RVANews

Good Evening, RVA: Hugs all around

Susan Howson — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:51:18 +0000

It was a really wonderful eight years in RVA.

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To catch up

Read the last four Good Evening, RVAs to recap our last week of scheduled content and hear my fond farewells. If you want to cheer yourself up this weekend, here are some festivals!

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From Val, to you

Valerie Catrow says good-bye. She also wrote a final thing about National Get Outdoors Day at Pocahontas State Park. One of those things is sad and one is pretty fun-sounding!

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To Richard

Richard Hayes put in a serious number of hours, days, months, and years to bring you wittily worded community news, and I will miss sitting across from him every day, like in a big way. To come in today and see his LEGO collection gone was a bitter pill to swallow. Richard knows exactly how to stop a Ross-Susan yelling match in its tracks by throwing in a one-liner. His wife, Page, has written a few things for us over the years, and each of them has been an informative, fun read (and we don't just say that because she is famous for bringing us treats for no reason). Oh, and their daughter is going to take over the world, so keep an eye out for that. Thank you, Hayeses, for all that you did and all that we know you will continue to do for the community.

In the link above, you can keep up with Richard's progress, as he soldiers ahead, unable to stop his fingers from typing good headlines and reporting things he thinks you and your neighborhood should know.

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To Trevor

Trevor Dickerson is, quite simply, the nicest person you will ever work with. He's not only nice, he feels many feels and he can't stop himself from working hard. What a killer combination. From his early days as Short Pump's premiere community blogger, to his reliability as RVANews's West End, Near West End, and West of the Boulevard writer--Trevor simply could not and would not quit. We universally adore both Trevor and his work, and regularly say so out loud to each other as if it's news. He will certainly be one to watch as the Richmond media scene adjusts.

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To Teresa

If you haven't read our EDU FAQ series and you want to learn an impressive amount of information about the state of Richmond Public Schools, I recommend clearing your schedule. Teresa Cole is unlike anyone you have ever met, I promise you that. Her sheer dedication to whatever she's working on is kind of breathtaking--I can't tell you how many very late-night messages I've gotten from her as she's poring through massively detailed PDFs and making her own charts and graphs. The woman has three kids and is a teacher herself. I worry about her health. Not seeing where this series will end up is one of the most disappointing things about RVANews coming to a close--I'm personally hoping she'll continue to write them and maybe we can help her get the word out somehow. I wish it were more clear at the moment, but it's just not. Anyway, Teresa, you are a wonder. Thank you for breaking a very, very complicated subject down for all of us dummies so we can understand.

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To Julie

Poor Julie Glover got two months of columns in ([here's her latest, published on our last day])(https://rvanews.com/entertainment/off-the-shelf-two-local-ya-authors-and-one-wild-trilogy/138240) before we had to call it quits. And such a bummer...I'd been looking for a good literature person ever since Shannon Nemer left us a year ago. Julie's recommendations were great and her ideas were charming (photographing books in iconic Richmond places? what!? yes! duh!), and she clearly genuinely loved her job. You can find Julie at Chop Suey Books in Carytown, where she may just be willing to give you help finding local and non-local books to read.

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To Lauren, the RVA Fresh Daisy

Lauren Millard had the hardest job here and gets the least amount of credit. Forging enough relationships and making enough sales to keep a bunch of people employed is...well, the thought of it makes my stomach literally hurt. She worked constantly and from what I can tell, without stopping to breathe much. When I first heard she was being hired at RVANews, our friend said "Have you met Lauren yet? She has enough energy to power a small town." And that was totally correct, and she continued to energize, encourage, and basically power this small town, even working alongside Ross/Susan twinspeak that has got to be cringingly annoying to witness. Lauren is also phenomenally thoughtful with an "acts of service" love language that is so strong, you have to wonder how she manages it all. Officiating her wedding was one of the highlights of my entire life, and I don't know how I'd watch ballet without her. Hopefully I won't ever have to.

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To all of the rest of you

People, you can't know how much your kind words have meant to us. It's really been something. Hopefully, we'll see each other again soon, in some form or another. TTFN.

Your pal,

Susan

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Good Evening, RVA: Welp, part 4

Susan Howson — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 18:56:57 +0000

Photo by: @margarucia

It was a marvelously fresh day in RVA.

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Photo by: jeffreyw

What to do this weekend, should you feel the need to do things

Here are five really good ones!

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Another thing about the bike share situation

We've updated our article to reflect some important clarifications on funding and fee structure. Let's keep talking about the B!

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A thing about Kelly Gerow

Kelly and her kids went to see the LEGO thing at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and that link will tell you what she thought about it. Spoiler: she loved it. Guys, I have known Kelly since I was 16, and she doesn't love everything, so that's a ringing endorsement. Not to imply that she is a downer, she is in fact one of the best humans to exist. Her writing has always inspired me, even since those high school days, and I kind of can't understand why she isn't a famous short story writer unless it's that I've taken up too much of her time watching British miniseries. There are all sorts of personal things I want to say about how Kelly has been there for me every single time I've needed her and a whole lot of times I didn't know I did, but that's neither here nor there. The bottom line today is that Kelly's written so many things for us over the years, and clicking on each one has given me an actual thrill. Thank you, Kellmeister, for always being able to help us out so deftly and with jokes that are so much funnier than I can make, dammit.

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The biscuits will live on

Stephanie Ganz's final Food News will assuage your fears about missing the biscuit guide vol. 3 and also tell you some other important stuff. I just realized that Kelly and Stephanie should get together and do something that I can kick back and read, happily and without moving except to eat snacks, for the rest of my life.

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The bike share becomes a real boy!

Susan Howson — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 18:20:31 +0000

Update #1 -- June 9, 2016; 2:01 PM

We've updated the sections about funding and fees. Please take a gander!

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Original -- June 08, 2016

It's official (again?)--we're getting a bike share.

We don't know when, exactly, but Richmond bike share has been officially branded. The B! With cute somewhat apian branding done by Elevation, the bike share will feature equipment by Bewegen Technologies--220 bikes with 20-22 docking stations.

What do the bikes look like?

What will the stations look like, so that I may keep an eye out for them?

Cute, eh? I spent exactly 60 seconds trying to come up with something to make fun of about it, but I came up short. And also was given a Please Cease This Line of Thinking look from my boss.

Who paid for this and maybe can they pay for mowing and stuff, too?

Program funding came from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, which is given to the Commonwealth so as to help out programs and projects that reduce emissions and traffic congestion. In Virginia, those programs and projects are selected by metropolitan planning organizations, which in turn are made up of elected officials. In this case, the project was selected by the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization.

It's important to note (and thank you Chuck Gates for helping us understand this), that the B is a regional collaboration, in that the RRTPO is made up of officials from Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan, Ashland, and Richmond City Council. And they've voted to spend $3 million of those CMAQ funds on bike sharing (to cover both Phase I and Phase II).

According to the City, they matched 20% of the first phase, which clocked in at $1.34 million, with $393,000 paid to Berwegen to operate the system during the first year.

No, the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program is not going to pay for mowing. Although that's just a guess, so feel free to prove me wrong.

Cost to the consumer (that's you!)

Pending City Council approval, the B will offer an annual membership, a one-month membership, a 7-day pass, and a 1-day pass. BUT, hold onto your bike shorts, the first 0-45 minutes are free.

Here's the fee schedule:

This required so much thought and effort on my part, which is maybe their fault and maybe mine for being slow. really, but the first chart gets you those first 45 minutes, and the second chart is what happens when you go over that 45 minutes. If you buy any of the options on the first chart, you immediately get a bike for 45 minutes! Woo! And if you've got a 24-hour pass, say, you'll keep getting 45-minute joyrides as long as you keep turning bikes in. If you have a single bike out for longer than 45 minutes, the extra fees begin to apply.

But when? WHEN??

The City of Richmond did not choose to release that information, although it's expected to be late summer or early fall--it all still has to be approved anyway. The Urban Design Committee gets the application tomorrow, and City Council will see it on Monday. Let's all cross our fingers that no tree will have to be removed, or this could take longer than hoped.

OK, I am ready for the acronym now

I recommend shouting it to other B users as you pass each other on the street. When not passing another user, please just maintain a low buzzing sound.

S is for Speed - Richmond Bike Share is a fast way to reach places that are too far to walk and yet too close to drive.
H is for Health - Richmond Bike Share is good for you - and the earth.
A is for Access - Richmond Bike Share gives everyone access to more of the city.
R is for Reliability - Richmond Bike Share is a reliable form of transportation.
E is for Ease - Richmond Bike Share is easy to use.

Good Evening, RVA: Welp, part 3

Susan Howson — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 20:39:07 +0000

Photo by: DaKodachrome Photography

It was a seriously beautiful day in RVA.

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Families! And Amanda Gibson!

