June 2008

Segway Tours Come to Richmond!

See the sights of Richmond aboard a Segway.  Segway of Richmond has introduced guided tours of Richmond that include Canal Walk, Brown’s Island, Belle Isle, James River, State Capitol, Carytown, Tredegar, and the Virginia War Memorial.  The tours begin at the Richmond Region Visitors Center 405 N 3rd St at 10 AM and 2 PM.  Guided tour lasts about 2 ½ hours with a 15-minute familiarization period to make sure you will be comfortable gliding around town.  For more information or to arrange a personalized tour, check out www.SegwayOfRichmond.biz or call (804) 343-1850.  Fee, Advance Reservations are recommended.

Summer Color has arrived in the Gardens

As the azaleas, dogwood, camellia, and rhododendron have faded from their spring glory, the garden beds have filled with summer interest. Gone are the iris and fading quickly are the New Dawn roses. But, in their place, the impatiens, ferns, hosta, astilbe, coral bells, caladiums, day lilies, and other assorted perennials and annuals are basking in summer's warm weather. The hydrangea are beginning their bright blue blooms and, even the oak leaf hydrangea are sporting their white blooms. Mike's herbs are doing well and his tomatoes are relishing their spot in the sun next to the garage. He expects his first tomato harvest later this month. We added Stepables in the stone patio in the east garden. We only tried a few, but if they do well, we'll add even more.

Baby Birds have Flown the Nest

The William Miller House gardens were the home to several nesting birds this spring. Just outside our office window, a Mama mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) hatched two chicks, nursed them along, taught them to fly, and they have moved on. In the west garden in the large yew, another family of mourning doves made a home. The youngsters are still around entertaining us with their antics. Catbirds nested in the abelia beside the driveway. They were the source of the dive bombs Nuggett mentions in his blog. Every time Nuggett followed us to the garden for herbs, the Mom and Dad birds would screech at him and dive bomb him to keep him away from their young. Since Nuggett rarely looks up, he wasn't really bothered by their dive bombing. But, Nuggett was really concerned when they started after Sandi. After all, she couldn't have known any better. Even in the city, we have nature in all its glory.

Calendar

June 6 First Friday Art Walk www.firstfridaysrichmond.com

June 6 Short Pump Summer Concert Series, Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W Broad Street.  Susan Greenbaum performs.  Gates: 6 PM  FREE  www.shortpumpmall.com

June 6 Fridays at Sunset Kanawha Plaza 8th and Canal Streets.  $20  Gates: 6 PM Wayman Tisdale performs.  www.fridaysatsunset.com

June 6 Friday Cheers, Brown’s Island. 6:30 PM  FREE Dr. Dog with the Palominos. www.venturerichmond.com

June 6 Festival of the Arts opens at Dogwood Dell, Byrd Park.  (804) 646-DELL or www.ci.richmond.va.us/departments/parks/dogwood.aspx for the complete schedule of performances. FREE

June 6 & 7 Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games University of Richmond Stadium (804) 346-5544 www.specialolympicsva.org

June 7, June 14,  Breakfast and Blooms Enjoy a light continental breakfast on Agecroft Hall’s terrace overlooking the James River, followed by a one-hour tour of eth gardens with emphasis on summer annuals by Sandi Barnette, head of Agecroft’s gardening department. 9 AM to 10:30 AM; Fee, advance payment and registration required. (804) 353-4241 or www.agecrofthall.com

June 7 From This Day Forward: An Evening of Dramatic Vignettes A behind-the-scenes look at the activities associated with hosting a Victorian wedding. Includes refreshments and amusements on the lawn.  Maymont, fee, register by June 6.  (804) 358-7166 extension 329 or www.maymont.org

June 7 Kollatz Does Richmond From the Bottom Up Harry Kollatz Jr (senior writer for Richmond magazine and author of True Richmond Stories) leads a journey based on the City of Richmond’s little-known secrets.  Fee, Reservations required.  Call History Center (804) 649-0711 extension 301 or www.richmondhistorycenter.com.  Check the website for other tours as well.

June 11 Innsbrook After Hours  Moe with Disco Biscuits at the SnagaJob.com Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Gates 6 PM  Admission fee varies. www.innsbrookafterhours.com

June 12 Moses Ezekiel: Civil War Soldier, renowned Sculptor  Keith Gibson will speak on his biography of Ezekiel.  Part of the Banner Series of lectures. Fee, Reservations not required, seating on a first come first served basis.  Virginia Historical Society (804) 358-4901 or www.vahistorical.org

June 13 Fridays at Sunset Kanawha Plaza 8th and Canal Streets.  $25 in advance $30 day of.  Gates: 6 PM Chrisette Michele and Raheem DeVaughn perform.  www.fridaysatsunset.com

June 13 Friday Cheers, Brown’s Island. 6:30 PM  FREE Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Southside Funk. www.venturerichmond.com

June 13 Short Pump Summer Concert Series, Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W Broad Street.  KOS (Kings of Swing) perform.  Gates: 6 PM  FREE  www.shortpumpmall.com

