West End's Best Jan/Feb 2015 by Advertising Concepts, Inc.

CONTENTS

27 14

NOVEMBER 2014 ANTHEM RICHMOND MARATHON

PHOTO : TEMPLE HILL

January/February 2015

First of All

News from Around Town 17

Collegiate School Celebrating 100 Years

Ashland Theater

The Grand Reopening 21

Finance

A Down Market 23

Creative Spots

Cold Weather Escapes

Flavor 27

In Search of Healthy Dishes

Tastebudz

Restaurant News 34

Burger Bach

Seafood and Burgers COURTESY OF SPORTSBACKERS

Events

Local Happenings 41

Coffee

Grounds for Discourse 45

Chianti

Celebrating 15 Years

Home

Feature

A CONTAGIOUS PURSUIT

RUNNING WITH KIDS

It’s the Forrest Gump factor: once you start running, you just might not stop.

Harness children’s natural energy and improve their health in fun ways. Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

50 52

Tips for the New Year

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

A recent medical report supports the wisdom of slow and easy.

Garages

Elements of the Perfect Garage

Travel

LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD

Experts share their advice on enhancing your personal appearance and health for the new year.

Smart & Savvy

Australia

Adventures Down Under

R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 1 1

FROM THE EDITOR PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

William J. Davis, Jr. VICE-PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

Unexpected Benefits

Cheryl T. Davis MANAGING EDITOR

Annie Tobey ASSISTANT EDITORS

Steve Cook, Tammie Wersinger CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Joseph Wharton GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nora Bollinger ADVERTISING CONSULTANT

Jared Davis CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSULTANT

Colleen MacCabe DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Justin Warner

S I REVIEWED this issue of West End’s Best, combined with the flip-side RiverCity, I real-

ized that an unintended theme had developed. Though we had achieved our intentional theme, “Look Good & Feel Good,” another thread wove its way through our features: serendipitous benefits! Running, creative pursuits, career achievements, improvisational comedy – there are a multitude of advantages lurking beneath the surface. Gray Gurkin was fleeing from midlife worries when he began running but subsequently stumbled upon other unexpected reasons to continue. Those who pursue their right-brain bents discover up to 12 reasons why taking an art class is worthwhile. Todd Arnett, owner of Williamsburg Coffee and Tea, has made it his life’s work not just to roast the best beans but also to support the farmers who grow the fruit and to train others to serve the classic beverage. And many who have entered Richmond’s improvisational comedy scene, from kids to adults, have learned much more than simply how to be funny. Comedian Tina Fey testifies to the power of this passion in her insightful and humorous book, Bossypants. “Studying improvisation literally changed my life. It set me on a career path toward Saturday Night Live. It changed the way I look at the world, and it’s where I met my husband. What has your cult done for you lately?” Fey goes on to outline a few of the life lessons that come from improv: always agree – start with a YES, see where it takes you, and then add something of your own; and, “there are no mistakes, only opportunities.” Other topics this month also include unanticipated benefits: the perfect garage, a new Ashland theater, and a plan for beautifying your house in 2015. We look at how to escape winter’s chill by traveling “down under” to the Blue Mountains of Australia. In this month’s Flavor focus on local restaurants, we go in search of healthy pleasures (yes, you can find tasty meals that are also good for you!), hot drinks, and a West End source for organic burgers and seafood. We help local Chianti restaurant celebrate 15 years of serving the community. Our TasteBudz share foodie news from Chesterfield and beyond. After all, the search for fine food and drink are a palate-pleasing source of passion for many. As you live, work and play in Richmond, what’s your passion? Where does it take you? And what will the year 2015 add to the delights of your life?

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Miguel Betancourt, David Hill, Temple Hill, Robert Thomas CONTRIBUTORS

Lane Burgess, Jenni Kirby Gary Manneshöhle, Vicki O’Neal, Alan Rudlin, Constance Whitney, Christy Wright West End’s Best Magazine is published bimonthly by Advertising Concepts, Inc., 6301 Harbourside Drive, Suite 100 Midlothian, VA 23112 • 804-639-9994

RichmondNavigator.com E-mail Info@RichmondNavigator.com All rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

A PUBLICATION OF

A L L A R T I CL E S A N D CO N T EN T S O F T HIS M AG A ZINE A R E N OT NECE SS A R ILY T HE O PINI O NS O R T H O U GH T S O F W EST EN D’ S BEST M AG A ZINE, A DV ER T ISIN G CO N CEP T S, IN C O R T HE PU BL ISHER .

ABOUT OUR COVER The Haka Chili Cheese Burger from Burger Bach Photo by Miguel Betancourt

Annie Tobey Annie.Tobey@RichmondNavigator.com Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 1 3

FIRST OF ALL

RENOVATIONS FOR A NEW LOOK IN THE WEST END DURING 2014 , you may have noticed that changes were afoot at Short Pump

Town Center: renovations, new restaurants, and new stores. In fact, say the developers, the multimillion-dollar transformation has given the West End shopping destination a new “Southern Charm” feel. When you go, notice the walkways lit with hanging lanterns, new seating areas and gathering spaces under heated pavilions, beautiful fountains, and new and updated landscaping. Look for the new pedestrian bridge over the main plaza, additional covered bridges, and the new glass elevator. If you have kids, you’ll also want to check out the new children’s play village in the food court and the outdoor play area in the plaza. And this time of year especially, you’ll want to visit the new feature f ireplace. The renovations were designed to encourage more than just shopping and entertainment – though the 140 retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment options provide plenty of that. The newly designed complex also encourages people to relax there, spending time with family and friends. “We invite everyone to plan a visit and experience all that our center has to offer,” says E. Kemel Blue, vice president/general manager. More than 20 new retailers came to Short Pump in 2014, including kate spade new york, Michael Kors, Madewell, Free People, True Religion, TUMI, Sephora, Lush, Soft, Surroundings and Versona Accessories. Several other retailers remodeled or expanded. New dining options came to the center – Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery and Cooper’s Hawk Restaurant and Winery. When next you visit Short Pump Town Center, prepare to be charmed! 1 4 We s t E n d ’s B e s t

BENEFIT FOR HOUSING FAMILIES FIRST (formerly Hilliard House) is hosting A Night at the Ski Lodge to raise money for Richmond families experiencing homelessness. Guests are invited to don their best ski sweaters and enjoy live music, icy cocktails, fireside s’mores, fondue, a contest for the best ski sweater, and a silent auction. The Night at the Ski Lodge will be from 7 to 10 p.m. on Jan. 22 at The Boathouse at Sunday Park, 4602 Millridge Pkwy., Midlothian. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased at HousingFamiliesFirst.org. Guests are also encouraged to bring winter accessories (hats, gloves, scarves) of all sizes to donate. Presenting sponsors are National Association of Catering and Events and Virginia Community Development Corporation. HOUSING FAMILIES FIRST

