In a series of somewhat random posts, LocalTakeover.com gives Pho So 1 off of Horsepen Road the “Best Vietnamese Cuisine in the RIC” award. Now, if I could only get them to make som phaux pho (vegetarian) so I could partake, I’d be happy.

The Weinstein Jewish Community Center hosts a 50 Years on Monument Avenue Celebration this Sunday, Sept. 14th from noon to 5 p.m.

Community Celebration 50 Years on Monument Ave.

Don’t miss out on this monumental celebration of past and present. Food Vendors, Multi-Generational Basketball, Tournament, Music including Susan Greenbaum and others, Scavenger Hunt, Walk Through Jerusalem – hands-on learning for children and adults, Children’s Games, Activities, Arts & Crafts, and Inflatables, Theatre Performances, Sports & Fitness: Mini Fitness Assessments, Sample Group
Exercise Classes, Health Screenings, Dolpholina Demonstration. Free and open to the community!  Parking is available with a shuttle service to and from Bon Secours St. Mary’s Parking Lots B&C.

Kim Bridges, 1st District School Board representative, sent some info about upcoming events in the 1st District.  Tuesday September 23rd, Mary Munford will host the regular 1st District Town Hall for neighborhood issues at 6:30 p.m.

Bridges says, “Community members, please come by any of the 1st District schools to see the buildings and meet some of the staff and teachers there.  You don’t have to be a parent to get to know our schools, and I can promise you’ll be impressed with all that’s going on.”

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the 16th is Back-to-School night — 6 p.m. at Community High  and  7 p.m. at Mary Munford.  Next week, on Tuesday, Sept. 23rd,  Thomas Jefferson H.S.  will have its Back-to-School Night at  6:30 p.m.

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while now. Sorry for the delay.

We are lucky to have the Richmond Symphony Designer House in the Near West End, right on Cary Street Road. Parking is at Willow Lawn Shopping Center, with shuttles running continuously. Tours are $20 (to benefit the Symphony of course) and run through Oct.12th.

HOURS of OPERATION

Monday - Friday: 10:00 am to 3:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm

The style?  Here it is described by the Times-Dispatch:

Metallics are woven throughout the two-story house in accessories, plaster, paint and fabrics. Other common threads include faux finishes, nail heads on chairs, sofas and tables, fabrics studded with pearls and rhinestones, custom-made pillows and mirrors.

A former UR men’s tennis coach has been indicted by a grand jury for receiving child pornography.   According the the article, the coach’s attorney says her client is innocent. 

ESPNU reports :

Former University of Richmond men’s tennis coach Steven Gerstenfeld was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on one count of receiving child pornography.

Federal prosecutors said Gerstenfeld faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say Gerstenfeld used PayPal to gain access to several child-pornography Web sites on his university computer between October 2006 and March 2007.

River City Food & Wine gave the new Sticks Kabob Shop at Willow Lawn a so-so review. The concept sounds neat to me, but it looks like the meat is what folks get excited about, here (and I don’t eat meat).   Based on the review, I’m not sure if I need to rush to try it out.   On the other hand, if someone tells me thier falafel is great, perhaps I’ll reconsider.

This is a cause near to my heart. It is not a Near West End event, but an event that everyone in the Richmond Region should know about because it involves our history, our culture and the legacy of what we leave to our children.  I want to show my children that I value Richmond’s history, and the truth behind it — even if it is a painful truth.  

 In the late 1950’s not only did the construction of  Interstate-95 tear through the heart of the black community in Richmond, separating North Jackson Ward from the rest of Jackson Ward, but it also paved over sacred ground.  The burial ground for hundreds of slaves. Those mistakes have been made. But now, we  have an opportunity to make sure that  Richmond preserves what is left of the Negro Burial Grounds and give proper recognition to the people who are buried there.  

Entire Richmond community invited and encouraged to attend and participate

WHAT      The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission will hold open
               forum public community forum meetings to hear and discuss ideas from
               Richmond citizens on how to properly memorialize the site of an historic
               Richmond Negro Burial Grounds located in the Shockoe Bottom area of
               Richmond. Land on this site was recently identified and set aside by
               Virginia Commonwealth University. The entire Richmond community is
               invited and encouraged to attend and participate in this important
               community discussion. The first meeting will take place as follows:

WHEN     Richmond City Council Slave Trail Committee: MEETING 1
  Date:           Tuesday, September 23, 2008
  Time:           6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
          Location:       Richmond Public Library - Main Library
                               101 East Franklin Street - Richmond (Downtown)

CONTACT         For more information, please contact Sam Patterson, at 804.646.3012.

BACKGROUND
The result of years of ongoing discussions at the state, local and federal level, a consensus was reached on August 28, 2008 between leaders of Richmond City Council, Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to preserve, rededicate and memorialize land identified as an historic Richmond Negro Burial Ground. This area was a burial ground (estimated in use from 1750’s to 1812) for free and enslaved Africans.

The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods (ACORN) has more information on both the history of the Slave Cemetery, the excavation of Lumpkin’s Jail this summer, and the Slave Trail Commission.

Here is a short notice I’m passing along to those Near West Enders who live in the county. Getting involved in your kids school is a great way to show that you care about them.

Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Mr. Fred S. Morton IV has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2009. As a result, the Henrico County School Board with the assistance of a consultant is conducting a search for his replacement.  The School Board is also soliciting the public?s input, suggestions and help in its search for the new superintendent of schools.

The board will hold community input sessions at the following locations on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 7 p.m.:

 Hermitage High School - Brookland District
 Henrico High School - Fairfield District
 Pocahontas Middle School - Three Chopt District
 Godwin High School - Tuckahoe District
 Rolfe Middle School - Varina District

So far, there isn’t a neighborhood blog for the Hermitage High School area, so in the interest of getting the word out there and the thought that you all might be interested, I’m passing this along:

What: Queen Harrison, member of the 2008 American Olympic Track and Field team and current Virginia Tech Track All-American will be the keynote speaker at the Hermitage High School Expectations of Excellence Assembly. A 2006 Hermitage High School graduate herself, she is the first Olympic athlete to emerge from the school, and the second to come from Henrico County Public Schools. The purpose of the Expectations of Excellence Assembly is to recognize accomplished students and to give students the chance to hear from an alumnus.

Who:     
Queen Harrison, member of the 2008 American Olympic Track and Field Team, Hermitage High School students and faculty.

When:  
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, 9 a.m. in the gymnasium.

Where: 
Hermitage High School, 8301 Hungary Spring Road, Richmond, Va., 23228

Maybe you noticed the ad at the top left corner of our blog, that mentions the Cultural Census. If you have an opinion on performing arts in Richmond, and would like to see more great offerings take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Dear Friends of The Arts Council:

I urge you to take a few minutes to participate in the first-ever Richmond
Region Cultural Census, a survey about your cultural interests and
activities.

This Cultural Census is made possible through the hard work, dedication and
support of a coalition of community leaders from the cultural, government,
and corporate sectors.  It is being coordinated by the Richmond Region
Cultural Action Plan Task Force. Your answers will help us understand how to
better support arts and culture in our region.  It is extremely important
that our community’s cultural interests are well-represented in the results.

At the end of the survey, you may enter a drawing to win a $250 cash prize.

To participate in the survey, go to www.culturalcensus.com.

Sincerely,

John Bryan
President
Arts Council of Richmond

P.S.  Please forward this message to your friends and neighbors in the
Greater Richmond area - the more the better.