Archive for March, 2008
March 3, 2008
Kitchen 64 menus are now online
North Richmond’s Kitchen 64 now has its full menus online for interested diners.
March 4, 2008
Richmond Magazine reviews Tastebuds
Martin Gravely writes a glowing review of MacArthur Avenue’s Tastebuds for the March 2008 issue of Richmond Magazine:
Befitting an establishment that dabbles in so many facets of food service, Tastebuds offers a little bit of everything. New specials pop up weekly to complement longer-running seasonal offerings. The menu is brief but manages a representative smattering of starters, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts. Prices top out around $13 - outstanding considering the quality and the generous portions received.
March 4, 2008
Northside Grille’s new website up and running
One of North Richmond’s newer dining destinations now boasts a website with menus and information on special events. Check out the Northside Grille’s new website.
March 4, 2008
Boulevard project moves another step forward
Buttermilk & Molasses has more on the city’s plans for 60+ acres surrounding The Diamond along the Boulevard and Hermitage Road:
The City of Richmond has received six bids for the development of 60+ acres of city-owned land surrounding The Diamond, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. (Buttermilk & Molasses covered the proposed development in-depth in January.)
The firms submitting proposals — details of which the city would not disclose — represent a broad spectrum, ranging from a local engineering firm to one of the largest retail management companies in the country. The city has hired a nationally known development consultant, The Staubach Company, to manage the selection process.
The firms under consideration are Colonial Properties Trust; Barry Real Estate; Timmons Group; The Diamond Development Group; Regency Centers; and Douglas Development Corp.
March 5, 2008
Get involved with Earth Day on March 12
Our friends at the Carver and Jackson Ward News have details on a March 12 planning meeting at Gallery 5 to help the community get ready for
Richmond’s Earth Day 2008 celebration, which will take place on April 19. Earth Day in RVA needs your help!!
Dear Richmond Organizations, Businesses, and Individuals:
It is time for a green revolution!
Next meeting at Gallery5 on Wednesday March 12th at 6:00 PM (Please Forward this email)Richmond Earth Day will be held this year between Mayo Island and Plant Zero on Saturday, April 19th 2008.. Unfortunately the community support of Earth Day in the past few years has been limited and if we are going to make Earth Day, EVERY DAY, then we need to make this one count.
March 6, 2008
Lakeside’s Feathernesters offers a weekend breakfast alternative
North Richmonders in search of a place to relax with their Sunday newspaper have plenty of options, including Feathernesters’ Saturday breakfast and Sunday brunch. The eclectic Lakeside Avenue shop has an extensive brunch menu, and is currently accepting reservations for its special Easter Sunday brunch.
Regular Sunday brunch is served between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm and includes quiche casserole; baked apples; a variety of breakfast meats; homemade sausage gravy; buttermilk biscuits; home fries; cheese grits; Belgian pumpkin waffles; cinnamon swirl french toast; muffins and scones; fruit; and a variety of beverages. The cost is $10.95 for adults and $6.95 for children 12 and under. Reservations are Recommended at 262-7305.
March 6, 2008
Zed Cafe featured in Richmond Magazine
Richmond Magazine spotlights Lakeside Avenue’s Zed Cafe. Susan Early writes:
Zed features a menu with fresh, clean flavors based on organic and local ingredients. The lamb shanks with pinto beans and braised cabbage, or the scallops with a lime sauce piqued our interest. Prices range from $7 to $9 for appetizers and $19 to $27 for entrees. Our waitress was well informed about the menu and made and excellent wine recommendation after asking a few questions. She was attentive without eing obsequious; friendly without being too familiar. For bargain hunters, Tuesdays and Wednesday offer a limited three-course prix-fixe menu for $23.99, with bottles of wine half price.
March 6, 2008
Citywide preschool registration starts March 20
Richmond Public Schools will hold citywide preschool registration beginning March 20 for its 2008-2009 preschool programs. Beginning March 20, preschool registration will be held every Thursday at all Richmond City elementary schools (except George Mason and Fairfield Court). Registration will continue at the schools until June 12.
Beginning April 1, preschool registration will be held every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following community locations:
Beginning April 2, preschool registration will be held every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Southside Community Service Center, 4100 Hull Street.
Parents must bring proof of residency at the time of registration. Parents must also bring their children’s birth certificate, Social Security card, a physical exam completed within the last 12 months and an up-to-date immunization record.