June 13 & 14 Professional Bull Riders competition 8PM tickets $16 to $61 Richmond Coliseum (804) 262-8100 or www.ticketmaster.com
June 13 to August 17 Guys and Dolls This Broadway favorite features singing gamblers and the women they risk it all for.  Show times vary.  Empire Theatre. (804) 282-2620 or www.barksdalerichmond.org

June 14 & 15 James River Adventure Games, rowing, kayaking, trail-running, and mountain-biking in conjunction with the off-road triathlon of the XTERRA East Championships.  Brown’s Island. (804) 285-9495 or www.sportsbackers.org

June 14 Air Fair See a Cessna and attend a rocket-building workshop. Fee.  Virginia Aviation Museum. (804) 236-3622 or www.vam.smv.org

June 15 is Father’s Day

June 15 Music in the Park Cashmere Jungle Lords perform 6 to 8 PM in Forest Hill Park.  www.foresthilneighborhood.com

June 18 Innsbrook After Hours  Blues Traveler with Avett Brothers at the SnagaJob.com Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Gates 6 PM  Admission fee varies. www.innsbrookafterhours.com

June 20 Fridays at Sunset Kanawha Plaza 8th and Canal Streets.  $20  Gates: 6 PM Mario performs.  www.fridaysatsunset.com

June 20 Friday Cheers, Brown’s Island. 6:30 PM  FREE Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit with Mozely Rose. www.venturerichmond.com

June 20 Short Pump Summer Concert Series, Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W Broad Street.  B2B performs.  Gates: 6 PM  FREE  www.shortpumpmall.com

June 25 6th Annual Vegetarian Festival, Azalea Gardens at Bryan Park, (804) 262-8507 or www.VeggieFest.org

June 25 Innsbrook After Hours  Keller Williams with Yonder Mountain String Band at the SnagaJob.com Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Gates 6 PM  Admission fee varies. www.innsbrookafterhours.com

June 27 Fridays at Sunset Kanawha Plaza 8th and Canal Streets.  $25 in advance, $30 at door.  Gates: 6 PM  NAS performs.  www.fridaysatsunset.com

June 27 Friday Cheers, Brown’s Island. 6:30 PM  FREE Spam Allstars with Farm Vegas. www.venturerichmond.com

June 27 Short Pump Summer Concert Series, Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W Broad Street.  English Channel performs.  Gates: 6 PM  FREE  www.shortpumpmall.com

June 27 and 28  SunTrust Indy Challenge IndyCar and USAC racing.  This year 50 additional laps have been added to the usual 250-lap race.  Friday 7:30 PM $15.  Saturday 5:15 PM $30 general admission; $35 reserved seating.  Richmond International Raceway (866) 455-7223

June 27 Virginia House Behind the Scenes Tour Noon and 2 PM. Fee, Reservations required. Virginia House. (804) 353-4251

June 28 Jeff Dunham The comedian takes the stage at the Landmark Theater 7 PM.  $43. (804) 646-4213 or www.ticketmaster.com

Every Sunday at St John’s Church. “give Me Liberty” Re-enactment.  Organ recital at 1:30 PM; re-enactment of Patrick Henry’s famous speech at 2 PM.  (804) 648-5015 or www.historicstjohnschurch.org

Extended summer schedule goes into effect for the narrated boat tours along the Historic Canal  Walk on June 11 and stays in effect until September. $4 to $5.  (804) 649-2800 or www.venturerichmond.com

Hollywood Cemetery Tours Monday through Saturday 10 to 11:30 AM.  Second Sundays 2 to 4 PM.  Fee. Meet your guide at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle Streets.  (804) 649-0711 extension 301 or www.richmondhistorycenter.com

July 4 Independence Day Celebrations and Fireworks

July 4 Fridays at Sunset Kanawha Plaza 8th and Canal Streets.  $20.  Gates: 6 PM  Chuck Brown performs.  www.fridaysatsunset.com

July 8 Weird Al Yankovic, The National, 708 E Braod Street 7 PM $30 in advance, $32.50 day of show. (804) 612-1900 or www.nattickets.com

July 9 Innsbrook After Hours  Hootie and the Blowfish at the SnagaJob.com Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Gates 6 PM  Admission fee varies. www.innsbrookafterhours.com

July 11 Fridays at Sunset Kanawha Plaza 8th and Canal Streets.  $20.  Gates: 6 PM  Boyz II Men performs.  www.fridaysatsunset.com

July 11  Short Pump Summer Concert Series, Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W Broad Street.  The Ray Pittman Project performs.  Gates: 6 PM  FREE  www.shortpumpmall.com

July 11 Innsbrook After Hours  Travis Tritt at the SnagaJob.com Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Gates 6 PM  Admission fee varies. www.innsbrookafterhours.com

July 16 Innsbrook After Hours  STS9 with Umphrey’s McGee at the SnagaJob.com Pavilion, 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Gates 6 PM  Admission fee varies. www.innsbrookafterhours.com

August 10 Carytown Watermelon Festival!

Recipe of the month:

Avocado Cristo with Cherry Tomato Jam and Balsamic reduction

Lampe Berger

A new shipment of Lampe Berger has arrived.  We have a selection of new lampes and several new parfum de maison scents.  And, of course, we have a supply of the summer necessity Vanilla #3 to combat those pesky mosquitoes and flies that disrupt summer outside activities.