NEXT GLASS APP: FINDING A BEER OR WINE YOU’LL LIKE the beer and wine aisle, staring dolefully at the many options. Though in the mood for something different, you’re unsure which of the many options to choose. Besides this dilemma, you’re picking up a hostess gift for a friend’s dinner party, but you have no idea what your hosts will enjoy. Next Glass to the rescue! For nearly three months, the developers of the Next Glass app sent a crew around the country to buy beers at some of the best bottle shops in the country, including Richmond’s Corks & Kegs on Patterson Avenue. Back at the labs, they took a high-res mass spectrometer reading for each distinct product, identifying more than 2,000 chemical attributes as well as the label design, price, and other physical identifiers. The essential objective attributes become data points for identifying what consumers like or dislike. After acquiring and testing 20,000 bottles of beer and wine, they launched the Next Glass app for Apple and Android in November 2014. Now it’s your turn. Download the Next Glass app and begin rating beers and wines. Using that data, says Trace Smith, the company’s chief operating officer, “We get smart on what you do and don’t like, chemically as well as non-chemical attributes.” Now, take your smartphone to a store or restaurant. Open the app, scan the beer or wine label or enter the name in the search field. Next Glass will tell you on a 100-point scale how likely you are to enjoy the product. Next, connect with friends who are Next Glass users and the app will tell you how likely they are to enjoy a product. The app can also help predict how well a beer drinker is to like a particular wine and vice versa. “The app works better wine to wine and beer to beer,” Smith admits, “but it can make some helpful recommendations [between categories]. We may not convert [wine or beer drinkers], but we can help them find things that they enjoy.” Next Glass has Virginia craft beers from Center of the Universe, Strangeways, Hardywood, Legend, Starr Hill, and Devils Backbone as well as wines from Chateau Morrissette, Barboursville, Boxwood, Trump, and Early Mountain. Brewers or fans are welcome to submit new bottles to be included in the database. YOU’RE STANDING ON

Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

SHOULD YOUR CHILD BE BILINGUAL? that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, and f lexibility of mind in young children,” reports Therese Sullivan Caccavale, president of the National Network for Early Language Learning. “Students who are learning a foreign language out-score their non-foreign language learning peers in the verbal and, surprisingly to some, the math sections of standardized tests.” Learning a foreign language also increases appreciation for our world’s diversity and ultimately increases job opportunities for those who retain language fluency. A new West End business, Richmond CommuniKids, provides language-learning opportunities for children ages 18 months to 8 years in Mandarin Chinese, French, and Spanish. Younger students learn language with their parents. Older children develop their conversational and comprehension skills through play-based, thematic curriculum. Students of all levels are welcome. Preschool immersion classes are scheduled to begin in late January. Parents may sign children up for a free trial class by contacting America@CommuniKids.com or 804-360-3400. “STUDIES HAVE SHOWN REPEATEDLY

3111 Lauderdale Dr. / 804-360-3400 / CommuniKids.com R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 1 5

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BUSINESS WATCH

COLLEGIATE SCHOOL

Celebrating 100 Years While Inspiring a New Century of Scholarship and Citizenship

N THE 1900s, A RICHMOND RESIDENT NAMED

Helen Baker forged new ground by pursuing an extensive formal education and making it her mission to encourage other girls and young women to prepare for expanding opportunities. The impact of her progressive choices and commitment to learning remains evident today, as the institution she founded – Collegiate School – celebrates 100 years and renews its focus on preparing dynamic, creative thinkers to lead and serve, locally and around the globe. Collegiate’s recognition as one of the top independent schools in the nation cannot be fully appreciated, however, without paying homage to its history. Baker graduated from Richmond College, now the University of Richmond, where she was one of just six women in her class. She earned a master’s degree from Columbia University, and after a brief teaching stint, became dean of the University of Richmond’s Women’s College, the precursor to Westhampton College. In 1915, she opened The Collegiate School for Girls in downtown Richmond, making it the first of its kind in the area – a college preparatory institution for girls. From the beginning, Collegiate enjoyed popularity among Richmond parents who embraced the opportunity to send their children to a school that not only focused on academic excellence, but also held individual merit as the benchmark of a student’s achievement. The first year’s enrollment included 75 girls, and the student body grew rapidly. Care was taken to ensure that each girl felt she was a part of the Collegiate family. In a 1919 speech to the first graduating class, Miss Baker reinforced the mission that undergirded Collegiate: I hope you have learned many things … besides the very important facts outlined in various books of knowledge; I would have you always courteous, considerate, generous, impartial….

Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

[Above] everything else, I would have you live for humanity’s sake. I would have you good citizens in the widest sense. Beginning in 1928, elementary-age boys sporadically enrolled in Collegiate. However, the school did not formally begin the journey to co-ed learning until the 1950s, when a need for more space and extensive renovations of the downtown campus, coupled with Richmonders’ increasing interest in suburban life, led the school’s leadership to accept a land gift at River Road and North Mooreland Road in western Henrico County. Over the next decade, the school opened several divisions, some of which were co-ed, and eventually the entire school shifted from downtown to its current Mooreland Road location. The name also shifted to reflect its changing form. A century later, Collegiate School continues to offer single-sex academics in middle school, with students in JK - 4th grades and 9th -12th grades learning in co-ed classes.

While the school has grown in both size and scope, what also remains authentic to Collegiate is the commitment to each student’s academic success, personal growth, and ability to appreciate and meaningfully contribute to the world at large. The article above includes passages excerpted from Collegiate School’s Centennial Book, which will be released in March 2015.

[Above] everything else, I would have you live for humanity’s sake. I would have you good citizens in the widest sense.