So, Valerie Catrow wrote her final 5 Things for Families. You can read more thoughts about Val here. I'm instead going to use this space (sorry Val) to talk about Amanda Gibson, who doesn't have a piece scheduled this week, but is a very important family writer for us. Amanda used to work at the Federal Reserve and is one of those people who naturally understands money and how to save it, plan with it, and write for not a lot of it. Getting to know Amanda is SO MUCH FUN--she's a great listener, tells good stories, and has a only a very thin filter, which I love in a person. She's been the most encouraging and cheerful freelancer I think I've ever worked with. And that's saying something because they are all pretty dang encouraging and cheerful. I met with Amanda yesterday to wrap up some loose ends, and left feeling like I was not going to barf for the first time all week. Amanda! I applaud you and your restorative abilities--you're like a financially-savvy balm to my soul.

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Elizabeth Ferris! And some other people!

We don't know Elizabeth well--this piece on what it takes to put on a Richmond festival was her very first with us--but I knew when I met her that she would be a good fit. And dang, was she ever! How good is that article? I'd also like to re-give you Lindsay Lerman's intense interview with Dom Flemons. Lindsay was another new addition, and I'm so sorry we won't be doing more with her, as she clearly knows what she's doing.

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Bikes! And transportation!

Bike share info was released today by the City, and the funniest thing about it was that it was sent to Ross Catrow directly, with the words "Ross, I know you have been sort of following this issue." One issue we have tackled (and when I say we I really don't mean me at all, even though I wrote the aforelinked piece today) is public transportation in and around the City. We've worked closely with Max Hepp-Buchanan at Bike Walk RVA, who has been a great source of information as well as a super fun hangout. It'll be fascinating to see where Richmond's efforts go, with or without what we internally refer to as Ross's Transportation Blog Dot Com (that doesn't exist as of yet, so don't get too excited).

I guess I have to say a thing about Ross since he is mentioned here, but I kind of just don't want to. Not because he yelled at me to shut up earlier today, and not because it's not an upsetting situation (because it is, very), but because I don't really believe we will be able to stop ourselves from working on a project together sometime soon. I can't really believe that without wanting to keel over. He understands how to bring out the best stuff in me and has been making an investment in me since the first post on the site. I think because we joke about murdering each other every day, that keeps us from actually wanting to murder each other. So there's a tip you can use for your own workplace. Murder jokes!

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Jen Maciulewicz and all of our theatre and performing arts contacts

First of all, I spelled Jen's last name right on THE FIRST TRY, which has gotta mean something. Oh shit, I just realized I accidentally typed "Jan." It is now fixed, but rest assured, that dumb typo was there. Sorry, Jen/Jan. Anyway, Jen came to us from another publication, and she was totally ready and willing to explore her own voice. It's not that easy to do! She asked for help, even though she didn't need much, and the whole experience was a great one. I've personally seen plays based on her recommendation, and I hope you have too. She won't be idle long, as I know the theatre community will want her to be reviewing their shows. Let's hope where she lands lets her makes jokes about those shows, because jokes make everything more fun.

Speaking of theatre, here's my Twelfth Night review, which I did whatever I wanted with! Jan Powell has been one of my favorite people to interview (as was Molly Hood, their 2015 Hamlet), and when I see them in passing, I yell to them so enthusiastically they physically recoil a little bit. Sorry, guys, I have trouble containing enthusiasm. It is just my way.

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Fake Richmonder!

This Fake Richmonder has been my favorite, and I think it's because people actually typed out words "Is this a joke?" and then decided "Yes, I will hit 'Submit' and commit those words to the internet."

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Go Do This: Twelfth Night

Susan Howson — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:56:27 +0000

Photo by Chris Smith

What it is

Twelfth Night is a play by William Shakespeare, who is a little-known European playwright known for his killer hairdo and the fact that he left his wife his second-best bed in his will.

What does "Twelfth Night" even mean? Congrats! You have stumbled on one of my most favorite things to be pedagogic about! The "12 days of Christmas" end on January 6th (or its eve, January 5th, depending on how you count) with the twelfth night...of Christmas.

Various things happen on Twelfth Night in various traditions (this Wikipedia page has some ones that are a delight to picture within your head--one involves "two to three hundred marked young men rush[ing] about the streets with whips and bells"), and one of those things is entertainment. This play was performed thusly.

Photo by Chris Smith

But really the play itself doesn't have anything to do with Christmas, second-best beds, or whips. It does, however, involve hairdos.

It's a cross-dressing comedy, which by a stretch of the imagination, is what every Shakespearean comedy was, since they all starred only men (ladies in the Elizabethan era having their time largely taken up with creatively masking odors and picking fleas off pet rats). Viola is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria (a real place now divided up between Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina!), separated from her brother (whom she thinks has died) (GUESS WHAT!), and unsure of what to do with her life.

It's a question we all ask ourselves from time to time, some of us this very week, and Viola makes the bewildering decision to change her hair, dress up like a man, and go to work for Illyria's Duke Orsino. Orsino is busy trying to woo another lady (Olivia), and he asks Viola (now Cesario) to help. Everybody falls in love with the wrong person, which by the end of the play might just turn out to be the right person, but not before a whole lot of confusion and gender-bending and "What! Gasp! Have I kissed yon member of the same sex? Fie upon my soul and let me vomit right here in the elderberries." Some people even like a person who they think is one sex, and then as soon as that sex is revealed to be the opposite sex, decide immediately to love them! Without any change in their appearance!

The subject of who's using which public bathroom never comes up.

As usual, the best comedy within the comedy comes from the more secondary characters. Malvolio (Lady Olivia's trusted servant), Sir Toby Belch (her uncle), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (his pal), and Feste (the fool). Their subplot, with Olivia's lady-in-waiting Maria, is wildly funny, involving drunkenness, hiding, yellow stockings, and a lot of running around.

There are two swordfights, which always make me nervous, not because they seem particularly dangerous, but because I bet they always stress the actors out and I picture them practicing and it makes me feel weird. There are also a couple of songs, which keep me from being too nervous. Thanks, songs!

Who's behind it

Quill Theatre, one of my very favorite companies in town. Artistic Director Jan Powell didn't direct this one (she's doing The Merchant of Venice later this summer), but Steve Perigard does a dang good job, particularly with the comedic scenes, which are crucially timed so as to bring out the most LOLs.

And LOL we did, particularly at Thomas Cunningham (Malvolio) and Evan Nasteff (Aguecheek). The former makes us all agree to just laugh at a very upper class English accent--let's just laugh at it, guys! Rolling R's is a funny thing to take the time to do! And the latter...man, does he play a naïve, drunken idiot super well. If only we could all be Andrew Aguecheeks every night of our lives, schemin' around, sittin' on audience laps, writing letters and then acting them out. Whoa, I may have just figured out what to do with my life. Thanks, Evan Nasteff!

Photo by Chris Smith.

Special props to David Janosik (Sir Toby Belch) and Luke Schares (Feste). One of you has the voice of an angel, I'll leave it to you to figure out.

Other than those guys, the ladies stole the show. Liz Blake White as Olivia was unrecognizable from when I saw her last in Romeo and Juliet. From desperate teen to cool, calculated, but lovelorn noblewoman--I really had to look at my program twice to make sure I had the right person. I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it. Here goes: her hair was beautiful, and I spent actual time admiring it. She didn't have a ton of jokes in the script, but the ones she did have were memorably delivered. Elisabeth Ashby was a solid Maria, with a devilish smile and a willingness to accept a hand on her breast all for the sake of a dirty joke.

Oh, man, speaking of dirty jokes, there's a C-word joke that was handled gracefully? Can you believe I just wrote that sentence??

Where it is

Twelfth Night is one-half of the Richmond Shakespeare Festival, which has been running at Agecroft Hall for 18 years.

Because this is the last theatre review I will write for the foreseeable future, I will bore you with all my words about Agecroft Hall, the Best Place in Town. Agecroft, which I hate to include so soon after referring to a C-word joke, is a beautiful Tudor estate built in Elizabethan England and BROUGHT OVER to the shores of the James River by rich people almost a century ago. You can read about it here.

It's full of sweeping lawns and gorgeous gardens, and you can see all of those for free, although I recommend a house tour if you've got a couple bucks. In fact, the whole place is so pleasant and soothing that I recommend we all get together there right now for a hug session.

Here is a photo of my son at Agecroft, which he calls "the Enchanted Garden," because he is made from my DNA and has no choice but to be a hopeless romantic.

Yeah, a picture of my kid! It's my last review, I'll do whatever I want!

Anyway, I've seen Midsummer here, I've seen Comedy of Errors here, I've seen all sorts of things. Agecroft's courtyard is the way to watch Shakespeare, and probably also the way to do anything else.

