RIP Black Dog

I just got an unconfirmed report that  legendary Black Dog who has roamed the Near West End for years was struck and killed by a car this morning near the intersection of Cary Street Road and Maxwell, just a few blocks west of Mary Munford Elementary.

I am very sad, as I enjoyed hearing all the stories about Black Dog,  and his adventurous life, evading animal control officers, and anyone else who tried to capture him. Black Dog was friendly and a free spirit. He could be described as both aloof  and illusive.  He had such a kind spirit. I never saw him run from anyone, only just disappear.

I’ve been known to drive down the alleys with my kids trying to get a good glimpse of Black Dog as I tell my children the stories of his legendary status. I will miss that. But I’m sure there are many in the Near West End who knew him better and will miss him more.

How many dogs can say they had no owner — but had a fan club on Facebook?

Update, WTVR now confirms, Black Dog is dead.

Willow Lawn’s  Barkesdale Theatre is showing Driving Miss Daisy, which got a pretty good  review in today’s Times  Dispatch.

Present this gem with an ideal cast and a simple production and you have a winner. That’s what Barksdale Theatre did last summer at Hanover Tavern. This summer, it’s reprising the show at Barksdale’s Willow Lawn location, with all the quality intact.

The Barkesdale website has ticketing info. The show runs through August 2nd.

I’ve been trying to track down what’s happening at the old Inn of Richmond building on West Broad Street for some time.  Richmond Biz Sense has the scoop.  The building will be torn down to make way for a mixed use residential facility for adults with autism and other developmental delays combined with retail space. The Faison School of Autism is located behind the hotel. The project is unique in its mixed use of space, but also that a portionof the residences will be available to rent on the open market as well. Richmond Biz Sense reports:

The former Executive Motor Hotel, built on the corner of Broad Street and Willow Lawn at what was then the suburban edge of the city, sits empty, surrounded by a chain link fence. All the rooms’ doors are open, and, from the sidewalk, it appears they have been stripped bare in preparation for the wrecking crane.

At their last meeting, the Henrico County Planning Commission recommended approval of a proposal to demolish the hotel to make way for up to 45 residential units and up to 10,000 square feet of office and retail space.

Congratulations to Erin Flanagan, 2nd grade teacher at Mary Munford Elementary School, who won the Richmond VA’s Top Teacher contest sponsored by Richmondmom.com.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that Ms. Flanagan was my daughter’s teacher this year and I nominated her. Still, the honor is well deserved! Ms. Flanagan is incredibly dedicated to her students, and I felt  especially lucky to have a bright female scientist role model to inspire my daughter, who also wants to be a scientist. Each of us had an extremely limited space in which to nominate our teachers, here is my short nomination:

Ms. Flanagan, my daughter’s 2nd grade teacher, is really wonderful. In my daughter, she has inspired a love of science & thinking outside the box. She truly appreciates the uniqueness of each individual in her class. Ms. Flanagan is a scientist herself, & leads by example, always encouraging the kids to ask hard questions, & find out the answers.

If you are lucky enough to have a child at Mary Munford, then you know that there are many teachers at Munford  that give the gift of inspiration and learning to our children each day.  In fact, Richmond Public Schools has many gifted teachers, and Erin Flanagan is just one Richmond Public Schools teacher, who represents the love, dedication and hard work it takes to guide our children not only in their learning but also in  developing their character and the individuals they will become.

We all know the River doesn’t just belong to one neighborhood. Everybody goes to the River.   June 27th is James River Park Day.

Actually, that is sort of a misnomer — because the best activity of all on James River Park Day is actually the one that takes place at night.  So many people who live in Richmond don’t know its slave history and have never done the Slave Trail walk. Traditionally it is done each year shortly after the Juneteenth celebration as a very moving torch-lit walk.  Even without torches, it is incredibly moving to walk that hallowed trail at night, as the slaves did, to avoid being seen in the light of day, in their wretched state.  It’s no secret how I feel about the Slave Trail, Lumpkins Jail and Richmond’s slave history. I simply wish more people would leave their comfort zone and challenge themselves to do something like the Slave Trail walk at night. No other city has history like this and hides it so well.

Don’t miss these special activities:

9 a.m. – Man & Nature Tour of Belle Isle (Meet at Tredegar Parking Lot.)

10 a.m. – River Exploration for Kids (Requires advance registration. Call 646-8911.)

2 p.m. – River Exploration for Adults (Meet at Reedy Creek entrance.)

8:30 p.m. – Night Walk on the Slave Trail (Meet at Ancarrow’s Landing.)

For more information, call 646-8911.

I think it is pretty cool that the City runs swimming pools free of charge to residents. When I was in college, living in the Fan, I spent many a hot day with my roommates at the Randolph pool that we could walk to. How many cities can claim that their kids and poor college students can swim for free all summer long?

For the Near West End the closest pool is Randolph Pool (Westend) I should note here that they are calling Randolph the “Westend” not me.  Randolph is just south of the Fan, between the River and 195.

1401 Grayland Ave. (804) 646-1329

Summer Pool Schedule
Outdoor pools are open from June 17th through Labor Day.

Open/free swim & adult/family swim hours:
Monday – Friday, 1 – 4:30 & 5 – 8 pm
Saturday, 12 – 5 pm
Sunday, 1 – 5 pm and
Holidays, 1 – 5 pm

For a walk down memory lane, visit Richmond, Food for Thought for a nostalgic review of the Italian Kitchen at 8115 West Broad Street. Personally, I was happy to read the review for two reasons. One, I’d never eaten there, and two, apparently they have great pizza and a family atmosphere. I’d rather spend my money almost any day at a locally owned business rather than a chain, so this is good news.

This is arguably the best pizza in Richmond and is definitely in the top three and it amazes me how many people in the near West End have no idea that such fabulous pizza is a short drive away. Very thin crust, amble sauce to the edge, great toppings and some of the best mozzarella around make for a great pie. Reheated in a hot, dry skillet it did not suffer from it’s short time in the refrigerator.

William Scott Baker, 46, of the 3000 block of Dunwick Road, near Staples Mill and I-64, in the Near West End, was charged with attempted abduction of a 4-year-old girl, The Times-Dispatch reports.

Police said the incident shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday at the Innsbrook Shoppes apparently began when a man attempted to abduct the child as she was getting into a car with two adults.

Police said there is no known relationship between Baker and the child.