That goodness someone at University of Richmond realized that you can’t hold Arts Around the “Lake” at the Robins Center and still expect a crowd. The reason people in Richmond flock to the lake to buy art jewelry and other crafts is because they like the experience of being outside in beautiful Fall weather.  And, this year, they can do that again. Here’s the lowdown:

The 29th annual Arts Around the Lake show will be held Sunday, September 21, 2008. The show will run from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. around Westhampton Lake on the University of Richmond campus. Approximately 100 Richmond, Virginia area artists will be displaying and selling their juried artwork in various mediums. Arts Around the Lake is sponsored by the Greater Richmond Alumni Chapter. Admission and parking are free.

A while back, I wrote about how Avail’s Tim Barry performed at Mary Munford for Ms. Kieslers class.   The really great part is that you can hear the performance as an MP3 online. 

Well, since then, Tim’s decided to put the songs out on a limited  7-inch vinyl.   The 300 white vinyl and 700 brown vinyl pressing will likely come out in mid-September. The best part of all is all the procedeeds will go back to Mary Munford Elementary school.

Since my wish for my daughter to get into Ms. Kiesler’s class this Fall didn’t come true, I guess I’ll have to see if we next time Tim will perform for the entire 2nd grade. In the mean time, I think I’ll be trying to remember where I left my record player.

River City Food and Wine has sensed our love of wine and posted about a free South of France wine tasting tonight at J. Emerson.
Here is the lowdown:

J. Emerson on Grove Ave.will be tasting wines from the South of France on Thursday, August 21 from 5:30-7:30 PM. The free line up includes:

2006 Domaine Saint Andre de Figuiere, Cotes de Provence
2007 Domaine de la Mordoree, Lirac, White Rhone
2006 Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
2002 Chateau Pradeaux, Bandol Rouge

The University of Richmond recently announced that it is the recipient of 153 original Andy Warhol photos.  They will be on display in the Spring of 2009, according to Artdaily.org. For the full story click here.

RICHMOND, VA.- The University of Richmond Museums is pleased to announce the recent addition of 153 original Andy Warhol photographs to the permanent collection of the Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center, gifted as part of the Andy Warhol Photographic Legacy Program. In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the organization donated more than 28,500 original Warhol photographs valued at more than $28 million and divided amongst 183 college and university art museums in the United States. The University of Richmond Museums is honored to be selected as a recipient of this extraordinary gift.

The University of Richmond Museums will organize an exhibition showcasing the works in the spring of 2009. Warhol’s “Photographs and Pictures”: Selections from the Gift of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts is scheduled to be on view from March 20 to May 22, 2009 in the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art. The exhibition will be curated by Lucy Green, ‘09, art history major, University of Richmond, and will be the subject of her senior thesis project.

Am I the only one who is tired of looking at the back of a  a “Google Ron Paul” T-shirt?  

My husband and I collaborated on  a 2-minute video version of the Bloggers Segway Tour of Richmond.  To avoid copy write infringement, we used old time-y music.  So if you couldn’t make the tour or say, forgot about it, or you are just curious, check it out.

I posted it on the Richmond Region Facebook Page. Check it out, under videos.  Also you can see my, not one but two photo albums of the tour.

Got something neat to say about Richmond? There is this supercool new website called Richmond InsideOut.  Locals post their favorite things about Richmond for all to read. Then, others vote for the best ideas. Not only do the first 50 people to post ideas get $25 AmEx cards, but also each time you post you are entered to win 2 round trip tickets for your friends to come and visit the city you love best — Richmond.

OK, here is your chance to tell the world about all the cool things Richmond (oh, and don’t forget to mention, the Near West End).

Got back from the Segway Blogger Tour of Richmond a couple hours ago. I don’t know about the rest of the blogger gang, but I had a blast. Here’s a teaser photo.  I’ll write up a full report soon.

I am so excited to announce that Chris Humes has organized another wonderful Community Supported Agriculture berry and fruit co-op.  This is slightly out of our area, but worth knowing about anyway. I know I’ll be joining, and I expect the drive to Lakeside to take less than 10 minutes.  Here’s the scoop:

We [SPROUT Richmond] are pleased to announce the start-up of a new berry CSA for Richmonders.
Here are the details:

WHO: Fruit and berry fans can now get in on enjoying an array of sun
ripened, just picked, local berries and fruits delivered nearby!

WHAT: A weekly share consisting of a 5 lb+ tray of up to 6 pints, which
includes- always blackberries, blueberries and/or peaches, plums or
nectarines, and if available- raspberries. Although not certified
organically grown, all products are grown with sustainable farm production
practices.

