Shockoe Bottom Lights Up!

1708 Gallery invites you to the Third Annual InLight Richmond on Friday, October 22 in Richmond's historic Shockoe Slip.

From 7:30 p.m. to midnight, streets, walls, facades and interiors along Cary Street between 12th and 14th Streets and along 13th Street between Main Street and Canal will be transformed by 37 light-inspired art installations.

While experiencing InLight Richmond 2010, take advantage of some of Richmond finest restaurants, many of which will feature $17.08 specials including:

• Bistro Bouchon - Cheese and Charcutrie Platter
• Europa Italian Cafe & Tapas Bar - Shrimp and Andouille Ravioli
• Kobe Japanese Steaks & Sushi - Tuna Teriyaki or Hibatchi Shrimp
• La Grotta Italian Ristorante - Beef and Fontina Ravioli with walnuts and cream sauce
• Morton's The Steakhouse - 3 Prime Mini Cheeseburgers, Chicken Goujonettes, Mini Iceberg Wedge Salad
• Sam Miller's Restaurant- Whole Lobster with truffeled sweet potato fries and braised kale
• The Dining Room at The Berkeley Hotel- Prime Rib and Baked Potato
• The Tobacco Company Restaurant - Two Glasses of Virginia Wine with our housemade butter cake
• The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe - Grilled Cheddar and Apple sandwich ($7.08),
• Pumpkin Ice Cream ($1.70), Harvest Coffee Cider and Hot Apple Cider ($1.70)
  
  For more details about InLight Richmond 2010, click HERE.

www.1708gallery.org

info@1708gallery.org

The Fight For Edgar Allan Poe

The Baltimore Sun reports Poe kin to have say on city with best claim to legacy.

Richmonder's have long wondered why Baltimore claims fame as the home of Edgar Allan Poe. Sure he spent his last days there and is buried there, but Richmond has a strong claim to Poe as the place where he was raised, married, wrote and lived half his life. The Poe Museum resides in Shockoe Bottom in the oldest building in the city.

From the Sun:

Surely, the great poet and author's surviving relatives should be able to decide, once and for all, whether Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia or Richmond has the greatest claim to their illustrious ancestor.

Then again, given that the Poe descendant who will be making the announcement is president of Richmond's Poe Museum - well, maybe next weekend's decision won't be as unbiased as it might seem.

Just the fact that Richmond is hosting this event says a lot. Great great nephew Harry Lee Poe states:

"We have to think about Richmond, where he spent half his life. He always said that he was a Virginian, he identified himself that way"

The competition includes:

1. Boston, where he was born.
2. Charlottesville, where he attended the University of Virginia.
3. Richmond, where he spent his early years and returned to to be married and publish a literary journal.
4. New York City, where he lived for three years before his death.
5. Baltimore, where he lived for several years and is buried.

Poe was a literary wanderer and lived in many different cities. He is an iconic American writer who remains popular to this day. Whatever his relatives decide, Richmond can and should take pride in its Poe connections.

The Poe Museum is located in Shockoe Bottom at 1914-16 E. Main St Richmond, VA 23223.

There will be a 24 hour Birthday Bash this Saturday and a new film exhibit, "Poe Goes To The Movies".

Shockoe Slip Open House - Tonight

From the Open House Facebook Page.

Open House Block Party!

Come to our first annual Shockoe Slip Open House Block Party charity event December 10th and 11th for a barrage of amazing specials and deals and tons of fun! Get an edge on your holiday shopping, take advantage of drink and dinner specials, pet some puppies for adoption, warm up with hot cider, sing some Karaoke, dance to hot holiday music and be among friends all while helping Shockoe Slip raise funds for charities!

Food and drink specials as well as prizes will be available at many businesses. This is a good opportunity to take in the holiday lights and enjoy some great deals in one of Richmond's most historic locations.

• *SEGWAY OF RICHMOND* is going to host dogs and puppies from the SPCA for adoption and raffling off a Segway Tour of Richmond to benefit the Richmond SPCA.
  
• *FRAME NATION* will be collecting **URGENTLY NEEDED**
  Small to large bags of dry cat/dog food (unopened only)
  Small to large cans of wet cat/dog food (unopened only)
  Coupons for/samples of dog and cat food for Richmond SPCA.

Toys for Tots will have drop offs at The Berkley Hotel and Helium.

You Say Tomato

I say "tomawto", but no matter how you say it, this Saturday is the day to celebrate the Hanover Tomatoe with two tomato festivals, one in Shockoe and of course one in Hanover.

• Hanover Tomato Festival
  The 31st annual festival features tomatoes from Dodd's Acres Farm
  When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
  Where: Pole Green Park, Hanover
  Information: http://www.hanovertomatofestival.com
  
• Shockoe Tomato Festival:
  The festival is back for an 11th running with a fresh tomato-flavored assortment of fun. The "Hot Tomato" talent contest kicks off at 3 p.m.
  When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
  Where: 17th Street Farmers' Market, Richmond Interesting to note:
  Information: http://www.17thstreetfarmersmarket.com or call (804) 646-0477

I can smell the bacon frying from here. Quick, somebody get me a BLT!

Big Band Dancing At The 17th Street Farmer's Market

Submitted by a reader:

Come down to the 17th Street Farmer's Market for the Big Band sounds of Joe Enroughty And His Royal Virginians. Vocals will be provided by Cathy Saydlowski. This FREE concert/dance will feature some of your favorite Big Band tunes such as "Sing, Sing, Sing," "In The Mood," "Little Brown Jug," and many more. There will be plenty of seating and the city plans to set up a dance floor in front of the bandstand. Date: Friday, July 10th, 2009

Date: Friday, July 10th, 2009

Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Location: 100 17th Street - Richmond, Virginia 23298

Admission: FREE

Telephone: (804)-646-0477
(For More Information)

This sounds like just the thing that Richmond needs.

Thanks for the submission. Send your events with details to ATR Events

The Martins Return to Shockoe Bottom

Like the swallows to Capistrano, the purple martins are returning to Shockoe Bottom. Last year 8 to 10 thousand birds swooped into Richmond and became a local tourist draw with crowds coming out each night to watch them. Along with the blue herons on the James and the peregrine falcons on Riverfront Towers, Richmond is getting to be a avian sanctuary. I have even seen red tailed hawks in Monroe Park swooping down and snatching squirrels, not to mention Osprey that wander up the James to feed on the shad run. Richmond can feel like a concrete jungle sometimes, but we are graced with a bit of nature that brings smiles and laughter with it. Life in the city has it's rewards.

Story in the RTD.

From Twighlight Mind on flickr