R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 1 7

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IT’S SHOW TIME AGAIN AT THE ASHLAND THEATER

by Steve

Cook

OING TO THE MOVIES is fun again … at the re-

cently reopened Ashland Theater. That’s right! Thanks to a group of hardworking community volunteers, the lights on the marquee are bright, the ticket booth is open, the reels on the projector are spinning, and the crowds are packing the house. It’s not a full-time operation, but it’s a great start. The initial response has been very positive, says Hugh Joyce, president of the Ashland Main Street Association. “We opened our doors just before Thanksgiving for a showing of When Harry Met Sally, and we sold out. Then we did a showing of the Goonies and Polar Express. Both of those sold out.” Joyce also tells me that a recent jazz concert featuring performances by county high school jazz bands came just 30 seats shy of filling the 333-seat theater. “And the entire event was put together in only two weeks,” he says. Ever since local contractor and real estate developer A.D. Whittaker and his wife, Jean, donated the theater to the town about 18 months ago, I’d been hearing talk of the possible reopening of the beautiful Art Deco-style movie house that first opened its doors in 1948. Unfortunately, most of the talk I’d been hearing was that the theater was unusable, and that there was no chance of anything happening there, at least not in the foreseeable future. Fortunately, that talk was just that – talk. Joyce details the developments that have led to full houses in recent weeks. He says members of the Main Street Association – a nonprofit, 501c3 organization comprised of community volunteers representing businesses, civic organizations, Randolph-Macon College, and residents of Ashland – formed a theater committee Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

COURTESY OF THE ASHLAND THEATER

ASHLAND THEATER

to look for ways to bring life back into the old building. In addition to Joyce, committee members are Chopper Dawson, Clark Mercer, and Jen Chambers. “What started as a scheme to light the marquee and put messages on it,” says Joyce, “turned into an all-out initiative to bring the theater out of darkness and into the light.” He says the theater committee took a look at the inside of the building and realized that it was in much better shape than had been expected. “We said, ‘Let’s take it for a test drive,’” Joyce explains. “Within five minutes, we had the projector up and running.” Of course, as would be true of any building that had been virtually deserted for over a decade, a little sprucing up was needed, although, says Joyce, the Whittakers had done a lot of beautification work themselves on the property. “The committee obtained in-kind donations, volunteer labor, and other contributions in order to make the repairs needed to get the building operational,” he says. Joyce’s firm, James River Air Conditioning, repaired the heating in the building, and fellow committee member Chopper Dawson, who is a carpenter by trade, also provided some of the repairs that were necessary to get the theater reopened. “Our plan is to make this a world-class small theater,” Joyce says. To get to that “world class” status, it will take more renovations. Joyce anticipates that What started as a scheme to after a fundraising campaign, the theater will shut light the marquee and put down again, but briefly, for needed work, such as ADA messages on it ... turned into modifications, adding a new green room, improved an all-out initiative to bring electronics, and new seats and carpeting, along with some additional beautification projects. the theater out of the darkness After that, who knows? “Movies are the foundaand into the light. tion, and we want to build on that,” Joyce says. “We see the theater being used for musical performances, plays, open mic nights, and shows for kids. The place really shines as a potential music venue for intimate events.” Already the theater committee has some exciting things lined up for the near future. On Jan. 31, a James Bond night is planned, including martinis. How great is that? And coming up over the next few weeks will be showings of Jaws and Star Wars, as well as open mic nights, comedy, and live music. “We’ve arranged to have the Virginia premier of the motion picture Big Stone Gap here,” says Joyce. Filmed in the Appalachians, the movie stars Ashley Judd and Whoopi Goldberg. A date for the premier has not yet been set. “The Ashland Main Street Association is focused on the development and preservation of Ashland’s abandoned buildings,” Joyce says. “It’s all part of the goal to create a good market for the town.” Joyce says that having 300 additional people walking the streets of Ashland will have a major impact on other businesses, including restaurants, antique shops, and the local Cross Brothers Grocery. There are a lot of folks who are counting on the Ashland Theater to be a key component in bringing more people back to the streets. After all, as Hugh Joyce says, “It’s a cool ‘ole-timey’ experience. It’s a beautiful theater.” The Ashland Theater is located at 205 England St. For additional information, including upcoming events, visit AshlandTheatreVA.org. R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 1 9

Minds that seek. Hearts that serve. www.collegiate-va.org

2 0 We s t E n d â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s B e s t

FINANCE

A DOWN MARKET. OH, THANK GOODNESS! by

G. Carl Mahler, Jr, CFP ®

guiding clients toward and through retirement, I have reminded them for over a year that a correction is overdue. I remind them that the normal cycles of the markets are to be expected, not feared, and to harness them to potentially increase the value of their assets. I write this guidance before the Fed has decided if it will end quantitative easing, before Euro Land has taken definitive steps to keep itself out of recession, and before the next case of Ebola threatens all mankind. I don’t minimize the seriousness of these events, but they are the current problems causing the financial markets to climb “The Wall of Worry.” For much of 2014, the markets experienced much volatility. The media knows consumers fear this, so they feed us a continuous stream of it – and we make bad decisions. Volatility is not new to the markets but it does, in my opinion, seem to occur more frequently and at greater extremes than ever. Most of this has been attributed to computers: information in a nanosecond, and the ability to trade just as quickly. Watch, and you discover the media has become extremely creative in their use of adjectives describing downside volatility, more than with the corresponding upside swings that typically follow. Yes, believe it or not, volatility occurs in both directions. There is something to be learned here: V.O.L.A.T.I.L.I.T.Y. is here forever. If you can’t beat it, use it. Look at Warren Buffett, arguably the most N MY PRACTICE OF

Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

successful investor in America. Buffet embraces it. He waits for it. He harnesses it by buying when markets are down and seemingly headed to the next Depression (media talk), then patiently waits for the market to recover. Then, and only then, he might consider selling. I have been making this observation over the 40plus years I’ve been involved in investing. Markets go up, then down, then back up. Volatility is our friend when used to our advantage. If I am in the accumulation phase of my life, I invest into it, buying when prices are cheap(er). If I am in retirement, I keep enough in very safe accounts to live on while markets move through down cycles, then replenish those stores when values are back up. So, I ask, if you are able to ignore the temporary volatility that has always plagued the markets, how does it hurt you? It doesn’t! In fact, it enables you to achieve many of the things you dreamed about years ago when retirement was going to be a wonderful place.

T he P i n n acle Grou p A n Indep enden t Wea l th Ma n ag emen t Fir m Your Wealth . Your Life. O ur Fo c u s . 374 8 W i n ter f i eld R o a d M id l o t hi a n , VA 23113 8 0 4 - 378 - 1624 P i n n a cl e Gro u p . n et

G. Carl Mahler, Jr. is a Certified Financial Planner®. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Any opinions are those of G. Carl Mahler, Jr. and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Investing involves risk and investors may incur a profit or loss. Like u s on Facebook to receive daily f inancial infor mation on your newsfeed. Search: “The Pinnacle Group, An Independent Wealth Management Fir m, RJ FS”

R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 2 1

Summer 2015 camps will be posted February 1 at www.stewardschool.org/summer.