Agecroft is in Windsor Farms, where you'll get the pleasure of parking on the curbs of the wealthy and mussing up their view for an hour or two. The address is 4305 Sulgrave Road.

When it is

Twelfth Night is playing Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights through June 26th. All shows are at 7:30 PM. It's dusk, it's beautiful, you'll love it.

How much it costs

$30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $20 for students. You can buy tickets online! Just like the Elizabethans would have wanted!

Other things to note

There's plenty of parking, even without sidling up to fancy house and their impeccable curbs.

If you don't go do this, you will...

Quite literally break my heart. JK, quite figuratively. Quill Theatre and Agecroft deserve everything that either you or I can do for them. It's been my pleasure.

Good Evening, RVA: Welp part 2

Susan Howson — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:43:50 +0000

Photo by: @spensereid

It was a hopeful day in RVA, guys!

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Photo by: Lynie

A word about Hayley DeRoche and Sam Davies

Hayley and Sam have both been integral components to our coverage--thoughts on raising a family are very valuable. Because dammit, families are hard to raise! Like Kelly Gerow (more on Kelly tomorrow) and Valerie Catrow (more on Valerie yesterday) before them, they had to dig deep and decide what to share and what not to share. Sam and Hayley have both been personally encouraging to us all from the minute they began writing for us, and their insistence on doing everything exactly as I want it done was really nice, I won't lie. Sam, don't stop texting me random Jesus Christ Superstar quotes, and Hayley, please send me book recommendations constantly. And also maybe you guys should get together and start something cool? Here are Hayley's final thoughts--although she didn't realize it at the time--about raising a little girl while at the same time putting on lipstick.

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A word about Annie Tobey

Annie, who knows more about beer than anyone I have ever met, hasn't been with us long. She contacted us after a contract situation prevented her from continuing her beer columnist position at the RTD. "ANNIE TOBEY," is a thing Ross was always bellowing after reading one of her impressively informative and cheerfully written columns. The really sad thing is that she's been under her old contractual obligation to not talk about beer until June (you may have noticed a plethora of wine and spirits news issuing forth from her pen since she began a few months ago), and with this column, she finally gets to break her beer silence! For one week! What a huge bummer. Other publications: you are really crazy if you don't pick this column up. It even has me wanting to drink beer, and that stuff is gross. Sorry, Annie...and everyone else I know?

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A word about Mike MacKenzie

Mike has been writing for us for like three weeks! He was the perfect answer to a need we had: someone who could write about seemingly boring City stuff like the four-way stop situation on Floyd and make it extra readable and even funny. It's our philosophy that The People want to know about this stuff, they just don't KNOW they want to know, and Mike took my wishes and turned them into reality so quickly that I was kind of shocked. I was very excited to see what other things he could illuminate for us, and now I will just have to hope that he will keep doing so in a different format. Thanks so much, Mike, you are a really fearless reporter, and your jokes make me laugh. I really wish we could have worked together longer.

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A word about Harvey Danger

Guys, did you forget about this video from 2007? Remember when this kind of thing was gasp-inducing??

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Good Evening, RVA: Welp!

Susan Howson — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 19:53:25 +0000

Michael Chronister

It was a difficult day in RVA.

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First and foremost

We announced something really sad.

Thank you guys so much for being such a cool readership--we had a lot of fun, and today has been seriously painful. Please feel free to get in touch, especially if you have a lot of tissues you want to give me. I would like to give a personal thank you to everyone who has contributed to the site--we were carried by a whole lot of good talent who I loved working with so much. I'm not sure what is more upsetting, the idea that I won't get to interact with everyone on a daily basis, or that...no wait, that's what it is. There is no other part to that sentence. Those people did a lot of work for not very much money, and they all were so dang cheerful about it all the time. If you find anyone with RVANews on their resume and you would like to hire a good person, those are the people you need to hire. We wouldn't steer you wrong.

But let us all stop hand-wringing and get onto the content that all of those talented people put together today!

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Let's discuss Stephanie Ganz

In this second edition of Stephanie's biscuit round-up, you'll learn a lot of things about local biscuits and also Stephanie's Bojangles-laden past. But it also gives me the opportunity to talk about how I truly believe that Stephanie Ganz is the city's best food writer. I'm really sorry, other food writers, but I am partial. She's so frigging funny, knows so much about what she's talking about (culinary school, what?), and has been a long-running member of our team. Her business, The Apple Cart, applies those incredible talents towards food-related businesses, and I suggest you give her a shout if you need her services. Thank you so much, Stephanie. It is my pleasure to have had you as a writer and a friend.

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Let's discuss Heaton Johnson

Heaton came to us via a cold email, but his photography portfolio was so amazing that I told him to come by ASAP and introduce himself. I quickly found out that he was the hardest working person I've ever met--ask him for one thing and he will give you 20. I hope we haven't taken advantage of his overachieving work ethic, but I do hope we have taken advantage of his talent appropriately. Today, we bring you photos he took while on a field trip with Blue Sky Fund, even before he knew they'd be launching their three-day crowdfunding campaign! Heaton has a huge heart that just about matches his huge talent, and we don't know why in the world he bothered to work so hard for us, but we're so glad he did.

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Photo by @tedxrva

Let's discuss Rachel Marsh

There is not a week that goes by without me shouting something in the office about how much I love Rachel Marsh's writing. She picks up any assignment I give her and adjusts her tone perfectly, from funny to heartwarming to informative. I love what she's done with 5 Things, which I felt a lot of ownership over. It was tough to hand that over to someone else, and she did it so perfectly, I couldn't believe it. This week she talks to 2016 Peacemaker of the Year Ram Bhagat, who is an Important Person for the City. I really hope Rachel gets snapped up by another publication soon, because I am desperate to read more of her writing. Preferably every day.

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And of course, Valerie Catrow

What can one even say about Val? She had my job long before I did, and she was my editor long before I was hers. She is incredibly easy to work with and she's also a very dear friend. When I have a piece on the calendar the next day that's by Val, it's like, "Oh, well, that one will need zero work from me," which is a wonderful feeling to have. Val has written our family content for...gosh, who knows how long...and she absolutely always makes me laugh. Three times a week. Sometimes via text. Val also has a sixth sense for when you are upset about something and will text you immediately during that time with something that is perfectly planned (or maybe not planned?) to make you feel better. And because I love libraries, this piece by her about the new Varina library sure made my day brighter.

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Good Evening, RVA: It’s not the heat

Susan Howson — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:36:06 +0000

Photo by: sandy's dad

It was a trickling day in RVA.

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Photo by: DFChurch

Get moving

It's time to lace up the ol' shoes and move the ol' limbs at the joints--Kathryn Pullam is back with a giant, heaping list of active events you can do in and around town. You're already sweaty just existing right now, so you might as well!

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Watch other people get moving

The Richmond Kickers play an English Premier League team on July 4th! This is a big symbolic deal! But is it symbolic in a "In your FACE, Great Britain!" or is it symbolic in a "Oh man, you totally had us under your thumb" way? The outcome will determine the answer! A tentative welcome to Swansea City.

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Photo by: Sky Noir

Think about getting the housing-wage gap moving in a closing direction

Mike MacKenzie is here to tell us about new data from the "Out of Reach" report, on which Virginia doesn't come out too great. This may depress you, but that's that.

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Move yourself over to these new restaurants

Five new places to eat, and two closings (well, 1.5 closings) in the month of May! Here are our thoughts, unbidden.

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And then also this one

It opened just a couple of days too late to make it onto our May roundup, but Peter Chang's in Scott's Addition opened today, and we went over there and awkwardly took photos of its menu for you. You're welcome!

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I am terrified to try this

But fellow writers among you might enjoy!

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PHOTOS: Peter Chang’s opens, here’s the menu

Susan Howson — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:50:46 +0000

Peter Chang’s is now open at 2816 W. Broad Street from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Sunday.

Restaurant openings and closings in May 2016

Susan Howson — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:25:22 +0000

Antler and Fin

Those of us who kinda liked the Belvidere at Broad were pleased to hear that another will rise to carry the mantle at that pretty swell location (506 W. Broad Street). Here's what I like about the new Antler and Fin: the wine list is large and everything that's by the glass is printed in red, they spell draft "draught," and they've got housemade soda. And that's just the beverage section!

Dinner's arranged into three very small sections--small, medium, and large. So instead of asking the server to estimate the portion size with his or her hands and gauging whether or not that's enough to fill you up, you can simply choose from the section of the menu that befits your appetite most! Not a lot for vegetarians--think hunt club fare--but plenty for gluten-free.

Liberty Public House

The only restaurant with a crowd-sourced name that I can think of! Liberty Public House (418 N. 25th Street) opened in May in the old East End Theater, and they're keeping it real by throwing popcorn into a lot of their recipes. That sounds slapdash, like they just--whoops!--toss handfuls into whatever dish they please. I'm sure the real process is a lot more exacting.