Parents who want to register their children for Head Start must also bring proof of income, health insurance cards and a copy of their child’s dental exam.
Children must be four years old by Sept. 30 to attend Virginia Preschool Initiative classes. Head Start serves students who will be three or four years old by Sept. 30.
For more information, call 254-6181 (English) or 254-6180 (Spanish).
March 6, 2008
Thursday, March 6: Lost Pit Bull
From the comments section:
I am looking for my lost what looks like a American Pit Bull. She is tan with white on tummy. Very buck teeth. Very friendly. If seen pls contact me back. debbie oliver | doliv549@juno.com
March 8, 2008
Rosedale Garden Tour set for April 26
In conjunction with Historic Garden Week in Virginia, the Rosedale Civic Association will hold its annual Garden Tour on Saturday, April 26. The Saturday tour will run from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm and will include a guest speaker, potluck supper and door prizes. The day begins and ends at Christ Ascension Church at the corner of Laburnum Avenue and Hill Monument Parkway.
To sign your garden up for the event, or for more information, contact Pat Braun at pmbraun@gmail.com.
March 16, 2008
Chair caning experts relocate to Lakeside
For years, Harper Hardware (at the foot of Church Hill on East Broad Street) was the place to go if you had old chairs that needed new cane seats. Last fall, the caning experts at Harper relocated to a storefront in the Hub Shopping Center on Lakeside Avenue. North of the James has more:
Steve Culler and his partner Cynthia MacLean run The Cane Connection… He’s been in the business for years…
“I developed the business at Harper Hardware that’s been dealing with cane for a hundred years,” says Steve. “When I got there twelve years ago they were selling cane material and cane department was in disrepair, and any chairs to be caned were farmed out to a company called Chair Bottom. I started caning those chairs myself.”
In addition to repairing and replacing cane, The Cane Connection offers classes for folks interested in repairing their own chairs. The Cane Connection is located at 6941 Lakeside Avenue, and is open from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
March 16, 2008
Greyhound station undergoes renovation
The Greyhound bus terminal at 2910 North Boulevard is preparing for a $600,000 makeover this summer. The renovations to the station, which once was slated to relocated to Main Street Station downtown, will include new exterior signs and a new food kiosk; wide-screen televisions and additional seating in the lobby; plumbing work; and a new air-conditioning system.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the Richmond terminal serves more than 900,000 riders each year, and that about half of those riders transfer to another Greyhound bus at the station. There are about 60 daily arrivals at the station.
The Times-Dispatch reports that most of the money for the renovation comes from federal grants:
The project is estimated to cost $680,000, funded primarily with $544,000 in grant money from the federal government via the Virginia Department of Transportation and $100,000 from Greyhound.
The city is providing a local match of $6,080, with another $29,920 coming from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Replacement of a traffic signal at the site also is included in the total cost.
March 16, 2008
Richmond’s Downtown, Church Hill, Northside, Highland Park areas go high-speed
CNN reports that four Richmond communities — including Northside and Highland Park — have a new broadband option from Verizon that more than doubles the download speed of Verizon’s current fastest digital subscriber line, or DSL, service.
The new Verizon High Speed Internet service offers qualified customers a downstream connection speed of up to 7 megabits per second (Mbps) for as low as $39.99 a month when ordered with an annual service plan. Verizon now offers the 7 Mbps service to 1.6 million households and small businesses across the country.
“Verizon 7 megabits per second High Speed Internet service is the way to go for Virginia residents who are looking for a better alternative to high- priced cable Internet,” said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. “Our super-fast Internet service provides all the speed you need for everything you do online — and at a reasonable cost. From digital music and streaming video to photo sharing and online gaming, to video conferencing and working from home — it’s faster, easier and more affordable with Verizon High Speed Internet service.”
Consumers can get more information on service availability, pricing and features by calling 1-877-483-5898 or visiting verizon.com/superspeed.
March 16, 2008
Jennifer Young’s painting of A.P. Hill monument
Northside artist Jennifer Young occasionally tackles local streetscapes, and recently posted a springtime look at the monument sitting at the intersection of Laburnum and Hermitage avenues:
Painted on location yesterday afternoon, I started this at about 2 PM under warm, sunny skies. But it sure got chilly pretty quickly once the clouds started rolling in.
I pass by this gentleman every day as I drive to and from home, but I think he’s at his most charming in the springtime as he gazes down at the row of flowering trees.
