The community is invited to an open house and tour of the Tuckahoe Recue Squad on Nov. 9th after the completion of a $300,000 renovation.  In addition, it looks like they have lots of other activities and fall treats, including a Brunswick Stew sale.

Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad
Open House & Brunswick Stew

Sunday, November 9, 2008 · 12 PM - 4 PM
1101 Horsepen Road (Station 1)

“Thanks for all your support. Come see what we are all about.”

Ambulance & Equipment Displays Station Tours Vehicle Extrication Demonstration Henrico County Fire Apparatus Kid’s Safety Smokehouse

Blood Pressure Checks Cholesterol Screenings Donate Blood (Virginia Blood Services Mobile) Jonathan Austin Door Prizes

I don’t have an exact date for you, but Richmond’s very own Silver Diner should be opening soon in the Innsbrook area.  We are covering it here because if you live in the Near West End, sooner or later, you’ll want to check it out.  Originally we had posted a Summer 2008 opening date, now it looks like it will open in November.  They’ve held several job fairs in September, so my best guess is any day now.

I’ll keep you posted when I learn of a more specific opening date. If you are looking for a job, apparently they are still hiring.  Or, if you are more curious about their menu, you can check that out too! 

Silver Diner is very popular in Northern Virginia and is know for the consistancy, family atmostphere, and friendly service.

An article in today’s Richmond Times Dispatch points out that when it comes to real estate, the Near West End is holding its own. I sort of feel like I was smart and bought a Toyota.

Location also is important, he said.

“Some corridors sell quicker than others and at a higher price,” White said. “The near West End of the city, for example, has moved a little faster with less inventory than other areas of the market.”

Remember last year’s great Lost Art Sale, where you could buy great art bargains? It was sort of a weird but ingenious set up. New and old art, out of a new model home . Last year they had free wine & chocolate,  cheap(er) art, and lots of it, without the whole gallery setting.

Well, it’s coming back, but with a new name — One SmART Gallery–  right here to the Near West End – to Grayson Hill in 3 show homes .  Art diva, Tyler Snidow explains in an email to artists:

Over the past 2 years, that nature of the sale has evolved away from a focus on home consignment (or Lost) art -  towards a focus almost exclusively on the sale of discounted work from regional artists clearing out their studios for whatever reason.  Here are some of the reasons past artists have showed with us:  testing a new style, exposure in a new market or for an emerging artist, practice work, demo sale, moving sale, student work, unframed work or studio clearance or whatever.

So…..artist, sort throught that stuff that’s not selling and pull it aside for the One SmART Gallery sale….or even better donate it to the Mary Munford Auction that is coming up in March at the Jewish Community Center.

Call for entry for artists to submit their art to The Lost Art/One SmART Gallery Sale is Dec. 1-Dec. 20th.  The Sale is February 27-March 7th (10a.m.-3p.m.) 

The Mary Munford Auction is March 21st, 2009.

Shoppers: both events are open to the public, and there will be updates on both events right here on the Near West End News, so stay tuned….

The outside terrace of Magnolia’s wine bar and bistro. (Ivori Zvorsky/The Collegian)

Magnolias, a new wine bar and bistro opening soon in the Village Shopping Center, will provide an atmosphere for people to learn about wine while enjoying good, simple food.

The new 45-to-60-seat bistro is the sister restaurant to Village Fine Wine and Cigar. It will be opening as soon as possible, chef Chris Savage said, adding that it could open as soon as next week.

Open for lunch, Sunday brunch and dinner, the bistro will have room for 20 at the bar, 25 to 26 inside and 20 on the outside patio, Savage said. Diners will still be able to sit outdoors even on the coldest days because of space heaters.

Magnolias is based off of good food, Savage said, but the focus is on the wine. There will be 70 bottles served by the glass.

Customers will have the option of sampling three wines at a time, called a flight. Because the wine is served in smaller glasses, a diner would be able to try lighter and fuller varieties together.

Because the wine is served by the glass, Savage said, diners will be able to sample a $70 bottle of wine that they wouldn’t have usually committed to buying, for around $10 a glass. Then, if they liked it, the same wine would be for sale next door.

