burt

A publication called AFAR Travel Guide has a lot of nice things to say and pictures to see of Richmond's historic attractions as well as a tribute to the city's restaurants which are described as a 'destination for food pilgrims.' We can thank Karri Peifer of Richmond dot com for bringing it to our attention. The site is difficult to navigate but if you scroll around and click here and there you'll have a good time. KUBA KUBA, CAN CAN, PASTURE and ROOSEVELT are among restaurants mentioned and pictured. http://www.afar.com/travelers/afar/wanderlists/eat-here-now-6-great-picks

Brrrrr. Kayaking and , er, walking on the James? From today's RVANews: http://rvanews.com/features/life-on-the-river/83477

It wasn't that the former DeLux was losing money. In fact, the glitzy bar was bringing in top dollar. It's just that Michelle Williams and partners grew weary of the operation. DeLux was stripped of its elegant look and will open as a rather plain looking PEARL RAW BAR later this month. It is on the corner of West Main and Strawberry Streets in The Fan. Deveron Timberlake has other news in her Short Order column this week, and one of the items puzzles me. PIZZA 111 is about ready to open in the old Southern RR Deli space on 14th between Canal Street and the canal turning basin but its address is 111 Virginia Street which is also the address of MORTON'S STEAK HOUSE. From today's Style Weekly: http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/short-order/Content?oid=1826589

An annual real estate market review of the Richmond area drew about 300 people to the Jefferson Hotel yesterday. Burried in the story is speculation that the high rise 700 Building at the northeast corner of 7th and Main Streets may be converted to a hotel or apartments. There is no information about the long discussed 700 Center at northeast corner of 7th and Franklin, nor is the proposed McGuire Woods tower mentioned. From Carol Hazard in today's RTD: http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/banking/commercial-real-estate-in-area-recovering/article_5a77dbd3-65e3-51b3-ba94-e21844e7d984.html

Here is the cabaret performance schedule for Ringwald: http://send.email2contacts.com/t/ViewEmail/r/D7BDA25A889CFEAD/4E594C99644031EFC67FD2F38AC4859C

Molly Ringwald is in town with her accompanist for 4 cabaret style performances in the intimate Rhythm Hall at Richmond CenterStage. They had dinner last night at PASTURE. From today's Richmond dot com: (click photo to enlarge.) http://www.richmond.com/food-drink/dish/article_caa7a01e-7539-11e2-b069-0019bb30f31a.html:

Joseph Seipel, dean of VCU's School of Arts, says the new Institute for Contemporary Art at Belvidere and Broad will be a catalyst for Richmond. 60% 0f the $35 million needed has already been raised and its hoped the Steven Holl designed building will open in 2015. From yesterday's RTD: http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/economy/calendar-highlight-vcu-s-institute-for-contemporary-art-will-be/article_be2771b0-1439-54cf-9823-63c51a2f1334.html Here's the building rendering: http://www.archdaily.com/229760/steven-holl-architects-unveils-vcu-institute-for-cotemporary-art-at-meulensteen-gallery/night-view_01_90sd-version/

Maybe that design (somewhere in this thread) released during Tim Kaine's Governorship for a new state office building on the Broad Street lot between 8th and 9th will become a reality sooner than later. From today's RTD: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest-news/general-assembly-building-s-newest-problem-bathrooms-shut-down/article_e3a0be80-753d-11e2-9ca5-0019bb30f31a.html

Hancock village across from Swift Creek Reservoir on Hull Street Road in western Chesterfield County is 100% leased. Nonetheless, it faces foreclosure. Among the stores is a huge and nice looking WalMart that does fantastic business. It purchased the land on which it is located and is not subject to the foreclosure action. From today's Richmond Biz Sense: http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2013/02/12/major-shopping-center-faces-foreclosure/

Norwood resigned today and a new Richmond Chief of Police was immediately named. He is Ray J. Tarasovic. Many believe that Norwood and Mayor Jones were not in accord on many matters. Norwood was one of three applicants interviewed by officials in Raleigh to assume the role of Chief of that city's police force but he was not the finalist. There are reports that Los Angeles prosecutors were not happy with Norwood's handling of Virginia native Chris Brown's parole activities in Richmond after the singer's arrest in LA on assault charges. From today's RTD: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/update-norwood-out-tarasovic-in-as-richmond-police-chief/article_0c0b1208-751b-11e2-950c-0019bb30f31a.html

More apartments are on the way along the Manchester Canal and the Flood Wall on the south side of the James River -- that is, if I interpret this story correctly. Tom Papa, principal at Fountainhead Properties, says that the apartment market is still hot in downtown Richmond -- in fact, he says properties his firm controls are 95% leased. New Fountainhead projects will add 286 new units in two old building complexes in Manchester. Isn't Fountainhead also involved in the nearly completed renovation of Reynolds North along the Haxall Canal, and isn't there a building between 12th and Virginia Streets that is slated for demolition and new construction of apartments as part of The Locks? From today's Richmond Biz Sense: http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2013/02/12/old-paper-mills-rehab-to-begin-by-summer/

Welcome meegwell. News of Interbake's ressurection into residential status has been quiet lately. Contributors Wrldcoupe4, who is in real estate, and 540-804 might have some answers. Meanwhile, the Boulevard corridor improves day to day with the addition of FAT DRAGON restaurant; the new art cinemas called CRITERION on the Movieland lot; the upcoming Mexican restaurant called EN SU BOCA, and the training facility for the Washington Red Skins on Leigh Street behind The Science Museum of Virginia.