The menu contains not-too-fancy but not-too-boring sandwiches, salads, and larger entrees, and I'm into any place that will give me a root beer float. They're touting their ability to be a good place to cheer for sports-related events, but a dual sound system suggests that your dining experience won't be marred by the Hockey Tournament That Won't End or whatever they're called. I'm excited about this place being a mid-range neighborhood option for Church Hillians while also maybe drawing in casual diners from other parts of town.

Bonus points: they're proud of being able to cater to vegans, vegetarians, and the poor unfortunate gluten-free.

Tenka Ramen

The wait is over, ramen fans! The wait is also over for you, Japanese sausage fans! And you too, pork bun fans, gyoza fans...really this ramen shop caters to a lot of fans. That's nice, I think, because even I, the lover of noodle bowls, get tired of just eating ramen all the time.

Tenka brings six kinds of ramen to you for lunch and dinner (just dinner on Saturday and closed on Sunday) at their downtown location (110 N. 5th Street).

Kabana Rooftop Bar

It's like we just figured out that we could view the city from up above! Kabana is one of a handful of rooftop bars (and restaurants, naturally) that has opened or is about to open. The vibe is like the vibe you might expect from a bar atop the roof of a Hampton Inn in Miami, which it is (without the Miami part). There's a small pool, a lot of bouncers, and teeny-tiny women serving drinks while wearing impossible shoes.

The menu is promised to be Asian-inspired, and the drinks-put together by Sean Rapoza, formerly of Balliceaux--will trend towards the tiki.

Sugar's Crab Shack

The proximity of Sugar's Crab Shack to Sugar Shack Donuts blows my mind--are you guys just eyeing each other warily from different sides of the highway? Aren't you afraid someone will go to the wrong location and be sorely disappointed? Do neither of you consider that a sugar shack is a reference to maple syrup and maybe you should be selling me nature's most delicious product in addition to your own toothsome wares?

Maybe we'll never know. In the meantime, you can go get a bunch of fried seafood platters and sandwiches at 2224 Chamberlayne Avenue, from the good folks behind Croaker's Spot.

It's so hard to say good-bye

**Shoryuken,** I don't even know what to say. I wish you could have made it work, but I understand that sometimes this is impossible. Pomegranate, you're only temporarily closed, so it's kind of like we're on a break. Sometimes breaks don't turn out well, sometimes they do.

Good Evening, RVA: The day after

Susan Howson — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 19:40:16 +0000

Photo by EA Lee Photography

It was a bleh day in RVA.

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Things to eat

Food News gives you all the best news, and that news is about bagels this time. And rice. And food festivals.

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Photo by: Dimacius

Things to do

Many of the things to do this weekend are, in fact, food things. But some of them are chalk things! And some are musical things! And some are other things!

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Photo by: linkwize

And things to do for the entire month

Our monthly roundup of festivals is here, and it is...intense. At least the Vegetarian Festival brings up the rear so you've got some detoxing opportunities at the end of it all.

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Photo by: BullionVault

My History Teacher Is Running for Mayor, the New Book by Judy Blume

Judy, you may have that book table for free! While we wait for her to publish it, let's read Chris Bolling's firsthand account of having your history teacher run for mayor. He interviewed Chad Ingold and got a look at how he feels about the city.

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The Folk Festival will not be forgotten about!

Nay, we may talk about the Greek Festival all week, but the Folk Festival would like you to know that it is STILL HAPPENING this October. As such, the first round of performers has been released.

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Do not drink liquids while watching this

Man, sometimes SNL has still got it in a major way.

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Good Evening, RVA: Batten ‘em down!

Susan Howson — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 19:47:47 +0000

Photo by: creativedogmedia

It was a Q&A day in RVA.

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You had me at "new library"

It's not a three-day weekend, but it is absolutely a funtime weekend with about a million festivals (stay tuned for a rundown of those) and a bunch of other stuff to do with your family. Plus The Goonies!

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The Carbonaro Effect is a pretty good one

I had a spirited phone conversation with comedian/magician Michael Carbonaro--not spirited like he delves in the spirit world (he hates that kind of fake stuff), but spirited like funny and interesting. I am now convinced that seeing him at the Carpenter Theatre on June 10th is a great idea.

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The Dom Flemons effect might be even better

Lindsay Lerman did this pretty amazing interview with Dom Flemons, who is both a mega-talented musician, a guy who is known for speaking eloquently about musical traditions, and the founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Guys, I learned many things.

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Two very comedic things this June

You're in a summer month now, there's no denying it (particularly if you're going to deny it by explaining to me how the summer solstice works). And Rachel Marsh wants to be sure you know that RVA Tonight and the 2nd Best Comedy Fest are both happening very soon!

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And if your life isn't hectic enough

There's still a couple weeks until the filing deadline for running for mayor, city council, or school board. [If you're made of sterner stuff than I am, and you don't mind being a public servant, here are your marching orders.

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Guys 25 and over

It's time to do a little cleanup.

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So you want to run for local office…

Susan Howson — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 19:08:37 +0000

Original -- February 22, 2016

How often have you heard your favorite armchair urban planner say "Why would they put Thing X here instead of this clearly better place over here?"

Do you ever ask "Who are 'they,' exactly? And why don't you just become one of them?"

You should! It's easier than you think to run for public office, many of which will be elected this year on November 8th. Here's how.

Before you read further...

Are you eligible to vote? You'll need to be if you want to run.
Did you move to Virginia within the last year? Sorry! You'll have to be a resident of the commonwealth for one year before you can run for office.
Don't live within the locality that you're trying to represent? Nope! Not allowed!

Mayor, City Council, and School Board

Filing deadline: June 14th

Fill out this Candidate Qualification form (PDF).
Fill out this Declaration of Candidacy (PDF).
Get signatures on this petition (PDF) from adults who are eligible to vote in Richmond. It's recommended to get about 150% of the required signatures, just to be sure enough of them are eligible. Mayoral candidates will need 500 (with at least 50 from each district),¹ City Council and School Board both require 125 from the voting district, according to state law.
Fill out this economic statement (PDF).
Fill out the Statement of Organization (PDF). It's not technically required at time of filing, but you'll need it the second you receive money from someone, so you might as well turn it in now.

How to file

Submit all of the things you now have due to your diligent efforts in steps 1-5 to the General Registrar before 7:00 PM on June 14th.

General Registrar's Office

Registrar's Office
City of Richmond
‪900 E. Broad St., Room 105‬
Richmond, VA 23219

It's only acceptable to use the "But the postmark has March 1st on it!" excuse for some of the forms and you'd have to do it by certified mail and show a receipt and stuff, so it just seems wiser to turn it in early. Or better yet, drop them off in person.

If you want to be notified that you've messed up somewhere in one of these forms, you have to include a written letter requesting such notification. Otherwise you'll just be hoping and wondering and wondering and hoping--and suddenly your name just won't be on the ballot and you might cry.

You can't notarize your own stuff. Don't even think about it.

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For all of the info, have fun making your way through this (PDF).

This is in the City Code, and is larger than the number of signatures called for in Virginia law. ↩

The magic, the comedy, the effect of Michael Carbonaro

Susan Howson — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 16:50:48 +0000

I'm not sure what I expected a conversation with a magician to be like--would he be really serious? Would there be music playing in the background? Would I hear even over the phone the swirling of a cape and the ruffling of dove feathers?

But no, this is what I like about Michael Carbonaro and his particular brand of comedy. He's just an extremely personable, funny guy who does magic not so that he can mesmerize you into thinking he defies the laws of physics, but so he can get that kind of reaction that's best described as "surprised gasp-laugh."

You may have seen Michael on the Tonight Show or perhaps his show on truTV, The Carbonaro Effect.

Magic yourself forward through time and see the stage version for yourself, because Michael Carbonaro is coming to Richmond on June 10th.

And for my next trick, some fascinating Qs and As

Susan Howson: I think what's most interesting about your show is that it's funny. I grew up with watching David Copperfield, and magic seemed so dramatic. But you're basically using your brain and your sleight of hand to play pranks on people to make them laugh. It's a much more approachable kind of magic--was that a conscious decision?

Michael Carbonaro: A conscious decision? I don't think so! I believe that I have always been that way! I've got a good meter for what's nice, and I am not a fan of prank shows. I think they skew mean. I don't like making people feel uncomfortable, or making them look stupid or making them angry--a lot of pranksters do that because it's easy. But I call back to Candid Camera. You see yourself in these people when you're watching hidden camera shows. You think, "How would I react? Would i fall for that?"

As far as it being a conscious decision, no not really! I guess I just lean towards nice. Good parents??

SH: You've been performing magic since your teens, doing it on the side to make money. What was that like? How has it changed? What was your first trick? Can I say trick?