The staff will be beginning classes to people who want to learn about the wines Magnolias serves, Savage said. After taking the class, a person will know the wine’s characteristics, the region it came from and the culture of the region.

Magnolias is teaming up with Carytown Teas to offer tea pairings for those who aren’t 21 or aren’t interested in wine. Tea is similar to wine in the way it has different notes and aromas that go with different foods.

The menu was created by Savage and includes a Spanish tapas-inspired tasting menu with smaller portions—and lower prices—of dishes such as seafood paella or a five spice-scented grilled duck breast with blood orange port reduction. The menu also notes a suggestion for a wine to pair with these dishes. The idea is for diners to be able to mix-and-match tastes.

Also, Magnolias serves a selection of salads, main courses and desserts. Try the wild mushroom and crab parpardelle for $16 or Dr. B’s burger for $16.

“I ate this burger as a kid,” Savage said. “Dr. B had two doctorates but took more pride in his burger than anything else.”

The desserts will typically come with a dessert wine or port, Savage said. Desserts include a classic strawberry shortcake and a walnut-encrusted chocolate pâté.

The restaurant has a tiny freezer, Savage said, so Magnolias will get food shipments every day or so, as opposed to once a week like larger restaurants. He will also be using Cavalier Produce, a company that focuses on local, in-season fruits and vegetables.

“He keeps it simple,” said Bruce Bogad, manager of Fine Wine and Cigar, about Steve Dopp, the owner, and Savage’s method of approaching the restaurant.

We’ve reported on the soon to open BJ’s Warehouse before.  An update today announces that the store is still on track to open the first week in December. The almost 120,000 square-foot B.J.’s store is behind Regency Square Mall, and will carry an array of food and other items similar to Costco or Sam’s Club.   In July we reported, a Dec. 6th opening date.

Update: Richmond Bargains Blog reports:

If you’re planning to join the new Richmond BJ’s wholesale club near Regency, don’t wait until opening day; from now until the day before it opens in December, you can join for $35, which is $10 off the regular $45 yearly membership fee. In addition to the discount, you enjoy membership privileges between now and opening day at all other BJ’s locations (including Mechanicsville) and online.

Limited-time offer — join now and save $10 off the $45 annual Membership fee. And get 3 extra months — 15 total!*

My friends Phaedra and Monica have older kids.  Older as in, they are already thinking about high school, and thinking about what will be the best fit for their kids. Both of them live in the City of Richmond, which makes things slightly more complicated. But most importantly, they are considering all thier options.  And, they made a blog about their journey – so you could be in the loop too! Check it out and pass the word along if you know of anyone who is already thinking about high school options for their child.

Also, if you have any  info or feedback about these schools that you’d like to pass along, I’m sure they would welcome that as well.

Hubby was voting today at our polling place, Crestview Elementary School — #303.  Some unfortunate person was in such a hurry after standing in line for over 45 minutes that they left their voting machine before confirming their vote.

Result: they could not track the person down, and that vote was not counted.  SO….if you are going to go vote, at least stick around to make it count.  Make sure you are done before you leave!

Go Vote Dammit!  Earn some free stuff. And play awesome jokes on your friends!

Wondering how to convince your kids to give up all that Halloween candy? Here is a perfect idea! Donate it to soldiers in Iraq!

The Echo Lake Elementary School PTA and SCA are joining together on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to ask students to gather up their extra, unopened Halloween candy or new bags of candy for soldiers overseas.

The “Candy For Our Soldiers” project asks students to drop off their sugary donations on the way to the school’s annual Veterans Day assembly at 8:30 a.m.; Superintendent Fred S. Morton IV will serve as the featured speaker.

The SCA will help to package the candy in snack-size baggies, and every classroom will design a card to send to a soldier.

“The students feel a sense of pride as they show their appreciation to the men and woman serving here and abroad,” says Principal Jodie Brinkmann. “We are so grateful for all we have, and it’s nice to be able to share our treats with others.”