WHEN: Starts Wednesday July 9th thru early September 2008 for weekly
delivery! 9 weeks total.

WHERE: CSA share trays will be delivered and available for pickup every
Wednesday evening from 5-7pm at the Lakeside Farmers Market at the Lakeside
Town Center, 6116 Lakeside Ave. Richmond, VA 23228.

COST: $28 per week. Three scheduled payments of $84 OR pay in full to
receive DISCOUNT of 10%. Space is limited- act fast!

HOW: Simply reply to this email [actually, you'll just need to email chrish@threemiles.com] and request your interest in joining. We
will send you additional information and tell you when you can start
enjoying fresh, local sweetness.

ABOUT: Agriberry LLC- 25 years ago Anne Geyer established and began
directing the marketing program at Westmoreland Berry Farm near Oak Grove,
VA with her husband, farm co-founder, and current farm manager Charles
Geyer. With this vast expertise in dozens of summer berry varieties- Anne is
eager to share with a wider consumer base. Anne is applying her range of
experiences and her passion to establish other small acreage summer
Agriberry sites in rural/urban counties across Virginia; starting in Hanover
County in 2009. Anne is also an active board member on the National Berry
Crop Initiative; a member of the Virginia Farm Bureau Specialty Crop
Committee; a District 17 representative for the Virginia Extension
Leadership Council; and a Hanover County Master Gardener Volunteer.

NOTE: Anne will be at the Hanover Tomato Festival from 9am-4pm this
Saturday, July 5th with examples of the Agriberry weekly berry/tree fruit
share!

I’ve been a fan of Avail’s Tim Barry for um well, 17 years. I guess that makes me old. 

I’m also a huge fan of Mary Munford Elementary School teacher Sarah Kiesler. 

You put the two together, with a classroom of second graders, and what you have is simply magic.  Take a listen.

 Vinyl Collective offers links to the mp3 versions and even talks of putting it out as a 7″. (A great idea if you ask me).

 They not only played 3 songs which included 2 Woodie Guthrie renditions, but they also did a Munford Style version of “Shoulda Oughtta”. Their buddy, Dave Watkins, recorded the entire thing and the songs are available in mp3 format. I highly recommend everyone take a listen, the recording sounds great and the songs are so much fun with the backing gang vocals of the 2nd grade. After listening to the songs, I had the idea of asking Tim to let us put this out as a 7?. Tim and Josh could pose with the 2nd grade for the cover art. Let me know what you think. 

Tim Barry live at Mary Munford Elementary School
June 10, 2008 - Ms. Kieslers 2nd Grade Class

“Hey Lolly (by Woody Guthrie)” (download mp3)

“This Land.. (By Woody Guthrie)” (download mp3)

” Shoulda Oughta - Munford Style (Tim Barry)” (download mp3)

Wish I had inspiration like that when I was in grade school! 

Willow Lawn is becoming a fast food Meca with more and more quick dining options.  Qdoba, Chipotle, Five Guys and Panera are all relatively new — now add two more restaurants to the choices….

The third Richmond location of Jason’s Deli is slated to open July 10 at 1700 Willow Lawn Drive behind the new CVS.

And opening in August a few doors down from there will be Richmond’s first Sticks Kebob Shop.

The Charlottesville-based quick-service restaurant specializes in flame-grilled kebobs and other Mediterranean favorites such as hummus and tabouleh.

This will be the third Sticks — the other two are in C’ville — and will accommodate about 60 people in the 2,500-square-foot space.

[via the Times-Dispatch]

Two days ago we reported about U of R’s new venture downtown and now, we are reporting on the Barksdale’s new downtown show.  The Barksdale’s website confirms that Guys & Dolls, their summer musical, will indeed be downtown, at the Empire, but it is mainly for production reasons – it is a  big musical needs a big stage (not the theater in the round that Barksdale offers).   With the possible exception of future summer musicals,  other Barksdale productions will continue to be held at the Willow Lawn location.

And to put an end to any rumors, although there is talk on the street, Theater IV has no plans to move the  kids shows to Barkesdale’s Willow Lawn theater.

Willow Lawn adds a Qdoba Mexican Grill to the list of recently opened quick-food restaurants in that area (Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Panera Bread, Chipotle, etc.).

The fourth Qdoba in Richmond is slated to open Thursday at 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, at the corner that formerly housed Payless ShoeSource.

Across the street in the new Willow Lawn Plaza (behind CVS pharmacy), the under-construction Jason’s Deli is now hiring.

[via]

 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.

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]