MC: There wasn't really money on the side, that's what I always wanted to be doing. When I started performing as a professional I turned around and put that money back into props. I went to NYU for acting and drama, but the question is, how do you get involved in doing that kind of a thing. For me, it was like special effects led me to magic. I really wanted to be an effects artist--I love monster movies and horror movies. I would watch Copperfield on TV and when out and got some effects makeup and then special effects became magic and then magic became performing.

I really didn't know what to do after school. It was like, do you want to be on a TV show or do you want to be a magician or to be on a sitcom? And I really honestly would like any of it! I like all of that stuff!

Then the opportunity came up to be on the Tonight Show, and I was totally hip to it. I had a whole bunch of ideas for trying that. I realized, OK, I'm being funny, hopefully, and I'm acting, and also being an ordinary person and improvising and doing magic tricks. It's funny to think back about whether or not it was "conscious." It just sort of was weaseling around and then thinking "This is fun, this is working." It found me, to not be cliché.

SH: Since your spots on the Tonight Show and the Carbonaro Effect itself involve a big reveal, that you're an illusionist and they're not really squishing their dogs onto tiny disks, do you care as much about the Code of Magicians? Is that still a thing? It's almost like if you call it "magic" you don't get enough credit for practicing something so hard until you get it right. What you do is a skill!

MC: Well, I don't reveal the secrets of the trick, the conceit of the show is that I'm really a magician hiding out as a normal person. I do reveal that conceit to the people I encounter because a) it's wonderful to watch them drop their guard and say, "Oh my gosh, I thought i was losing my mind, that was crazy." And also I have to ask them their permission to be on the show!

There's some aspect of magic that's real, though. Even David Blaine mixed these human endurance tasks that are real! You mix that with a card trick, and someone might go, "Wait, that was a trick. Is this a trick?" He really created a phenomenon when he levitated on TV and then buried himself--even Blaine wouldn't tell you that this is magic. The ones who need to be more open about something just being tricks are the ones who claim to talk to the dead, that kind of thing.

SH: Who do you admire most in the magic community?

MC: That's tough--it's a thriving community out here in LA, some of the people I most respect in the magic world are Derek DelGaudio, Derek Hughes, Michael Weber, David Regal. Copperfield was a huge influence. It was dramatic but it was really precise, he was the master of ceremonies at his own show, and maybe the lights and the dancing girls are a little hokey looking back. But his new show is good too, he's dropped a lot of that stuff.

Pen and Teller were huge influences, and how lucky are we that they're in the spotlight. They took the mold of a magician and really blew it up.

SH: What's the most difficult trick that you've learned? Can I say trick?

MC: Yes, you can say "trick!" When I first started writing to Teller, I was trying to take it really seriously and called something an illusion, and he wrote back "Oh, yeah the rope trick!"

The most difficult one to perform is one that I do on my stage show where I've purposefully let some people see what's happening--a handkerchief is disappearing. It becomes really hysterical because I'm flip flopping who's seeing what, so it's kind of like a reveal, but it's so funny how energized the audience gets. It's one of those ones that when I finish it, it's like "Yeah!"

SH: Speaking of your stage production, what's this tour like? What can we expect from the show?

MC: The live show is like a party, I say. It really is like getting to hang out with people. To meet the fans of the show...even the biggest diehard fans still sits there and wonders like it's TV, "Is this actors or is this camera tricks?" It's great to have those people sitting right in front of me seeing a glass of water come out of a thin envelope and being like "Whoa, I am sitting RIGHT HERE and didn't see that."

People really leave wondering what was planned and what was not planned. It seems like mistakes going on that magically solved themselves, and I really have to jump through hoops to keep it that way.

SH: I'm sorry to have to ask this, but I feel it must be asked: Do you love Arrested Development?

MC: When I was a kid I went to magic camp and participated in the advanced stage competition and no lie, I used the Final Countdown as my song. So when that came out, I was like "WHAT?"

I don't know, I really want to take myself out of it. My goal is to make people not think "How did YOU do that?" but "How did that even happen?" Really I'm just the product of a lot of help from amazing friends.

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You, too can see Michael Carbonaro on his tour, Michael Carbonaro Live on Friday, June 10th at 7:30 at the Carpenter Theatre. Tickets start at $39.50.

Good Evening, RVA: Cool as a cucumber

Susan Howson — Tue, 31 May 2016 20:42:08 +0000

Photo by: @30.seconds.to.light

It was a cruciferous day in RVA.

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Photo by: la_febbra

Lettuce all get along

Kelly Gerow guest stars in today's Raising Richmond--and guys, she has the courageous spirit necessary to tackle a topic we all think about but no one knows how to handle. It is grandparents. I mean what happened to those guys along the way?? They are nuts about kids, man!

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What a radishing set of performers

In case you missed it (or if you just want to revel in its glory), RVA Music Night at Friday Cheers was awesome. Check out some sweet pics of Sam Reed, Lady God, and Natalie Prass.

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A Bloody Mary is a cocktail with vegetables in it

But there are many other types of drinks in this week's In Your Cups. Also of note: ABC laws are changing to allow distilleries to become Places to Hang. Distilleries: better tidy up the guest bathrooms!

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A super-kale guy

Sorry, Xavier, that vegetable pun was a real stretch. The rest of you, you should all listen to our final National Foster Care Month interview. This young man has a lot of things to tell you that will make an impact, and I certainly can't say that about everyone.

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Photo by: YIM Hafiz

RVANews Live is TOMORROW NIGHT

I know you want to be a good steward of your city, and I also know you want to hang out with us, because we are fun humans. Hit both your goals by attending RVANews Live #007 tomorrow night at Coalition Theater at 6:00 PM. With an afterparty! And, like, lots of jokes!

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Enough with the puns

Every moment of this is funnier than the last.

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LISTEN: Xavier on waiting, family, and being real

Susan Howson — Tue, 31 May 2016 18:03:09 +0000

We talk with Xavier and his social worker, Krista Watson, about what it's like to grow up in foster care. Xavier is an entertaining guy, to say the least, but it's his insight on life that makes this interview something special.

Xavier's currently in foster care and is looking to be adopted again--but his situation is unique, in that he would like to keep a close relationship with his birth family. He and Krista explain why.

For more about Xavier (who's a future architect, by the way) check out his appearance on NBC Washington as part of the Wednesday's Child program.

Listen

http://podcasts.rvanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Xavier-on-waiting-family-and-being-real.m4a
Did you know you can subscribe to all of our audio content?

More to listen to

Check out our other National Foster Care Month stories here.

Good Evening, RVA: Some memories, some new stuff, some synthesizers

Susan Howson — Mon, 30 May 2016 20:25:35 +0000

Photo by bootywatts

It was a Memorial Day in RVA.

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Do: Enjoy. Don't: Mess it up.

With today being the unofficial start of summer hangtimes, we thought it pertinent to remind you how to be a good citizen of a River City. The James needs you to read that article!

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Fire up the grill

Still need an idea of what to eat tonight? Get this recipe going, and do it soon because your guests are going to show up any moment.

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If you're not on grill duty

Spend some time with your old recycling bin.

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Get special

While you've got your family around you, ask them if they're interested in cheering for the Special Olympics on June 10th and 11th. If they shrug their shoulders, remind them that they'll be able to get as loud as they want. Nay, as loud as they can possibly get!

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A sad news update

The RPD has arrested a suspect in connection with the Rashawn Brathwaite murder on May 9th.

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Have a great rest of your holiday

And see you tomorrow.

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Rashawn A. Brathwaite—2016 Richmond Homicide #21

Susan Howson — Mon, 30 May 2016 16:19:21 +0000

We're calling this a homicide because it has been officially termed as such by the Richmond Police Department. Before you tell us we've missed one--was it actually a death investigation (often self-defense)? Was it within city limits? Did the person die of wounds received in a different year? All of those deaths do not get officially counted as Richmond homicides for this year.

Update #1 -- May 30, 2016; 12:19 PM

An arrest was made on May 27th. See below.

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Original -- May 10, 2016

Victim

Rashawn A. Brathwaite, 23 of 2300 block of Whitcomb Street.

The Incident

Where: 4000 block of Midlothian Turnpike on the Southside
When: Monday, May 9th at or around 11:13 AM.
Weapon: Police were called to the scene for a report of a double shooting. They found two adult males outside of the apartment complex suffering from gunshot wounds. Mr. Brathwaite died a few hours later at the hospital.

The Investigation

With help from the U.S. Marshal's Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Richmond Police Department arrested Larry M. Scott, age 31, of the 5600 block of Petosky Avenue. His arrest, on May 27th, was without incident. Mr. Scott has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

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Got a tip?