11600 Gayton Road

2 2 We s t E n d â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s B e s t

Richmond, Virginia 23238

PHOTO: BRIDGET HAZEL PHOTOGRAPHY

COMMUNITY

THE PERFECT WINTER ESCAPE LOCAL CREATIVITY FOR HEALTH AND FUN

and better mental and physical health is well established by research,” reports columnist Amanda Enayati on CNN.com. “Creating helps make people happier, less anxious, more resilient and better equipped to problem-solve in the face of hardship.” Enayati goes on to report how the stress of work is consuming many Americans and that this stress can lead to weight gain and physical ailments. She discusses Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, by Tony Wagner, Innovation Education Fellow at Harvard’s Technology & Entrepreneurship Center. According to Wagner, imagining and creating give us a sense of purpose, while a lack of these activities leads to a pervasive sense of emptiness, a feeling we may try unsuccessfully to fill with false friends, material possessions, and even medication. Fortunately, the solution is easy as well as enjoyable: find a creative outlet! Crossroads Art Center, near Staples Mill and Broad in Richmond’s West End, offers a multitude of art classes and seminars for all ages and learning levels. Owner and artist Jenni Kirby says, “Ever want to take an art class but found every excuse why you shouldn’t? Well, here are 12 reasons why you should, even if you aren’t an artist.” HE LINK BETWEEN CREATIVITY

Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

Learn something new. Whether it’s a new technique, a new medium, or if art in general is something you’ve never done before, learning new things strengthens us. 2

Meet new people. When you take any class, you have an opportunity to meet new people, form new friendships, and make new connections. 3

Find a new place to hang out with old friends. Taking a class together helps you learn new things about old friends and gives you something new to talk about when you go out together. 4

Challenge yourself. Learning something new is a great way to challenge yourself on many different levels. 5

Focus on and delve deeper into a known technique. Ever want to spend extra time working on your brush skills? Need some good one-on-one time with a potter’s wheel? Just want to focus on one thing without needing a particular outcome? Classes are a great way to do this and not feel like you’re wasting valuable time. R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 2 3

the perfect w inter escape

Open up your creativity. Learning new techniques or mediums help us to open our creativity in new ways. 7

Learn to solve problems differently. Learning something different shows us different ways to do things. 8

A chance to meet and work with a particular artist. Whether you are an artist or you collect art, taking a class from an artist you admire gives you a different perspective on their work and you learn more about their process. 9

Learn about the creative process firsthand. If you aren’t a practicing artist yourself, but you love art, taking a class helps you learn more about what goes into a piece of art. 10

A chance to let go of the cerebral. Art gives us a chance to focus on our intuitive selves, to take a break from analytical thinking. 11

Learn new ways of looking at the world. Every time you learn something new, it gives you a new filter through which to process the world around you. 12

Have fun! Creativity is a worthwhile goal on its own, but another part of the appeal is the final product: a painting, sculpture, serving dish, necklace, table, or wall that reminds you anew of that sense of accomplishment each time you see it, or provides a special gift for a friend. Several local businesses offer opportunities for that therapeutic dose of creativity.

BY FAR MY FAVORITE PLACE to spend a few hours is All Fired Up at

Commonwealth Center. I have absolutely no artistic skill whatsoever, but here I can create works of art in either glass or ceramic that are actually pretty – or at least that’s what my family and friends all said when they got their Christmas gifts. It’s also a great place to take the kids – let them paint to their hearts’ content without the clean-up or without the stains on your rug! And they have Ladies Night Out on Thursdays, so grab your friends and a latte! 2232 Old Brick Rd., West Broad Village, Glen Allen / 804-360-3111 3311 W. Cary St., Carytown, Richmond / 804-355-3412 GetAllFiredUp.com

Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

PHOTO: BRIDGET HAZEL PHOTOGRAPHY

ALL FIRED UP BY CONSTANCE WHITNEY

THRILL OF THE HUNT BY CHRISTY WRIGHT IF YOU ARE LOOKING for something fun and creative to do during

PHOTO: TEMPLE HILL

the winter months, come take a chalk paint workshop at Thrill of the Hunt in Ashland, Virginia. I was able to paint two projects and take them home. I also received a set of brushes, a new apron, and a booklet, and we also had snacks and drinks while there. There were only six people in my workshop, so we all got a lot of good hands-on attention. The teacher there is fantastic. She really gets you inspired to get started on some of your projects. I promise you, after this workshop you will not look at furniture the same way. 315 England St., Ashland / 804-368-0184 ThrillOfTheHuntVA.com

CROSSROADS ART CENTER BY JENNI KIRBY

WINE & DESIGN BY LANE BURGESS

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M HARDLY ARTISTIC, THE CENTER OFFERS a multitude of art classes and seminars for all ages and learning levels. Both short- and long-term classes in varied forms of art and crafts will be offered throughout the year both during the day and at night. We have painting classes in all types of media (watercolor, oils, acrylics) and with varying focuses (still life, landscape, portrait, abstract). We also have open studio times throughout the day so you may come in and work on your own with other students who just want the company of other artists for those few hours.

2016 Staples Mill Rd., Richmond / 804-278-8950 / CrossroadsArtCenter.com

but at Wine and Design, even amateurs feel like professionals. The paintparty studio is the perfect winter spot for a couple or friends to have a drink and appetizers while enjoying an art lesson. For $35, I got my own space at the table complete with an easel, canvas, paintbrushes, and paint. I made friends quickly over wine and the new experience. The best parts were the two-hour art lesson taught by an expert artist and chucking with others as we made creative mistakes. Everyone leaves with the same painting, but they vary depending on personality, artistic ability, and how much wine you enjoyed while painting it. 2707 West Broad St., Richmond / 804-359-9149 WineAndDesign.com R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 2 5

FLAVOR

spotlights

ROCK BOTTOM Rock Bottom is the place for beer – from specialty dark selections to white ales. Also be sure to check out their recently refreshed menu of appetizers and entrées, dinner salads and desserts, burgers and sandwiches – every one made from scratch with the freshest ingredients. 1800 W. Broad St. 804-237-1684 RockBottom.com

HONDOS Hondos is the ultimate destination for a great prime steak. As Richmond’s Premier Chophouse, Hondos features a variety of cuts, with choices like cowboy cut ribeye, filet mignon, Kansas City strip and porterhouse. 4120 Cox Rd. 804-968-4323 HondosPrime.com

SEDONA TAPHOUSE Sedona Taphouse delivers quality and freshness in a vast selection of dishes. They serve only choice cuts of beef and offer one of the largest collections of craft beer on the East Coast, from local to international selections. 15732 WC Main St. 804-379-0037 SedonaTaphouse.com

ZORBA’S The place for Greek and Italian cuisine, Zorba’s delivers the “Mom and Pop” feel that is sometimes lost in today’s restaurants. Check out their menu of fresh fish, chicken kebabs and tossed seafood, and of course don’t miss their signature rolls. 9068 W. Broad St. 804-270-6026 RichmondZorbas.com

