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A Brisk Walk with a Hint of History
History | 03.02.10 | by Matt Harrington
March is here, and with it comes more sunshine, a little more warmth and a big need to break free of the cabin fever we’ve all been experiencing this winter. Yesterday was one of those sunshiny, warm days that will eventually become commonplace as springtime settles in. For now, with blankets of snow still fresh in my mind, any midday temperature above 52° is enough reason for me to get out and enjoy the afternoon. I was running errands in Midlothian, so since I was already in the neighborhood, I decided to stop at Midlothian Mines Park on Woolridge Road near Midlothian Turnpike. I’ve driven past it many times, but have never gone in. Come to find out, it’s a nice, quiet place to take a stroll. I saw many people, who I assume work in the area and were taking an afternoon lunch break, walking the trails. I also saw many residents using the park for jogging and dog walking. For the most part, Midlothian Mines Park is your typical “trail-in-the-woods” sort of place. But the giant stone structures that jump out at you as you walk deeper into the woods tell you that you are at a place rich in Virginia ...
| category: History
RVATU
Events | 02.22.10 | by Matt Harrington
I was lucky enough to be invited to the Richmond Tweetup this past weekend, an event organized by the hilarious @jephkelley of Tobacco Avenue fame. The tweetup was an informal meet-n-greet of some of the funniest and most thought-provoking twitterers on the East Coast. The Intenet-elite (as I like to call them) came from as far away as Florida, New York and Ohio to take in the sights of our little city and do some in-person socializing with fellow tweeters, bloggers and mico-bloggers. During their weekend in Richmond, our out-of-town friends took the opportunity to visit some of the sights, sounds and dining our city has to offer. There were drinks at Penny Lane Pub, walks around Belle Isle, pictures taken at Tredegar Iron Works, Lunch at Bottom's Up Pizza, Dinner at Aztec Grill and more drinks at Havana 59. Richmond has an undeniably huge social networking community, so organizing a tweetup in our city seems like the logical thing to do. Chicago, New York and San Francisco have their versions of the event, and now Richmond can take it's rightful place on the list of Twitteratti destinations. Check out ...
| category: Events
Richmond Inside Out Announces 1 Day in RVA Contest
Living | 02.01.10 | by Matt Harrington
If you had only one day to show an out of town guest all that the Richmond Region has to offer, what would you do? Where would you go? Can you fully experience Richmond in just one day? Will your guest leave feeling like they know what it means to be a Richmonder? The 1 Day in RVA contest is giving you the opportunity to bring an out-of-town friend or family member to our fair city for one day of exploration, sightseeing, dining and fun. Richmond Inside Out is putting up a $50 gas card so your guest from D.C., Charlottesville or anywhere else in the Mid-Atlantic can get here on us! You and your guest will be put up in a Richmond hotel for 1 night and will have only 1 Day to explore Richmond destinations and attractions, as suggested by Richmond Inside Out readers and fellow contest participants. We’ll discover some history. We’ll get a little culture. We’ll take some cheesy photos by a big fancy monument. We’ll have dinner at a unique Richmond restaurant and conclude our day with a social gathering at a neighborhood watering hole. To enter the 1 Day in RVA contest, just post an answer to our February ...
| category: Living
A Fiesta For My Mouth!
Food & Drink | 01.30.10 | by Matt Harrington
Anyone who knows me will tell you I like two things: beer and tacos. Luckily for me, the Metro Richmond area has a healthy smattering of establishments that serve both. Nacho Mama’s, Su Casa, Mi Hacienda, Baja Bean, La Siesta, ChaCha’s, El Paso… just to name a few. The wife and I were in need of a celebratory – yet quick – meal after finally closing on our first house a few days ago. She suggested pizza. I suggested tacos. I won. Mexico Restaurant has 8 locations around the Richmond Region, according to their website. We popped in to the Forest Hill location on our way home from signing a mountain of legal documents. I was nervous my hand was too weak from all that signing that I wouldn’t be able to scoop up the mounds of salsa and cheese dip with their complementary bowl of tortilla chips. But I battled through the pain and filled my belly. *Note: The cheese dip is a must-have, but you have to ask for it. I like to mix it with the salsa and double dip, but only when it’s just me and the wife. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but we frequent that particular Mexico Restaurant ...
| category: Food & Drink
Joe's Inn Does It Again!
Food & Drink | 01.15.10 | by Matt Harrington
Yes, Joe’s Inn, a Richmond staple, did it again. And by “it”, I mean cure my hunger pangs with a pasta dish as big as my head and your head put together. Everyone in RVA knows that Joe’s Inn serves up hot and tasty pasta dishes at night and killer breakfast vittles in the morning. So when my wife got home from work the other night and started searching the cupboards for a quick meal, I instinctively knew we were going to be in for another round of Tuna Helper. I used my manly VETO powers, leapt onto the countertop and proclaimed, “Tonight, we shall supp upon the luxurious sauces and pastas of Sir Joe of RVA,” to which my wife responded, “Get off the counter. You’re scaring the dog.” Joe’s Inn Bon Air is a hop, skip and a jump away from our house – the perfect location for Southsiders at the corner of Forest Hill and Buford Roads. Having been there many times for the stellar breakfast buffet (and many times for a pasta-explosion), we didn’t need much time going over the menu. Even though I know full well how large the portion sizes are at Joe’s, I ...
| category: Food & Drink
Exhibits! Events! Ice!