Here is more coverage of The Elby Awards from RVANews with a number of photos. Unfortunately the people in the pictures are not identified. http://rvanews.com/features/the-2013-elbys/83493 PS: The word 'restaurateur' is correctly spelled without the 'n' after the second 'a'.

The Elby Awards were presented last night at The Leslie Cheek Theatre in The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Among the winners was Dale Reitzer of ACADIA who won as Chef of The Year. Also among the nominees for that category was Peter Chang, and while he lost out to Reitzer, his Richmond restaurant is rated #4 among the 22 Best Chinese Restaurants in the Country in the current Travel and Leisure Magazine. From Richmond Biz Sense: http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2013/02/11/and-the-elby-goes-to/ From Travel & Leisure Magazine -- click the 'Next" and 'Back' arrows to see all of the Chinese Restaurants: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-chinese-restaurants-in-the-us/4

Thanks for the review, gg. Does DUTCH & CO at 27th and Mashall Streets in Church Hill have a full bar and good wine list?

It's VCU up by 7 in Charlotte. Final: VCU 68 UNCCharlotte 61

VCU Rams play UNCCharlotte tonight in the Queen City as they begin the second half of the A-10 schedule. The game begins at 7PM (Sat., Feb. 9th) and you can hear it on your computer at: http://www.bigoldies1073.com/pages/14677236.php

RVANews sends Valentine Day wishes to all. Click Valentine's Day Dining Deals for a list of menus. And you may find it interesting to click the websites provided for each. The gallery pictures of HAVANA 59 in Shockoe Bottom show how the original owner succeeded in portraying a sleezy back-street cafe in the Cuban Capital. It's a work of restaurant design art, IMO. The food is pretty good, too. And they offer salsa dancing on certain nights. http://rvanews.com/tag/valentines-day

Survived Nemo. 11 1/2 inches of snow in Central Park. Major streets are cleared and subways are running with somewhat limited bus service. Eastern Long Island (Suffolk County) got the worst of it in Metro New York -- 30 inches. Slush in the gutters -- especially at street corners -- is the next thing to contend with.

Here is a list of nominees for Elby awards this Sunday night at The Leslie Cheek Theatre: From Richmond dot com: http://richmondmagazine.com/?pageID=0c56e6392b37f855eff9e48e7ab3f384

1:28PM Uh oh! Since last report the sidewalks in Manhattan are getting white with sleet and Mayor Bloomberg is on TV warning of possibly 12 to 18 inches of snow overnight. Just about all flights will be cancelled at the 3 airports and Amtrak is suspending service north of the city. I'm going out to the store now to stock up on supplies.

It's 12:57 PM as I write this (my Urban Planet clock is still on Daylight time.) Looking out my window here in Manhattan the streets are wet but pedestians are not using umbrellas. Nothing is falling at the moment, but forecasts predict that the dividing line between anticipated rain and snow is moving south of the city and that the cold front approaching from the northwest will clash with a big low pressure system off the Virginia coast later today bringing lots of snow to New York City,

Some people associate PROPER PIE with pizza. But that's not what comes out of this kitchen in Church Hill within sight of historic St. John's Church. The New Zealand owner of PROPER PIE and his American wife have introduced savory crusted pies of meat, vegetables and spices to Richmond, although lemon meringue and a few other desserts are available. The take-out shop has been almost overwhelmed with customers since opening last fall. Here's a review by Leah Nelson in today's Richmond dot com: http://www.richmond.com/food-drink/restaurant-reviews/article_b1d43ab2-6fcf-11e2-af32-0019bb30f31a.html PROPER PIE 2505 East Broad (between 25th and 26th Streets in Church Hill) 804/343-7437

The RVANews Picture of The Day by photographer Will Weaver: The Hippodrome Theatre on North 2nd Street between Clay and Leigh Streets in Richmond's Jackson Ward. The white building beside the theatre contains apartments and MANSION FIVE 26 Restaurant and Speakeasy Bar .http://rvanews.com/features/the-hippodrome/82850

College Park, Md. is also known as New Carrolton, then further north many trains stop at a Baltimore suburban station called BWI (Thurgood Marshall Airport.) In Jersey every train -- commuter, Amtrak and Acela Express -- stops at Newark which is only 12 minutes from Penn Station in Manhattan. Some Amtraks also stop at Newark Liberty Airport.