IN SE A RCH OF HE A LTH Y DISHES

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FLAVOR YOUR DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT SOURCE

JERK TEMPEH Ipanema Café

COURTESY OF IPANEMA CAFÉ

Richmond’s Ipanema Café has been serving healthy and delicious vegetarian and vegan food since 1998. The creative menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, and entrées as well as delectable desserts and beer and wine. The Jerk Tempeh, available on the dinner menu, is tempeh with spicy jerk seasonings served atop a bed of rice, yellow peas, mashed sweet potatoes, and curried cabbage. It’s vegan as well as gluten free. Who knew that healthy could taste so great! 917 W. Grace St. / 804-213-0190 / IpanemaVeg.com

FIND MORE HEALTHY DISHES ON THE NEXT PAGE

CA LENDA R OF EV ENTS

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Jan. 30 9th Annual Higher Ground Women’s Leadership Conference Richmond Marriot Celebrate who you are as a woman in all aspects of your life. The conference provides an opportunity to grow, develop, and learn with practical solutions for success at home and at work and includes panel discussions, workshops and speakers highlighting timely issues of importance to women. PubApps.VCU.edu/gehli/ahwlc.html

Jan. 15-March 5 Hands On Healing Family Groups Full Circle Grief Center Share your story of loss, explore your feelings, develop coping strategies, strengthen your communication skills, and discover new ways to remember your loved one by joining this eight-week Hands On Healing group, open to children ages 3-18 and their adult caretakers. FullCircleGC.org

Feb. 20-22 Don Quixote Carpenter Theatre Adapted from the famous Cervantes tale of the aging yet forever valiant knight and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, Nicolas Beriozoff ’s Don Quixote tells the playful story of two young lovers, the spirited maiden Kitri and her opportunistic Basilio, who through a series of humorous events meet Cervantes’ hero en route to the altar. RichmondBallet.com

Jan. 27 Helping Hands Twin Hickory Recreation Center Gain hours for your club helping to keep our parks beautiful, helping out at special events, or providing support in one of our recreation programs. Henrico.us/rec Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

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calendar of events

Bring the whole family to enjoy what the Children’s Museum of Richmond Central has to offer from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. on the third Friday of every month for just $1 per person! C-Mor.org

Jan. 17 Life at Lee’s Headquarters Dabbs House Museum Commemorate Lee’s 208th birthday by visiting his 1862 headquarters at Dabbs House Museum. Meet the general and his staff to learn a little more about the man and his relationship with those around him. House tours, reenactors, and children’s activities/crafts are provided. Henrico.us/rec/places/dabbs-house

Jan. 27 “Voices of Survival” Richmond CenterStage Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and in observance of International Holocaust R emembr a nce Day, t h is performance is a partnership among the Virginia Holocaust Museum, the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Jewish Community Center and the Richmond Symphony. RichmondCenterStage.com

Feb. 13-14 Sister Act Altria Theatre Featuring original music by eighttime Oscar winner Alan Menken, this Broadway musical comedy tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look – a convent. AltriaTheatre.com

Feb. 17-22 Virginia Wine Expo Richmond Convention Center & Other Locations The eighth annual expo is a national event celebrating Virginia’s wines and the region’s culinary, historic, and cultural excellence. Meet the owners and winemakers behind Virginia’s emergence as a major international wine destination. RVAFilmFestival.com

Feb. 20-21 Monster Jam Richmond Coliseum Come see Monster Jam trucks such as Grave Digger, Carolina Crusher, Backwards Bob, Storm Damage and Hurricane Force at the Richmond Coliseum. Gold Circle tickets cost $30 and Super Value tickets cost $20 for adults and $5 for kids. MonsterJam.com

Jan. 25 The History of American Fashion Henrico Theatre Enjoy a multimedia fashion show as models sashay down the runway in unique clothing of each era. Learn how undergarments helped achieve the ever-changing perfect silhouette. Toast your favorite time period at a reception following the fashion show where original costumes will be on display and you can meet the models. Henrico.us/rec/places/Henrico-theatre 3 8 We s t E n d ’s B e s t

COURTESY OF SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA

Jan. 16, Feb. 20 Target $1 Family Night Children’s Museum of Richmond

Jan. 24-May 17 Wicked Plants Science Museum of Virginia Step into a macabre world where plants hold the power as you discover the biochemical, physical and neurological processes between plants and the human body. Learn about these diabolical botanical plants inside of a decrepit home – including some of the most infamous plants in history. SMV.org

Feb. 6 Virginia Opera Presents Salome Carpenter Theatre Richard Strauss’s one-act opera, an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s notorious play about the Bible’s wicked femme fatale, both shocked and thrilled audiences over a century ago with its debauchery. Salome, stepdaughter of Herod, has a perverse obsession with the imprisoned John the Baptist, who spurns her seductions. Tickets are between $20 and $106. RichmondCenterStage.com

Jan. 17 Poe’s Birthday Bash Poe Museum The Poe Museum celebrates its namesake’s birthday with 12 straight hours of family fun. PoeMuseum.org

Feb. 6 Blue Bird Hippodrome This will be a music-driven event celebrating the 20th year of Henrico CASA. HenricoCASA.org

View our full event calendar online at RichmondNavigator.com.

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WILLIAMSBURG COFFEE “T

HERE’S A LOT OF SCIENCE that goes into making your water go from clear to black,” says Todd Arnett, owner of sustainable, direct-trade Williamsburg Coffee and Tea. Arnett is discussing the science involved in producing that perfect cup of coffee. He should know. He certainly knows more about coffee than anyone I’ve ever met. When my editor, Annie Tobey, told me that she had arranged for the two of us to meet with Arnett for a cupping experience at his facility in Williamsburg, I really didn’t know what to expect. I was probably thinking more of a wine-type tasting event. But, if it meant spending the afternoon drinking coffee, I was definitely up for it. A cupping is primarily for professionals, including everyone from the grower to the barista in your local coffee shop. “If the nonprofessional does this,” Arnett says, “he’d be way out on the geeky edge.” Before we even began our cupping process, he explained quite a bit about specialty coffees (his specialty) and cleared up a few misunderstandings. For instance, did you know that the coffee bean is more like a cherry pit than a bean? The fruit is often called a “cherry.” Arnett, who has a knack for taking a very complex subject and explain-