March 16, 2008
WWBT reports on North Avenue shooting
A shooting outside a store at North Avenue and Dove Street last Thursday night has sent Richmond police in search of a 17-year-old suspect, according to WWBT-12 news.
Antoine Neal, 17, is wanted on two counts of malicious wounding. The shooting happened outside a store at North Avenue and Dove Street Thursday night.
Police say three people were arguing when one of them pulled out a gun and shot a man and a woman in the legs. Their injuries are non-life threatening.
March 17, 2008
Roy’s to flip final burgers
North Richmond’s favorite burger stand — Roy’s Big Burgers on Lakeside Avenue — is turning off the grill, according to a Live Journal RVA Eats post:
Bad news! I was at Roy’s Big Burger today and there is a sign up that they will be closing for good on April 9th. It doesn’t appear they are going out of business…the lady is just tired of making burgers after 38 years. I can’t fault her for that, but I’m still disappointed. Great burgers, and one of the few places that still has one of those ice machines that makes that small crumbled ice.
So, go by there while you still can!
Anyone know of alternatives? I can’t take much more…first Zippy’s on the Boulevard closed, and now this. The only other similar kind of place I know of is Sam’s Burgers on Route 1, but I don’t like their burgers as much.
March 17, 2008
Use your phone to fix the city
The City of Richmond has launched a month-long “Give Us the 4-1-1” campaign to help improve its new 311 call center to handle citizen requests for services.
The campaign runs through mid-April. Residents who have used the city’s 311 call center are encouraged to provide the city with feedback on the phone system. And all Richmond residents are encouraged to take advantage of the new system to let the city know about issues that need to be addressed in their neighborhoods.
Simply dial 311 to report potholes, downed trees, utility issues, request social services, and other City matters.
“Now is the perfect time for a campaign of citizen feedback,” the Mayor said. “The 311 Call Center has been up and running for just over 60 days. It was officially launched January 2 and we intend to step back and see where it works and where it does not.”
“There are bugs to be worked out in the system and feedback from residents will help us improve the system and make it more efficient.”
Residents can use a special email address (311comments@RichmondGov.com) or call 311 and let the operator know they have feedback about the system.
March 17, 2008
Northside shooting sparks look into convenience store
WWBT 12 News reports that last week’s double shooting outside North Avenue Food Market and Deli has prompted a request to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to investigate the store.
… councilwoman Ellen Robertson has sent a letter to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board asking them to help investigate the store. Robertson thinks activities that take place there might be adding to crime in the Southern Barton Heights Community.
“We need to look at the volume of ABC versus food,” Robertson said. “We need to look at the record of police calling and the number of crimes at this location.”
There’s no word on what action the ABC board will take.
Meanwhile, that latest shooting is reinforcing efforts by city leaders and the community to take action.
On Saturday, residents of Southern Barton Heights joined members of City Council in a walk-through to point out crime hot spots.
Residents say they are hoping to be a positive influence on a community in transition.
“It’s stuck between the culture of drugs and prostitution, and people coming in who want to have beautiful homes, a beautiful family and nice things. It’s a culture clash,” said resident Kathleen Moore.
March 17, 2008
The Garden won’t be groovin’ in 2008
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, which has attracted a diverse group of performing artists and music lovers to its summertime “Groovin’ in the Garden” events, is putting the popular series on hold while the rose gardens undergo a makeover.
The new Rose Garden and Belvedere at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will be a tremendous additions to the Garden and its patrons.
The rose collection will reflect some of the newest and most genetically superior hybrids, bred for disease resistance, rebloom and fragrance. The majority of the cultivars are from nurseries in France, Italy, Germany and England, and most will be new to the Virginia region. The selections have been carefully made with concern for environmental responsibility to minimize the need for chemicals to control disease and insects … The view of the Rose Garden from the Central Garden should be quite dramatic, given the perspective and elevation change…
… The paved area of the Belvedere is being enlarged to accommodate a wider range of performing arts programs, to be enjoyed by our visitors sitting on the terraced lawn between the Belvedere and the Conservatory. This will also become a very desirable site for weddings.
Roses are the longest blooming of flowering plants in the spring-summer-autumn garden and should provide a long season of interest and color.
March 17, 2008
Easter Bunny set to hop through Northside Grille
The Northside Grille on Bellevue Avenue is scheduled to receive a visit from the Easter Bunny this Easter Sunday, March 23, from 11 am until 5 pm.
