching and keeping a close eye on all personnel involved All three chicks appeared well-fed and generally healthy. No external parasites were noted. The chicks were weighed and measured. The measurements revealed that we have two females and a male this year. The male's feather development indicates that he is the eldest of the three.

Vital Statistics
Male USFWS Band #1126-11828 - Aux. Band 19/AB - Weight:627 grams
Female USFWS Band #1807-65007 - Aux. Band 02/AD - Weight: 848 grams
Female USFWS Band #1807-65008 - Aux. Band 03/AD - Weight: 883grams

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Walkabout? Some have expressed concern that the male chick (Band 19/AB) has not been seen on the camera since late Monday. As the chicks have become more mobile the full ledge has become available to them. The picture below should give an idea as to what we can and can't see on the camera.Only about 30 feet of the ledge are visible on the Falcon Cam. The remaining ledge comprises approximately 110 feet and is fully accessible to the chicks. The adults are also able to access the full ledge and will feed the chicks regardless of where they are.

A local falcon watcher with a vantage point from a nearby office building has made a positive sighting of our wandering chick. The young male was seen perched atop the parapet (raised edge of the ledge) at the farthest point possible from the nest box.
As we suspected the young bird has simply taken advantage of the spacious ledge to explore its surroundings. The observer noted at least one of the parents attending to the young male. Given the fact that his sisters are so much larger then he - remaining on his own might offer some relief in competing for food. Should he choose to, he'll be able to make his way back to the nest box.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

A Close Call: On the afternoon of Fri, July 31st, a DGIF biologist responded to a call of a grounded osprey chick in downtown Richmond. The caller reported having shooed the bird from the Manchester Bridge, where cars were swerving to avoid hitting it, onto the adjacent grassy lawn of the Federal Reserve Building. The Manchester Bridge sits between the Riverfront Plaza, where Richmond's peregrine falcon pair have nested this year, and the Federal Reserve Building. Upon arrival at the scene, the biologist was surprised to see that the ‘osprey’ chick was none other than the banded male peregrine falcon chick. This chick was known to have been spending time on the parapet of the ledge of the Riverfront Plaza and had evidently fallen or been swept off the ledge by a gust of wind. Luckily, the bird was unharmed and was returned to the Riverfront Plaza ledge shortly thereafter.

Susan Greenbaum - Library Park

2009-08-05T05:22:00.000-04:00

Bring your lunch and the kids and join us for our annual summer concert by local favorite singer-songwriter Susan Greenbaum. Known for her meaningful lyrics and pleasing harmonies, Susan draws enthusiastic audiences of all ages.

Sponsored by Friends of the Richmond Public Library.
Library Park is located on the corner of Second and East Main Streets.

Thursday, Aug 6
12:00p to 1:00p
Richmond Main Public Library,
101 E. Franklin St.,
Richmond, VA, 23219

Poe, The Man, The Myth and The Monster

2009-08-03T21:48:00.004-04:00

Edgar Allen Poe has been scaring and entertaining people for over a century. If you ever wanted to learn more about Mr. Poe, now is the time. Poe, Man, Myth and Monster opened on July 20th at The Library of Virginia in celebration of his 200th birthday.

From the Library of Virginia press release:

"Who is Edgar Allan Poe? He has his own action figure and comic book. He has appeared in film, television, and other people’s novels. He is America’s first internationally influential author, the inventor of the modern detective story, a contributor to the genre of science fiction, author of some of the most thoughtful and piercing literary criticism ever written, a lyric poet, an amateur scientist, and inventor of nearly 1,000 new words. (Think tintinnabulation.) Poe’s influence on other authors is incalculable."

This exhibition peels away the myth and tries to find the real man. There is something for all ages including three interactive stations, foriegn movies posters and original manuscripts. The exhibition goes on through December 3rd, but during these muggy days the LOV provides cool escape from the heat. There is free parking available in the underground garage. Click here for directions and a map.

A Day Late ...

2009-08-02T09:46:00.007-04:00

I posted this last minute bulletin a day late. So DON'T go tonight, but DO support Richmond Artist and First Friday. I am sure Christina would be glad to take your donations if you want to help these two Richmond artists in need. Contact her via curatedculture@comcast.net.

This event is BYOB and potluck. Benefits go to two dedicated Richmond artists, Marian Hollowell and Theodora Merrey, who have breast cancer and no health insurance.

From the art6 blog

"Rattlemouth is an exhilarating quartet from Richmond, Virginia ... their music is lush, intricate, exotic, and irresistibly danceable, featuring original compositions and arrangements of music from around the world. Rattlemouth has advanced to become Richmond’s pre-eminent eclectic and world music based ensemble”

6:30 pm - Doors open and potluck begins
7:30 pm - Rattlemouth performs

Art 6
6 East Broad St.
Richmond, VA
$10 at the door

Magic Skies - Friday Night

2009-08-02T08:29:00.004-04:00

The late afternoon thunderstorms that have come daily this summer sometimes create a magic canvas for the sun to paint on. When the sky is just right, the effect is otherworldly. These were snapped at a stop light at Floyd and Boulevard with me chomping at the bit to get out of traffic. The magic doesn't last long, but I managed to grab these few before the light faded.

Fun on Franklin

2009-08-01T18:19:00.004-04:00

The Friends of the Richmond Public Library put on a street party in my front yard today. How nice to see Franklin Street used for something other than a parking lot on a Saturday. This is the kind of street life that Richmond needs. Kids, parents, music, moonwalking and free food. Hats off to the Friends for throwing such a great party and putting one of Richmond's great venues on the front page for a day.

The FLTIM Steel Orchestra

Faith Life Tabernacle
Richmond Public Library