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ing it in a way that even someone as simple as I can understand it, puts it this way: “The cherry tree doesn’t realize we’re about to play a trick on it. It’s about to make this great fruit and we pluck it, and say, ‘Thank you. I’m going to put this in my coffee.’” Of course, it’s much more complex than that, but you get the drift. For the bean to truly produce a great coffee, it has to contain the sweetness of the fruit. And just where that fruit grows is vitally important in determining that sweetness. It’s a taste that is only achieved in a climate that provides warm days and cool nights. Warm days are no problem in the tropics, but for a cool night, you have to go up into the mountains – above 3,000 feet. The arabica, one of two species of coffee-producing cherry trees, grows at that altitude. Below that, one can find the only other species of coffee, the robusta. While all specialty coffee is arabica, not all arabica is specialty coffee. In fact, only about 15% of all arabica coffee is good enough to be considered as such. And, when I say “good enough,” I’m not speaking subjectively. The beans in that 15-percent class have passed the test by meeting certain standards

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as established by such organizations as the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). That’s where the cupping process comes in. Experts, such as Arnett, who have been certified by the SCAA, use a grading form to give each lot of coffee, from coffee growers around the world, the true taste-test and smell-test. Coffees must receive a score of 80 or higher in order to qualify as a specialty coffee. So, with that in mind, let the cupping begin! Arnett first ground the coffee. “A cupping roast is a light roast,” he explains. “The more the bean is cooked, the more narrow the band of flavors.” We were instructed to put our noses over our cup and take in the fragrance. It’s a fragrance when the coffee is dry and an aroma when it’s wet, he told us. We were then to take a moment and analyze what we had discovered from that whiff. While the entire procedure is much more intricate than I’ll explain here, the cupping continued with hot water being poured over the ground coffee. We then took another whiff, this time of the aroma. Next, we took our spoon and broke through the crust that had formed on the top of the coffee. Even the way one “breaks” the coffee can impact the taste. We again used our senses of smell to analyze the brew. Finally, we tasted the coffee. For our lesson, we had three cups each of the three beans being tasted, one from Ecuador, one from Costa Rica, and one from Guatemala – the same variety of bean grown in different locations. In the true (professional) cupping experience, five cups of the same roast are used. Uniformity in each cup is a vital element in the grading process. Uniformity, sweetness, and cleanness are the most important criteria on the standard SCAA grading form, although other factors are also considered in determining a final score. As for the tastes, the results were somewhat astounding. As Annie and I tasted

the three different coffees, we were somewhat amazed with our findings. Between the two of us, we tasted grapefruit, baked beans, chocolate, vanilla, and pepper. Why had I never tasted anything like this in my previous coffee experiences? “The problem with many of us,” says Arnett, “is that we spend so much time shoving things in our mouth and so little time considering what we’ve shoved in.” As a purveyor of specialty coffees, Arnett spends a lot of time considering such things as well as teaching others. He has traveled the world doing so and this month will be conducting certification classes for a group of about 20 coming from China to Williamsburg. But he is especially focused on his own customers, who are coffee shop owners and restaurateurs who brew Williamsburg Coffee in their own establishments, many of whom are right here in the Richmond area.* Arnett encourages them to have their baristas take advantage of the education he offers. A barista, he says, is a true professional. “He should be trained and compensated accordingly. A true barista should be able to accurately describe just what you can expect to taste in your coffee. And armed with that knowledge, one can gain so much more enjoyment.” Our experience has indeed helped to enhance my appreciation for the beverage I thought I had known for so many years. You won’t hear me describing a cup of really good coffee as just tasting like coffee again. As Todd Arnett says, it does indeed take a lot of science to turn your water from clear to black. And the more you know about that science, the more you’re gonna enjoy your next cup of joe.

*Williamsburg Coffee is available at many of Richmond’s finest retailers and restaurants, including Whole Foods Market, Lift Coffee Shop & Cafe, Harrison Street Café, Palani Drive Restaurant, Urban Farmhouse Market & Café, 10 Italian Café, Caffespresso, Ashland Coffee and Tea, and The Caboose Wine and Cheese of Ashland.

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Cardiac Care In Your Neighborhood The comprehensive cardiac services of VCU Pauley Heart Center and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU are now closer to you. We’re pleased to announce that the following doctors are seeing patients at our new outpatient location, located at the intersection of Ridgefield Parkway and Pump Road.

Douglas Allen, MD

Phoebe Ashley, MD General Cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology

Scott Gullquist, MD

Roshanak Markley, MD

William Moskowitz, MD

Pediatric Cardiology

General Cardiology

Kerri Carter, MD

Pediatric Cardiology

VCU MCV Physicians at Ridgefield Parkway 2200 Pump Road | Suite 210 | Richmond, Virginia 23233 To schedule an appointment, call

(804) 740-1100 vcuhealth.org

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Family, Friends & Fantastic Food by

Steve Cook

Leave as friends.” That’s not only the sign you’ll see as you come through the door at Chianti’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in Gayton Crossing, it’s the philosophy by which owners Frank and Marta Bussa have operated their Southern Italian-style restaurant for the past nearly fifteen years. As the Bussas prepare to celebrate fifteen years of having operated their popular West End dining spot, I wanted to know the secret of their success. NTER AS CUSTOMERS.

Part of that secret is, no doubt, the couple’s dedication to the restaurant and to their customers. In fact, my conversation with the two was somewhat on the fly – especially with Marta, who was busy behind the counter – but I was able to speak with Frank for a few moments. We talked a little about their history and how they got into the business. He tells me that he was born in Sicily and Marta in Puglia in Southern Italy. Their Southern Italian heritage, he says, influences the cuisine in the restaurant. Frank’s family moved from Italy to Brooklyn, New York, when he was 8 years old. “We came to Richmond in 1991,” he tells me, “so we could raise our children outside the city.” That’s when Frank joined his brother, who was operating The Italian Cafe in Sycamore Square Shopping Center in Midlothian. In 2000, Frank and Marta began to look for a place to open their own restaurant. That’s when they discovered a restaurant for sale in Gayton Crossing Shopping Center. Thus was born Chianti’s. When asked what he feels is the key element to their success in business, Frank mentions the sign near the entrance. “We’re not like the chain restaurants,” he says. “We’re a neighborhood restaurant. We have become very friendly with our customers. We are hands-on kind of owners. We not only manage the restaurant, we work here. Anytime Chianti’s is open, you’ll find us here. “Just this afternoon,” Frank tells me, “one of our guests had just been ordained as a priest. He came in to share the good news with us.” Referring to some of their many regulars, he says, “Even if they don’t have family in town, this is their family. We are their friends. We share sports scores and rivalries. We make connections with people during the good times in life as well as the not-so-good times, because that’s how life is and that’s how we are.” Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

