2013 review: April, May, June

It started with a fire, featured a local woman running the Tour de France, and included the now infamous Toots & the Maytals Incident. It’s the second quarter of our 2013 recap.

December 27, 2013; 6:00 AM • by Nathan Cushing

April began on a sad note as a fire closed Church Hill bakery Sub Rosa. In more positive #rvadine news, owners of Edo’s and Mamma Zu brought us Dinamo, and Blue Bee Cider opened in Manchester. We also learned why outdoor dining was about to have a renaissance.

In chicken news, City Council passed an ordinance that made it easier for Richmonders to own backyard hens. We also learned that Council is definitively pro-facial hair. Speaking of facial hair, celebrity judges presided over the 2nd annual Mid-Atlantic Beard and ’Stache Championships.

We then learned that Amanda Robinson was leaving Gallery5 (tear), looked at VCU Police cadets getting maced in the face, and uncovered local company INARAY’s ideas to brighten Shockoe’s future.

Things turned reflective as we looked back at the last season of Havoc!. We also took some great photos of the Monument Avenue 10k.

To close out April, we learned about a new bicycle ordinance affecting “dead” bikes. Oh, and we saw Evil Dead and it SUCKED!

May came into focus as we learned that the awesome online eyewear provider Warby Parker handpicked Need Supply Co. to set up a display here in RVA. A local man created a K–9 memorial for the region’s fallen police dogs. Later, we became proud parents as we launched RVA Family (awwwwww). Soon after, we sparked debate by running this controversial Picture of the Day.

Later, we chatted with Zoë Romano ahead of her staggering Tour de France run. Local website Coffitivity was mentioned in TIME as one of the best websites of 2013. And one of RVA’s best bands, No BS! Brass Band, also got some well-deserved national press.

Perhaps the biggest news of the month came when Toots and the Maytals singer Frederick “Toots” Hibbert was struck in the head by a thrown vodka bottle while performing at Dominion Riverrock. Further scandal arose when ROC pastor Geronimo Aguilar was arrested by US Marshals on charges of sexual assault.

The Well, formerly Cous Cous, debuted just after we learned Killing Kennedy would be filmed in town. The month ended with us profiling a really cool rehabilitation center for the blind and vision-impaired, and learning that RVA beer was about to get way strange.

June began with news that the school board voted to shutter Clark Springs Elementary and the Norrell Elementary building, as well as approving a major rezoning plan.

Soon after taking the sights and smells of the Greek Festival, we had to turn our attention to Tropical Storm Andrea.

Kanye West tried to promote his new album Yeezus with a guerrilla marketing campaign (that never really materialized), which disappointed some. But tastebuds certainly weren’t disappointed when Sugar Shack Donuts opened in Carver. We also got a visual inventory of Mellow Mushroom soon after it opened in Carytown.

Things got tense after Richmond International Airport was evacuated. Thankfully, it was a false alarm. People would later gather (without the threat of danger) on a 2.5 mile loop of roadway for RVA Streets Alive.

Valerie reflected on ten years of marriage and offered some insight for fellow lovebirds. We also heard from Steven Spielberg and Lincoln cast and crew talked about their time in Richmond.

We ended the month reporting on what the Supreme Court’s DOMA decision meant for Virginians, talking with the owner of Richmond’s first Thai restaurant, and launching a new feature where we tap Lauren’s brain for dining recommendations.

This is fun, gang! Let’s keep the memories rolling! Next time, we’ll look back at Q3 (July, August, and September).

photo by Chronism