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Arcellious Demery at 804.646.5999 or Crime Stoppers at 804.780.1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word "ITip" followed by your tip. Or, leave a tip online at www.7801000.com. Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

Submit tips about persons in possession of illegally-held guns by texting Crime Stoppers at 274637, then using keyword "GUN250" followed by your tip. Rewards up to $250. All the Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

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View all 2016 homicides here.

Good Evening, RVA: So long, Spring!

Susan Howson — Fri, 27 May 2016 20:27:51 +0000

Photo by: @thej_m_a_n

It was a sleepy day in RVA.

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Photo by: joepyrek

Hey man, nice shot...at a college tuition

The Children's Museum of Richmond's popular raffle for a college tuition kicks off this Sunday, so make your bets and cross your fingers!

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Photo by: Mr. Ducke

The beautiful art people (and other things to do this weekend)

Chris Bolling presents: 5 Things for Teens, which is best reserved for those who are a) between the ages of 13 and 19 and b) roll their eyes at whatever your plans are this weekend.

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Strawberries from a wicked garden

Your month of intense festivals (soon to be followed by another month of festivals--stay tuned!) concludes with the Strawberry Fields Festival at Gallmeyer Farms.

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Photo by: NRK P3

Put the week in your rearview mirror

It's Friday, so as soon as you finish reading this, you better be getting your shit together and heading down to Brown's Island. It's RVA Music Night, featuring Natalie Prass, Lady God, and Sam Reed!

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What's not to like?

Sam and Ross are just so dang positive all the time! This week, it's The Karate Kid and Buster Keaton, who I will call without hesitation the master of silent film comedy. Chaplin fans can do with that what you will, but perhaps we should all meet up and silently duke it out! The quietest nerd fest since the last RVA Hackathon!

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Photo by: YIM Hafiz

Your plans for Wednesday, education fans!

Come one and come all to the very latest and greatest RVANews Live. This iteration (#007!) will focus on all things education--starring Damon Jiggetts from Peter Paul Development Center, Garet Prior from Richmond Forward, Libby Germer from the land of Teachers Who Do Amazing Things (not a real place, guys), and Jeff Bourne from the School Board. Yes, THAT School Board! Tickets are $15, the date is Wednesday, June 1st, the time is 6:00 PM (doors at 5:00 PM), and the people to hang out with are...the RVANews Crew! Learn more and buy tickets here.

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People in Kansas do not scream when they see giant tornadoes

Instead they say things like "I don't like this.". You're tough, Kansaspeople.

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Good Evening, RVA: Food and Aughts and grillin’ and chillin’

Susan Howson — Thu, 26 May 2016 20:30:55 +0000

Photo by: sandy's dad

It was a blinding day in RVA.

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Whoa-whoa-whoa, the sweetest frog

There's a lot to sink your teeth into this week in Food News, and I can't believe I've never said that before. (Or have I? A thousand Zelda rupees to the first person who proves me wrong!) Read about Croaker's Spot, Wegmans, Broad Appétit, SweetFrog's charitable leanings, and more!

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The Aughts now have their own nostalgia??

Who even heard of such a thing! All I remember is very skinny eyebrows and a lot of lipliner--but apparently there are dance moves and such associated with the decade. Rachel Marsh gives you a 2000s dance party as part of your weekend...and also four other things.

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Nice grill

Richard Hayes has done a choice little roundup of your grillable deals in town just in the nick of time for Memorial Day. It's like a craaaazy coincidence, guys!

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Find your way

For people new to town...or just people like your mother, who has lived here for 33 years but makes you explain how to get anywhere (JK, that's my mother)...the new wayfinding signs are pretty helpful. Mike MacKenzie breaks down what they cost and what larger initiative they're part of. Tourists getting around the city in an AOK fashion is something I can get behind--mainly because I never know how exactly to direct anyone to Maymont. You just sort of aim South but not too far South and you'll probably find it? I dunno! Gardens! Goats! Ask Siri!

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Much music this weekend

It's not all Friday Cheers, either. Check out Brett Stonecipher's monthly music news roundup as if for the first time. It includes a few shows this weekend that you probably don't want to miss like a boring bump on an even more boring log.

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I'm both sorry and not sorry that someone filmed this

Alcohol is something else. At least the videographer eventually helped him, I guess?

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5 Things: Music, art, beer, strawberries, and partying like it’s 2001

Susan Howson — Thu, 26 May 2016 13:43:26 +0000

Photo by: praetoriansentry

1. Friday Cheers

Friday Cheers is still going strong, and this week, our very own, very talented Natalie Prass is headlining. Remember how she lives here, our very town of Richmond? And remember how she's extremely gifted and like candy to your ears? And remember how Susan Howson got to interview her?

Friday, May 27th • 6:00-9:30 PM
Brown's Island
$5

2. Hot in Herre: 2000's Dance Party

The Cha Cha Slide. The Dougie. The 1, 2 Step. Bring back all of your favorite dance moves from the early 2000's this weekend, for one night only. Or, as many nights as you want, really. There are no "Anti-2000's-Dance-Moves" police. But if there were, they would definitely be off duty on Friday.

Friday, May 27th • 8:00 PM
The National, 708 E. Broad Street
$10

3. Strawberry Fields Festival

Pick them! Step on them! Put them on a shortcake! Make a jam! Smear them on your face like war paint! Throw them at your friends! These are all things you can do with strawberries at a strawberry festival. Oh, and eat them. Definitely do that.

Saturday, May 28th - Monday, May 30th • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Gallmeyer Farms, 3622 Darbytown Court
Free to attend!

4. Castleburg Brewery Opening

Wha...what? A new brewery?

Saturday, May 28th • 11:00 AM
Castleburg Brewery, 1626 Ownby Lane
Free to attend!

5. Spring Y'Art Sale at Hardywood

The Spring Y'Art Sale...like a yard sale but with art! Fill up your home with some local art! Even bring your own art to sell or trade! And hey, drink some local beer while you're at it! Let's be honest, the only thing better than an art sale at Hardywood is an art sale at Hardywood with a punny title.

Sunday, May 29th • 1:00-5:00 PM
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 2408 Ownby Lane
Free to attend!

Good Evening, RVA: Grab your sandals and bug spray

Susan Howson — Wed, 25 May 2016 20:15:10 +0000

Photo by: Joseph Dunn

It was a banner day in RVA.

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That rain dance you did sure backfired

But now we are free! Free of the tyranny of the wet earth! Let us skip joyfully into the weekend ahead, alongside our families. Or skip alone and let the family catch up when they feel like it. You can't tell someone to skip; they've gotta want to skip on their own.

— ∮∮∮ —

Pop quiz, hot shot

Turns out I had a lot of things to say about the new Speed exhibit at the Science Museum, outrunning alligators, and sporty dads. Might you be interested in reading about it? You better! Because you're going there whether you like it or not!

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Why don't you believe in me, Natalie?

JK, I'm sure she probably believes in me, somewhere in her heart. But you should listen to that song, and then our interview, and then the entire album before you see Natalie Prass at Friday Cheers this week.

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Are we on a highway to the Zika danger zone?

We put together a bunch of information about Zika and how much it sucks...but is preventable! Read all about it and remember that the title is a Seinfeld reference, which is why the photo has Seinfeld upon it--please don't assume that Jerry Seinfeld has Zika, we have no reason to believe that is true.

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This is less of a funny link than it is an empowering one

But kids, guys! Pretty inspiring!

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What’s the deal with Zika?

Susan Howson — Wed, 25 May 2016 20:00:57 +0000

Photo by: Mamboman1 and Thomas Hawk

1. How do you pronounce "Zika"

Let's get this out of the way, because people in our office pronounce it three different ways.

It is pronounced like "zeeka."

Moving on.

2. How big of a problem is Zika?

Well, in the United States, there were 544 cases reported as of May 18th, 2016. Every single one of them has been travel-related. Of those 544, 10 were sexually transmitted.

The U.S. territories have a much higher number--836.

Virginia's clocking in at 15 cases thus far, which makes up 3% of the total cases in the U.S. New York has the most by far, at 114 (21%). Three of those cases were in Central Virginia.

Data is reported to the Center for Disease Control weekly, with a delay of one week.

3. What exactly does Zika do to a human?

To adults, very little: symptoms include red eyes, fever, joint pain, and rash. The biggest threat is to pregnant women, whose babies could suffer birth defects, namely microcephaly (which is when a baby is born with an abnormally small skull).

In some cases, Zika can cause Guillian-Barré syndrome. This has only happened once in the U.S.

4. Where does one get Zika?

Pretty much all of South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico are reporting cases of Zika. Here's a handy map.

5. How do you prevent it?

If you're traveling to a Zika area, you avoid mosquito bites like the...well, you know. Use EPA-approved bug spray, mosquito nets, and long-sleeved and -pantsed clothing.