Frank nods towards an older man dining on the other side of the room. “My buddy over there,” he says, “was in the hospital. I visited him. I made him some soup.” As heartwarming as all this may be, Chianti’s would probably not have succeeded if it were not for the consistently delicious food and the warm customer service. “Many of our staff have been here for ten years or more,” Marta says as she slips away for a moment to join the conversation. “Roseann and Bonnie have been with us for over 20 years. Rafael [the chef ] has been in the kitchen for about ten years, and Cody started as a host when he was a teenager, just out of high school.” I asked Frank to tell me a bit about some of the more popular dishes. My personal favorite is the penne vodka, which he says is one of the most popular. “People tell me,” he says, “that ours is the best sauce they’ve ever tasted. Our fresh seafood specials like rockfish and sea bass and our more traditional Italian specials like ossobuco and lamb, which we serve on the weekends, are always big hits.” Continuing, Frank says, “Our veal scaloppini and our Chianti pasta are very popular. It’s a very basic, traditional pasta. We start with the basics and venture out a little, but everything is made to order. We can omit or add anything to customize to your taste.” Of course, what would any pizzeria be without pizza? Frank describes Chianti’s version of the alwayspopular pie as “traditional, thin-crust, New York-style. We also offer a gluten-free individual pizza, which has gotten rave reviews.” You can check out the menu online, including a catering menu, but be prepared to have your appetite whetted. If you’re in the mood to chow down on some excellent Italian cuisine or to experience a friendly “CIAO!” down at a warm, welcoming neighborhood restaurant, you can find them both at Chianti’s Ristorante and Pizzeria. 1304 Gaskins Rd., Gayton Crossing Shopping Center 804-740-5050 / ChiantiRichmond.com R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 4 5

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

F E AT U R E

Annie Tobey Sports Backers

photos courtesy of

(unless otherwise noted)

– now it’s splattered with stickers. I used to stay out late on Fridays – now I get to bed early to prepare for Saturday morning group runs. I used to be content with just enough exercise – now I’m hyped about distances. I blame the Richmond Sports Backers for setting me on the road to obsession. Their YMCA 10k Training Team was my threshold drug, opening up the gates to all sorts of aberrant behaviors. I met a whole new group of people, and the chance to run became a social event enhanced by an infusion of adrenaline. These friends introduced me to new

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USED TO HAVE AN IMMACULATE BUMPER

running opportunities. I’d feared the tedium of long runs, but discovered that training with others plus the sheer zen of running made time stand still. I felt stronger, healthier, and more energetic. During the recent Richmond marathon, I began chatting with a fellow runner about this very topic. As we made our way down River Road, Gray Gurkin explained how running had helped him grow up. “What got me into running,” he elaborated later, “was a typical reason. I was 40 and those midlife worries were filling my head. Maybe running could help me hang on to my youth.”

He signed up for the Monument Avenue 10k in 2009, and soon conquered a half marathon. With growing confidence, he set his eyes on a marathon. “The feeling of accomplishing something was amazing,’’ he says. “My wife and kids were there and I was overwhelmed with emotions at the end as tears streamed down my face. It seemed impossible that this asthmatic kid growing up had just finished 26.2 miles. Awesome!” Then came the question that every runner asks: what’s next? “The answer was simple as I looked at my daily life of uncertainty being a freelance graphic Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

“

designer and singer-songwriter. I was living day by day with a mortgage and car payment, with a wife and kids,’’ Gurkin adds. “I needed running and it had little to do with trying to stay young. In fact, it has everything to do with how to become old, at least in the fact of wisdom, responsibilities, and understanding community.” Gurkin joined the Richmond Road Runners and training teams. “These running groups set a regimen in my life that was needed and I respected,” he explains. “What started out as a way to stay young ended up being a way for me to grow up. I had gained the ability to set a goal and

I WAS 40 AND THOSE MIDLIFE WORRIES WERE FILLING MY HEAD. MAYBE RUNNING COULD HELP ME HANG ON TO MY YOUTH.

”

complete it no matter what the obstacles. I learned time management as I ensured all my training runs were completed. I now understand the power and importance of community as the local R i c h m o n d N av i g a t o r. c o m 4 7

Gray Gurkin at the Crawlin’ Crab race in Hampton, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Gray Gurkin.

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running community comes together to help in so many causes that help others.” Locally, the Richmond Sports Backers has been instrumental in introducing many to the benef its of running and of an active lifestyle. When the Sports Backers began organizing the Monument Avenue 10k in 2000, nearly 2,500 people participated; in 2014, over 36,000 took part. The 1978 fall race – combining a marathon, half marathon, and 8k – drew approximately 2,700 participants; this number rose to nearly 22,000 in 2014. A rainbow of events have sprung up from the increased popularity of running: benefit runs; obstacle races and mud runs for all levels; novelty races with colored paint, spray foam, and glow-inthe-dark elements; trail races; 24-hour, 200-mile relay races; and ultramarathons (over 26.2 miles). As a relatively new competitive runner, I value both the races and the teams. (I use the words “competitive” and “races” loosely: I participate in organized events, but I don’t have to come in first to be successful.) Having a race on the calendar provides extra motivation on those days when exercise doesn’t otherwise seem appealing. It’s something to look forward to, especially when friends are also signed up. Race day is enjoyable, too. The Richmond marathon boasts of its title as “America’s Friendliest Marathon,” so the crowds, party zones, and volunteers provide both distraction and support. Scenery can help make a race worthwhile. I’ve experienced the Richmond marathon’s route beside the James River; the Blue Ridge Relay’s mountain roads, with expansive views and quiet

country lanes; Ragnar West Virginia trail relay through waist-high fern thickets; and Ragnar Cape Cod’s views of beaches, the bay, and quaint New England homes. Yes, the physical experience is sometimes challenging but, as the saying goes, “Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.” Probably the most important element that has kept me involved, however, is the people – training teams, informal groups that run regularly, and ongoing relationships. “The training teams continue to be great ways for people to get into running or to keep building towards more fitness goals,” says Pete Woody, PR and communications manager for Sports Backers. “They think they can’t do it, but when they get to run with groups of people, it gets them more motivated and accountable. They make friends, whether they’re new to Richmond or just meeting new people.” The insights and wisdom from fellow runners and coaches is invaluable, too. On a typical Saturday morning in Richmond, thousands of people are out running the roads and trails, at all levels and various distances, including organized Sports Backers teams, Team in Training, Black Girls RUN!, Richmond Road Runners Club groups, or just random individuals. “There are so many uncertainties in life and that will never change,” Gray Gurkin comments. “You can go to college and get five degrees but that doesn’t mean you will land a great job and make a ton of money. In this crazy world of uncertainties, I have found running can still give you a feeling of accomplishment if you stick to your training plan.” Acknowledging that there are many different reasons for running, he adds, “For me, it was a way to stay on task, stay focused, set goals and accomplish them while acting like a kid, cracking jokes on long runs with friends. …Try running – you’ll have something to talk about while getting in shape.”

