Grown-up Secret Garden Party

How many of us read The Secret Garden as a kid and longed for one of our own? Well, I have found the grown-up version of it. On Thursday, May 13, the Richmond History Center is hosting a progressive cocktail party featuring five hidden gardens in downtown Richmond.

May 4, 2010; 2:34 PM • by Holly Gordon

How many of us read The Secret Garden as a kid and longed for one of our own? Well, I have found the grown-up version of it. On Thursday, May 13, the Richmond History Center is hosting a progressive cocktail party featuring five hidden gardens in downtown Richmond. The event runs from 5:30pm to 8pm and includes live music, hors d’oeuvres, specialty beverages, gallery tours, and more at each site.

You can begin or end your tour at any of the five sites. For ease of travel, I think I’ll start at the John Marshall House Museum Garden at 9th and Marshall Streets. They’re highlighting the federal roots of Court End with period dancers, traditional music, food, and Madeira, the favorite drink of John Marshall and many of the Founding Fathers.

Next I’ll head to the Wickham House Garden at the Valentine Richmond History Center. This is the only one of the gardens I’ve seen before. I once babysat a wedding here and had no idea there was this lush, green refuge in the middle of the city. Their theme will be the 1930’s, featuring period-inspired food, vodka gimlets, and ballad, blues, and old-time dance favorites.

After that, I’ll hit the Sally Archer Anderson Garden at the Museum and White House of the Confederacy. They’ll show off their Southern hospitality with Virginia wines, BBQ and cobbler from Double T’s BBQ, and a tour of the Museum galleries.

Then I’ll trek towards Broad Street to the Monumental Church Garden, a part of the Historic Richmond Foundation. Here will be live jazz, signature Virginia foods, and stories about the infamous Richmond Theater Fire.

Becky’s Healing Garden, at VCU Massey Cancer Center will end my evening with champagne, dessert, and classical guitar. Mission Secret Garden: Complete.

Details:
In advance: $30 per person or $50 per couple
Day of the event: $35 per person or $60 per couple: day of the event

To learn more about this event and to buy tickets, go here.

Proceeds benefit the host organizations. All the sites are within three square blocks, but a complimentary shuttle will circulate throughout the evening so you may begin and end at any of the five sites.

Here’s a map of the sites, too.

May 4, 2010 2:34 PM 2