You also use condoms, particularly if one of you is pregnant. The CDC isn't sure yet how long Zika lasts in semen, and they don't know for sure if women can transmit Zika to a sexual partner. But they do know that semen can transmit Zika from an infected man to a sexual partner. Thus far, it's only been dudes with Zika symptoms, but the jury is still out on whether or not it can be transmitted from a symptomless male.

You can also do your part to reduce the mosquito population. David Calkins of the Virginia Department of Health recommends picking one day every week to "fight the bite:" walk around your property and dump out any standing water. Asian tiger mosquitoes (the ones that carry zika) grow in artificial containers only--which is a weird thing for a species to be picky about!

6. Yeah, but like...condoms for all kinds of sex?

Yep, all kinds. An infected person's semen should just in general be kept far away from everyone else, especially pregnant women.

The CDC helpfully reminds you that you could just refrain from having sex at all for an undetermined period of time until you're definitely not infected anymore, which probably makes the condom idea sound a lot better. I wrote the weirdest sentence at work today!

They also have a whole lot of pictures like this, which really freak me out. Stop touching her like that, infected man!

7. What do you do if you think you may be infected?

Go see your doctor and protect yourself super well from mosquito bites--no sense in giving it to our own mosquitoes to spread around.

8. What if I want to get pregnant sometime in the kind of near future?

If you've traveled to a Zika area, you should wait eight weeks. If you actually have Zika symptoms, women should wait eight weeks after they start and men should wait six months. If you've both been infected, that's some dispiriting logistics right there.

9. We've got mosquitoes in Virginia-are those nasty bloodsuckers carrying Zika?

There are two kinds of mosquitoes that could (not necessarily do) carry Zika: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. And yes, we do have them in Virginia.

Here's what has to happen to turn these mosquitoes into bona fide Zika carriers:

People have to carry virus within their bloodstream into the U.S.
Those people have to get bitten by a mosquito during the first week of their infection
That mosquito has to stay alive long enough for the virus to make more viruses
That mosquito has to bite another person
Repeat entire cycle multiple times--then that's an outbreak

10. What's being done about it all?

The Center for Disease Control (whose handy website has been supplying me with all of this information and a whole lot more) has activated its highest level of response.

This means they're in U.S. territories as well as some other countries being infected, doing a bunch of studies about Zika in semen and urine, reporting and monitoring cases to help us figure out how it's spreading, and learning more about the link to microcephaly and Guillain-Barré.

In Virginia, the state response plan is 72 pages long. Basically, they've established a task force and they're cooperating with the CDC.

11. How does Zika measure up to other bug-borne illnesses?

According to the CDC:

Malaria -- About 1500 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year (most are travelers)
Dengue hemorrhagic fever -- Between 100 - 200 in the U.S. each year (all are travelers)
Chikungunya virus -- 679 in 2015 (all are travelers)
Lyme disease -- 25,359 in the U.S., 976 in Virginia alone

Natalie Prass: Celebrated singer/songwriter here to stay in RVA

Susan Howson — Wed, 25 May 2016 17:04:49 +0000

Lady who lunches, Natalie Prass.

Update #1 -- May 25, 2016; 1:01 PM

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Original -- February 19, 2016

This week's Friday Cheers is the ever-popular RVA Music Night! Check out Natalie Prass, Lady God, and Sam Reed this Friday on Brown's Island beginning at 6:00 PM.

BUT FIRST! Listen to our interview with Natalie, below.

Listen to the interview

http://rvanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Natalie-Prass-Celebrated-singersongwriter-here-to-stay-in-RVA.m4a

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If you're not into Natalie Prass's self-titled album, then what kind of Richmonder are you? You've probably heard one or two of the tracks on it already, as the music world went wild for the Virginia-Beach-then-Nashville-then-Richmond songwriter last year. Natalie's vocal stylings were always making audio appearances at Starbucks, on TV ads, and even in a coffeeshop in Brighton, England, where she would tell the barista "This is me!" only to get a blank look in return.

But, it can't all be thrilled fans all the time! Natalie waited a couple of years for Spacebomb Records (the record label co-owned by other Virginia Beach ex-pat Matthew E. White) to release the album she recorded there. To keep busy (because one must), she landed a spot in Jenny Lewis's band and got the experience she would end up really needing once Natalie Prass hit eardrums everywhere.

Since then, she's made a permanent home in Richmond, although she hasn't been able to spend much time here. Touring the globe and writing her new record in London has kept her away, but soon it'll be time to record, and she'll be stuck with us. FOREVER. JK, Natalie. You are free to make your living as a famous musician without worrying too much about how we feel. No, no. You go do your thing. We'll be fine.

Conversations with Natalie are surreal sometimes--she's all "Yes, I enjoyed those Bellytimber nachos very much, and by the way I'm going to be on that new HBO series Vinyl¹ and also here is a fart joke I enjoyed." Only she doesn't sound like a robot. I don't know why I wrote it like that. She sounds like a regular, down-to-earth person who likes LARPing and deadpan humor and feels nervous about singing during an interview (sorry, I tried).

Well, don't take my word for it. Hear our entire conversation about how one gets from Virginia Beach to dressing up as a werewolf to Richmond to signing autographs to eating nachos.

Episode 2! This Sunday! 9:00 PM! I'm not allowed to say who she plays! ↩

Go Do This: Speed at the Science Museum of Virginia

Susan Howson — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:47:09 +0000

What it is

Oh, only the Science Museum's biggest deal exhibit yet, and it's happening in our lifetimes, man!

It's a 10,000 square foot endeavor--the whole main concourse area of the museum (i.e. the part that's directly ahead of you once you walk in the lobby and skirt your way around the Pendulum That Will Forever Be Knocking Over Pegs to the Delight of Many Generations of Children (that probably has a real name). And while the space isn't really all that large, there's an incredible amount of information packed in there.

The big draw, of course, is the SR-71 Blackbird supersonic jet suspended from the ceiling. That's pretty neat, and you can apparently do some stuff with it (I mean, not with it, you cannot fly the plane) by using the Museum's new app, Muse. I quickly forgot about the dang jet looming over my head due to the array of things in front of me.

You will experience a few moments of anxiety about not knowing where to start. There's a lot going on. I recommend taking a lay of the land first, and then just starting in a corner and working your way out.

Each little pod of the exhibit is focused on different aspects of speed--things that are too slow to see (like erosion), things that are too fast to see (like vibrations), relativity, the speed of sound, speed's role in sports, and a lot more.

The Relativity Theater brings you various chapters on three big screens with narration explaining to you facets of relativity while attempting not to blow your mind into smithereens of confusion. There's a Human Wind Tunnel in which you can experience the effects of gale force winds (hair blowing) or hurricane winds (hair plastered to head).

There's also a cage where you can throw a baseball, kick a soccer ball, or throw a football to see how fast you clock in, right next to the little double track, where you can race a virtual alligator,¹ Olympic sprinter, and more. This area brings out The Dads--you know what I mean, the ones who are like "That's good, Atticus, but step aside and let the real pros make a pitch." And then we all kind of look the other way while Dad winds up really seriously and throws hard, producing a miles-per-hour result that nobody knows what to do with. There's very little eye contact when he comes out of the cage.

My favorite, by far, was the air hockey robot, which basically destroys you in a one-on-one game using math and science. Humans, who kept on using hope, were no match for its defensive lightning quick reflexes...except for one kid who came out of nowhere, scored on the robot twice, and then melted back into the crowd like it was no big deal. Kid: It was a big deal! They should be making sports movies about you!

The Carpenter Science Theater--a troupe that performs little plays about science--gave us a really cute eight-minute look into what people used to think about trains. They were too fast for our minds to even grasp! Spoiler: Clever joke that your kid will not get about how a train station could never be a museum.

We also spent a lot of time with a time-lapse look at various parts of the globe while you move time forward or backward at the speed of your choosing. Richmond is the central focus for a lot of it, so you can see how the ocean used to be really dang close, as was ice.

Other favorites included the world's slowest man-made machine (more exciting than it sounds), the viral outbreak simulator (you can adjust virulence, vaccination, and lethality to see just how quickly a sick person in Richmond could destroy the entire state), and the manipulation of a strobe light that lets you see the vibrations of the strings of a double bass when you pluck them. My son also loved to lie around in the Mercury 7 capsule and then tell everyone that he was just getting back from the moon.

I keep thinking of other things to type right now, but this review has really got to end somewhere. You really should just go.

Who's behind it

The Museum is including Speed as part of its "Inspire the World" campaign, which is focused on making it a national destination. This permanent exhibit, funded in part by the Garland & Agnes Taylor Gray Foundation, the Richard and Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust, and the Roller-Bottimore Foundation, definitely levels up the Museum in many ways.