Art | 01.13.10 | by Matt Harrington
Shake the wintertime blues and warm up with some great Richmond Region exhibits and events this month. There are a lot (I mean A LOT) of exhibits taking place in the next few weeks here in Richmond. Heavy hitters such as the Poe Museum, the Virginia Historical Society and the Children’s Museum of Richmond are dropping some culture and history right in your lap. Let’s explore, shall we? Poe turns 201 The 24-hour Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Bash takes place this Saturday, January 16th, starting at midnight with a champagne toast. The next 24 hours will be filled with ghost tours, carriage rides and even zombie cheerleaders. I don’t know what zombie cheerleaders have to do with Richmond’s favorite author, but it sounds like fun. Doors open at 11:45PM on the 15th at the Poe Museum. The U-2 Incident No, I’m not talking about the band. Calm down, Bonoheads. I’m talking about the Cold War, and an exhibit at the Virginia Historical Society. Cold War Crisis: The U-2 Incident will be on display at VHS starting this Saturday and running through May. When an American U-2 (again, not the band) reconnaissance ...
| category: Art
Richmond Rings in the New Year
Events | 12.29.09 | by Matt Harrington
For the past few years, Carytown was THE place to be in RVA to ring in a new year. But this year, the Carytown Ball Drop isn’t happening due to the overall cost of the event and other factors. Don’t worry, revelers! There are a ton of events happening around Richmond to assist you in ushering in a new decade. From bars and clubs to concerts to family events, RIO’s got you covered. Ravenchase The Quest for Father Time Race starts at 7:30pm on New Year’s Eve. Meet downtown at 2nd and Byrd Streets and set out to find secret clues hidden throughout the city. Use a treasure map along with some sleuthing gadgets to find Father Time’s clues that will lead you to a secret location where partiers will be waiting with an open bar and prizes. Learn more here. Short Pump Hilton Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Hilton Hotel & Spa in Short Pump, where Ron Moody and the Centaurs will be providing the live music for your dancing pleasure. The party kicks off at 8pm and will end with a confetti drop and a champagne toast. Tickets are $129 per couple, $69 per person. New Year’s Eve Family ...
| category: Events
Holiday Shopping Guide for Richmond Lovers
Shopping | 12.08.09 | by Matt Harrington
The Richmond Region has its share of malls and big box retailers, but we also have a diverse, unique array of locally owned businesses that carry great gifts for everyone on your holiday list, from a picky 17 year old metalhead brother to your weird uncle who has an unnatural obsession with The Wizard of Oz. You’re going to be spending money on these hard-to-shop-for folks anyway, so why not shop local and keep your hard earned scratch circulating through the local economy? The Carytown district touts nine – NINE – blocks of locally owned businesses, ranging from eclectic, high-end boutiques to restaurants and music stores. World of Mirth in Carytown sells toys that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else, including retro novelty toys and collectible plush dolls. Kids of any age love World of Mirth, including the 31-year-old kid writing this blog. Also in Carytown, Plan 9 music. This shop has been a staple for Richmond music lovers for many years and has a huge selection of CDs and vinyl records, including every genre of music imaginable. Their prices are competitive with the big-box stores, ...
| category: Shopping
A Sneak Peek at Lewis Ginter’s GardenFest of Lights
Events | 11.24.09 | by Matt Harrington
A little rain couldn’t keep me away from getting a preview glimpse at Lewis Ginter’s GardenFest of Lights. Last night, the wife and I were lucky to be invited to a preview of the annual holiday tradition at the Northside botanical belvedere. The rain hastened our walk through of the Garden, but we did take notice of half-million-or-so lights arranged in themes relating to nature and botanicals. My wife, who studied education at U of R, particularly enjoyed the lighted spiders that dotted the lawn near the conservatory. Because of the poor weather, we spent the majority of the evening inside the conservatory, getting our grub and drink on and looking at some of the holiday decorations (like the giant Christmas Tree) and displays inside. Lewis Ginter operational staff with the help of volunteers sets up the outside displays, and is a project that takes the entire year to plan and secure. They begin putting up the lights in August to get ready for their post-Thanksgiving opening. It usually takes until the end of February to take down all of the lights. Last year, 59,379 people attended GardenFest of Lights. This ...
| category: Events
Watching the Big Game: Richmond Sports Bars
Food & Drink | 11.16.09 | by Matt Harrington
It is a fall tradition for me – watching football with fellow fans at a local sports bar, cheering on my team to (usually) a devastating loss. In the Richmond Region, there are a handful of sports bars that cater to specific teams and offer big-screen action, serving up traditional sports-bar fare and specially priced suds. I am a Buffalo Bills fan. Yes, yes. We all know they have been terrible for the better part of a decade and I’m not about to listen to any of your wide-right jokes, either. The point of this post isn’t to talk sports, but rather to highlight some of the most popular Sunday afternoon hangouts for football fans of any team, terrible or otherwise. My sports bar of choice is Mulligans in the Fan. Why? Because it is the official home of the Buffalo Bills Backers of Richmond. Our crew is given a large, non-smoking room with a big-screen HDTV to watch our boys get crushed week after week. We usually manage to fill the room with disgusted, yet hopeful, fans every Sunday. As a rule, my game time food of choice is chicken fingers or chicken wings (with extra bleu cheese, of course). Mulligans normally has ...
| category: Food & Drink