Ten days late and a dollar short….The Times-Dispatch finally came out with an article on the Modlin Center’s 2008-2009 season. 
We covered it  back on June 5th, so maybe you already reserved your excellent seats, before the masses even knew about it.

Looking for something to do next weekend? Head on over to Brown’s Island for some family fun Friday night through Sunday.  Xterra  Xtreme racing adventure at the James River Adventure Games, free music, fireworks, helmet giveaways, tree climbing, rafting, fishing Segway rides and more.

All day long there are great events to watch, from triathlon to open water swimming. Click here for the full schedule.

First up is Nashville based roots rock band The Coal Men,  and  Richmond’s own DJ Williams Projeckt  starting at 6:30 p.m.  After checking out the music on MySpace, I have to say I love both bands.  DJ Williams Projeckt is one of the best (and only) jazzy, funky rap influenced music that I’ve ever heard. I have to call this band so Richmond because it is just a great mix of class, style, groove and gritty street.  Then at 9:30 p.m. the sky lights up with the Fireworks Extravaganza. 

Maple Green – 5 new homes, 3 newly renovated homes coming soon to the Near West End on Maple Avenue between Patterson and Grove. Where will they fit them all in?

Style Weekly reports today that the University of Richmond will open a family law clinic downtown in a joint venture with VCU. 

The University of Richmond is reaching out of its secluded West End campus to set up shop downtown.

In partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University’s social work and psychology programs, UR is making its first major commitment to downtown in the fall. UR’s family law clinic will pair law students with Richmond attorneys who are representing low-income families pro bono. In a separate program, undergraduate and graduate students at UR and VCU will work with city-based organizations that provide services pro bono to low-income families.

The satellite campus will take over about 4,200 square feet at 626 E. Broad St., former headquarters of Franklin Federal Savings & Loan, which is across the street from the new federal courthouse. It’s expected to open to students in time for the fall semester, says Adrienne Volenik, acting director for UR’s National Center for Family Law. The Wilton Cos. donated the space for the campus, she says.

Back in May, the United States Postal Service sent a survey out to folks who live in Henrico, but still use Richmond as their postal address, asking them if they’d like to change their mailing address to Henrico.  The majority said yes, so for the Near West End that means that starting at then end of this year ”Henrico” will be the preferred address for those in the 23229 zip code. Because the 23226 zip includes portions of both Henrico and Richmond, the 23226 city zip will we remain “Richmond”.

But, the bottom line is you can still use Richmond, and your mail will get to you.  Either Henrico or Richmond remain acceptable.

Click here for the full press release.

The Greek Festival starts tomorrow (and runs through Sunday) it will feature wine, music, dance, church tours and of course wonderful Greek Food.

Gyros, pastries, loukomades, calamari & shrimp all return this year with theit own stands click here for the layout. And, fear not if you didn’t have a chance to swing by the ATM — Checks, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards are accepted.

Actually, the culinary offerings are so many, that for someone like me, it helps to have a menu with descriptions. Luckily, they’ve provided that too!

Here are the hours:

Thursday May 29 - 11:00 am to 9:30 pm
Friday May 30 - 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday May 31 - 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday June 1 - 12:00 am to 7:00 pm

Questions: 358-5996

In addition to the food, they’ve got plenty else going on. Here’s a bit from the website:

Music and Dancing:
Did you know there are over 200 dances from Greece? Each one represents different regions, villages, and islands. As always, Achilleas provides the live music and the Byzantio Hellenic Dance Troupe demonstrates a few of these unique dances.
Cathedral Tours: During the Greek Festival, tours of the sanctuary will be given on the half hour. Guides will provide special lecture tours about the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which traces its origin to the day of Pentecost. Thursday and Friday: 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Saturday: Noon - 8 p.m. Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m. Shopping at the Agora: At each Greek Festival, there is a wide selection of vendors that come to set up a market, or “Agora”. Greek jewelry, leather, nick-knacks, videos, music, embroideries and rugs, t-shirts and other clothing, folk art, and icons are available for purchase. Win a Trip to Greece: If you purchase a raffle ticket, you can enter a drawing to win either $1500 OR two round trip tickets (coach class) to Athens, Greece. Tickets are 1 / $2 or 6 / $10. The drawing will be held on Sunday June 1st. You do not have to be present to win. And yes, restrictions apply. Find out more information when you make a purchase

 Cafe Caturra Coffee & Wine is coming to the former Luna Grove location at Grove and Maple Avenue near Saint Catherine’s School. It is scheduled to open this summer. Currently Cafe Caturra has two other locations at Alverser Plaza and Midlothian Village Square.

Cafe Caturra roasts its own coffee, serves wine and other tasty goodies.

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Mandy Friend used her junior season to set new standards for the Richmond women’s lacrosse program.  Friend has been named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Association’s All-South Regional Second Team.  The native of Canandaigua, N.Y. also set six new records this season as a Spider, breaking four single-season bests and two career highs. 

 This is the third-straight IWLCA All-Regional honor for the midfielder.  Friend was named to First Team in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.  Also in her first two years at Richmond Friend picked up Third Team All-American and Rookie All-American honors her first year along with a spot on the All-American Second Team as a sophomore.

 

Besides earning national recognition for her play in 2008, Friend has set six new school records at Richmond.  The junior is now the owner of three single-season records in Spider history.  In 2007, Friend scored 62 goals, taking over the top spot from Caroline McGuire.    

 [via UR press release]

SHIRLEY VALENTINE and DRIVING MISS DAISY — Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern announces open auditions for both of these shows tomorrow, 7 to 9 p.m. at Barksdale Theatre’s Willow Lawn location, 1601 Willow Lawn Drive. (Both shows will be presented at Barksdale Theatre’s Hanover Tavern location.) All roles are open, and actors are paid. No appointments necessary. Those auditioning should come prepared to read from the scripts. For details, call (804) 783-1688 ext. 13.

“Shirley Valentine” by Willie Russell will run July 11 through Aug. 24. Barksdale is looking for one woman who can play a 42-year-old British housewife. “Driving Miss Daisy” by Alfred Uhry will run Sept. 19 through Oct. 26. Barksdale seeks one white woman who can play a Southern woman age 72 to 97, one black man who can play her chauffeur, age 60 to 85, and one white man who can play her son, age 40 to 65.

[via]