Where it is

The Science Museum of Virginia, if you're new to town, is that big former train station on Broad (2500 W. Broad Street). There's plenty of parking between it and the Children's Museum of Richmond next door, which poses some problems when it's naptime and you're bringing your child back to the car and he or she is all "Wait a second, IS THAT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM? WHY ARE WE NOT GOING THERE RIGHT THIS MINUTE." No, child. It is not the Children's Museum, it is...just an illusion brought on by your extreme sleepiness. Now don't fall asleep in the car, or else.

When it is

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM and on Sundays from 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

How much it costs

Admission to the exhibit is included in regular museum admission, which is currently $14 for adults and $13 for children or seniors. You really may as well get a membership because you're going to want to go back and do all the stuff you didn't leave enough time to do the first time you went.

Other things to note

I traveled with a four-year-old, who was a little too young to get a whole lot out of it, although he did express extreme annoyance the following day when we didn't go back to the Science Museum as he had requested. Older kids, however, will be transfixed, and even older kids (i.e. adults) will have a lot of scientific things explained to them in a way they can understand.²

There's also one issue with having this much stuff to do in a relatively small space--oh, good for you, you guessed it! It's a lot of tripping over other people's children, waiting in some short lines, and bemoaning the fact that a 12-year-old boy might keep sticking his head in the Relativity Theater and pressing buttons that change the program while you're trying to listen to Prabir Mehta explain to you that you age slower when you go faster. At no point did anyone explain to me how to make my child age slower, so that he can avoid becoming an awkward preteen altogether. Prabir, I'll be in touch.

If you don't go do this, you will...

It's not really even worth hypothesizing what you will do if you don't see this, because, as this is going to be around for a very long time, you will eventually make it there. It's mandatory.

Please note: We should all work hard to make sure we can outrun an alligator. That thing moves fast. ↩
Assuming you're like me and don't fully understand relativity because you're too busy thinking about brownies or whatever. ↩

Good Evening, RVA: Rapturous sunbeams

Susan Howson — Tue, 24 May 2016 20:23:52 +0000

Photo by: @jpshannon

It was an ahhhhhhhhh day in RVA.

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Not YOU again

Hayley DeRoche touches on a really tough part of parenthood--when your child screams and reaches for another parent. Guys, the day my son started being excited that I was picking him up from school and not Daddy...it was a wonderful day indeed. Read about Hayley's experience and feel feelings.

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Photo by: marfis75

We're coming baaaaaaaaack

The last Census showed that Richmond's finally retopped where it was in 1980--City population shifts are fascinating. Housing, unfortunately, has not risen with the population. Mike MacKenzie breaks it down.

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Photo by: T. Kristensen

The cup game

Here's Annie Tobey, always making me thirsty. This week's In Your Cups also feature shifting data--the most popular liquors, to be precise. Also some grapey things to do on Memorial Day and, of course, a recipe for something delicious.

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Photo by: Khánh Hmoong

Hey, bro, wanna bike with me to an undisclosed location

Normally, those are words you should respond to with much wariness, but you're safe with Breakaway RVA, the newest (and only?) free monthly social ride that ends in a mysterious fun thing to do! Every time I write words about this, I am more convinced that it is the antidote to every bad mood we stockpiled during the 2016 Rainy Season.

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This calms my brainwaves

And it might just do the same for you.

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Breakaway RVA is your new favorite way to cycle socially

Susan Howson — Tue, 24 May 2016 18:38:45 +0000

Photo by: Khánh Hmoong

We're working on being a better bike city, right? We've got the Floyd Avenue RVA Bike/Walk Street, we've got the bike share coming soon, we've got some laws that are maybe in place to possibly prevent people from parking in bike lanes...it's happening!

So now what? We bike hang, of course!

Breakaway RVA is your way to do just that--ride around town at a leisurely pace, hang with old and new friends, and maybe learn a little bit about the city you live in. AND! An element of mystery??

Here's how it works:

You sigh up online and let them know what part of town you live in--that part's easy enough--and then you're sent a confirmation email, which will reveal your starting point. You'll be grouped with other people in your neighborhood, and those little tributary rides will have official leaders who will lead you to the main artery. There, you'll join up like a big peloton held together by love, and you'll all end up safe and exhilarated at an undisclosed location.

That undisclosed final location is promised to include something fun: think beer, a live talk, music, something of that nature. It's about both the journey and the destination--and honestly, we should take both of those into consideration way more often.

Organizers were inspired by a similar event in Colorado--"Getting out and riding en masse in the city to a different location where you didn't know you were going..." says Sydney Lester, one of Breakaway RVA's founders. "Just the fact that that many people were riding in the street was so fun."

Josh Son, who's an urban planner with the City, realized that there are a lot of people in Richmond who don't get out much, at least not in a way that allows them to explore everything the city has to offer. "There's an opportunity to use biking as a way to get people exposed to all of what Richmond can be," he says. And as an added bonus, it'll help spread the belief that you may not need to be as reliant on your car as you think you are.

The full list of founding members--Brian Beard, Trevor Dickerson, Daniel Klein, Tangee Moore, Andrew Lester, Sydney Lester, and Josh Son--is one that's helpful in its volume. The free monthly event needs lots of partners in order to get off the ground, and they've been able to use their network to find bike-supportive organizations to help out. At the inaugural event on May 26th, Relay Foods, Boho Cycle Studio, and River City Food Tours, among others, have lent their support.

Try out Breakaway RVA this Thursday, May 26th. Sign up for your location here (route origins include: Southside, Northside, Museum District, Jackson Ward, Church Hill, and Manchester). Rides start as early as 6:30 PM (Church Hill and Manchester have the latest start times at 7:00 PM, and I am making all sorts of sleuthy guesses based on that information).

Good Evening, RVA: Just stick out your chin and grin

Susan Howson — Mon, 23 May 2016 20:02:11 +0000

Photo by: sandy's dad

It was a rainy day in RVA, duh.

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You better knowledge up!

City Council meets tonight! If that's not as exciting to you as it is for us, we a) envy you the life you have and b) have provided a quick rundown of the highlights in plain English. I've been thinking about ACEs all day, guys!

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Butter maybe not even necessary

Stephanie Ganz begins a multi-part odyssey to talk about every single biscuit in town. This is Part 1, people, so don't get all "WHERE IS THE DANG EARLY BIRD?" because we will lovingly roll our eyes at you from the safety of our office. Warning, this will make you hungry and also feel a phantom carb hangover.

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Photo by: Gabi in Austin

Carry those babes

A push to collect baby carriers for Syrian refugees has made its way to Richmond. Valerie Catrow reports on the YMCA and Carry the Future RVA and how you can help make a humanitarian difference--the best kind!

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Being a foster kid

I talked to Samantha, a 16-year-old high school sophomore who is looking forward to joining her new adoptive parent. Listen to Samantha reflect on the past and dream about the future.

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Go make history

Know someone exceptional? It's nomination time for the Valentine's Richmond History Makers. It's 12 years strong!

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This girl sure made history

But like probably not the kind of history she wants.

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LISTEN: Samantha looks towards her future

Susan Howson — Mon, 23 May 2016 18:11:52 +0000

In our ongoing National Foster Care Month series, we've interviewed an adoptive parent of a special needs child and an adoptive parent who's also head of the Children's Home Society. This week, we introduce you to Sam, who's just met her adoptive mother.

Here, Sam talks about what family means to her, how all foster kids are different, and what she'd like her future to be. She's a very determined young lady, although she isn't comfortable with tooting her own horn. And her social worker, Emily Kuezek, describes how much Sam has grown as a person.

You'll hear a lot of editing in this interview--Sam mentioned details that, for her security, we had to cut.

Listen

http://podcasts.rvanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Samantha-looks-towards-her-future.m4a

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More to listen to

Check out our other National Foster Care Month stories here.

Good Evening, RVA: Rocks and rivers and bikes and a little sun

Susan Howson — Fri, 20 May 2016 20:36:06 +0000

Photo by: cpjRVA

It was a generally pleasant day in RVA.

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Teens, you get to have a weekend too

Don't spend it all in one place. The sun will go away again for another day of rain on Saturday, but there are plenty of things to do anyways. Chris Bolling has the deets.

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Photo by: Sky Noir

Festival time!

These are for people of various ages! The Chalk Up the Town Festival has been rescheduled to June 4th, but everything else (including Dominion Riverrock) is still going strong.

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Don't call him a hero! (But do call him something, because he is a neat guy)

New "CNN Hero" Craig Dodson of Richmond Cycling Corps opens up about how weird it is to be recognized for what feel like losing efforts. Spoiler, he is not losing if we count how much impact he has made in the lives of individuals, but you can understand why he might feel that way.

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"Closing" may not be a dirty word

Teresa Cole takes a perhaps unpopular approach towards school closings and explains why it could have just been the right thing to do. In EDU FAQ #006, she gives you many words by way of explanation.

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If only '90s breakdancing were at Riverrock

I'd watch that.

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