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

RUNNING WITH KIDS

F E AT U R E

RESOURCES

By Stephen P. Sowulewski

WITH A LITTLE CREATIVITY, parents can harness a child’s natural affinity for running and frolicking

and use it to improve his or her health in ways that are fun for all. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA’S VARIETY OF SHORT RUNS ,

such as a “tot trot” or a

“fun run.” MAKE RUNNING A LIGHT, INFORMAL COMPETITION. Encouraging kids to run ahead, with parents

trailing behind, could give the sense of besting mom or dad. to help kids keep track of their progress. Using a large map of the city can give them a concrete idea of how far they’ve actually traveled as well as a sense of accomplishment. Use thumbtacks or pins to emphasize landmarks. USE COLORFUL CHARTS

DESIGN A SCAVENGER HUNT

where kids have to run around in order to find hidden toys.

ENJOY A RUNBIKE. Remember how Fred Flintstone propelled his stone-age car? Runbikes work

on a similar principle. Although seated, kids have no pedals and must rely on balance and coordination to keep upright as their feet are in constant contact with the ground. INFUSE RUNNING INTO GAMES. GO FOR GOOD OL’ AMERICAN CHILDHOOD FAVORITES

like red rover, red light/green light,

and duck-duck-goose. PLAY CROSS-CULTURAL GAMES. PILOLO FROM GHANA: Choose a leader, a timekeeper and a finish line. Someone hides pennies (one for each player). When the leader calls “pilolo,” players run to find a penny and try to be the first to take it across the finish line. OONCH NEECH FROM PAKISTAN: Like tag, but with obstacles added, such as stumps, rocks and benches. “Neech” means the ground is safe and runners can be tagged unless they are on an obstacle (“oonch”) and vice versa.

SPORTSBACKERS.ORG Sports Backers currently produce 15 diverse annual events, including the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k, Dominion Riverrock outdoor and extreme sports events, Anthem Moonlight Ride for bikers, Henricus Mudstock obstacle race, International Dragon Boat Festival, RVA Streets Alive, and CarMax Tacky Light Run. The website includes information on 2015 teams and events, including the training teams for the spring 10k and the fall marathon, half marathon, and 8k.

RRRC.ORG The Richmond Road Runners Club organizes events and training teams and provides support to community race events. Each January, the RRRC sponsors an advanced 10k training team for those wishing to reach a challenging personal record and winter training teams for half marathon and marathon. Other informal groups meet throughout the year at a variety of locations and for various levels of runners.

TEAMINTRAINING.ORG/VA The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training is a charity endurance sport training program. The program raises money for blood cancer research and direct services to patients and their families while training people ranging from first timers to seasoned athletes for running and cycling events and triathlons.

BLACKGIRLSRUN.COM AND BLACK GIRLS RUN! RICHMOND ON FACEBOOK The organization was launched in 2009 to combat growing obesity among African Americans and to encourage and support new and veteran runners. Richmond’s chapter is among the 70+ groups across the nation. Weekly runs are in East End Richmond, Chesterfield, Chester, Northside Richmond, and Downtown Richmond. Runs and training schedules are listed on the website and Facebook group or e-mail blackgirlsrunrva@gmail.com for details.

For a list of some of the area’s top upcoming races, visit RichmondNavigator.com. Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

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LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

SENIORS

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE by Alan Rudlin

OUR EXCUSES FOR NOT JOGGING have now been elimi-

nated. No longer valid are your notions of not having time, or the complete lack of similarity between you and the buff bodies on the cover of Runner’s World or Health, or that you can’t do the 30 to 45 minutes that was supposedly the minimum required to get anything out of it. Why? Because a recent medical report provides great news on how your life can easily get better and fixes the problematic health impact of being sedentary.

This landmark study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, shows that running, no matter how slowly, for as little as five minutes, will significantly cut your risk of dying. The study compiled data collected by the well-regarded Cooper Clinic in Dallas for 15 years from over 55,000 men and women, runners and non-runners, on people of varying body types and ages. The results conclude that even if you slog along at a snail’s pace, or jog for as little as five to 10 minutes a day, you’ll get a major benefit: the risk of dying from all causes goes down by 30 percent, and of dying from heart disease by 45 percent. In the world of exercise cost benefit, that ain’t small beer. This is a quality study, not likely to be one of those medical news items du jour that will be contradicted in another month. The study’s striking news about the reduction 5 0 We s t E n d ’s B e s t

in heart disease risk is especially valuable. Cardiovascular disease remains this country’s number one cause of death, and despite all the medical advances in the field, the science of what causes it remains unclear. More importantly, there is no “cure.” Once you have it, the treatment is largely the same medical prescription you get for prevention: exercise and be mindful of diet and weight. Doctors continue to weigh the value of stents versus medication and lifestyle change. Statins and other pills may help, but have limited benefits. By contrast, this new study shows that a remarkable health benefit can be obtained for a modest investment of time and effort. So, even if your body type is not like the human greyhounds observed winning marathons, or you’re disinterested in competing, this study should get you on your feet and out the door. Jogging at

a slow speed and for short to medium distances can cut your cardiovascular risk almost in half, if you’ll just make the small effort. And medical

BY CONTRAST, THIS NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT A REMARKABLE HEALTH BENEFIT CAN BE OBTAINED FOR A MODEST INVESTMENT OF TIME AND EFFORT. studies show that running is not orthopedically bad for your knees. In short, getting into jogging (or walking) is the easiest kind of exercise, and here are four simple steps for an optimal outcome:

GOOD SHOES. There is a mind-numbing proliferation of choices on the market, of all styles and hues, and the marketing pitches can be overcomplicated. Go to a good running shoe store and try several pair. Once you hit age 45 or so, your feet have probably flattened, so you should avoid a tight-fitting shoe. Expect to go up a half to one size from your regular shoes, and maybe a bigger width. Brooks, an American company (and one that doesn’t squander money on meaningless celebrity athlete endorsements), offers well-made and reasonably priced choices. The Brooks Glycerin and Dyad models are ideal for the casual jogger who may be “well nourished” and enjoys full cushioning and support.

STAY WITH SYNTHETICS. For your shorts, tops, socks, jacket, hat etc., avoid any cotton fabrics. Instead, go with the comfortable and lightweight array of sweatwicking fabrics that keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. These items have revolutionized the comfort factor in running clothes.

FIND YOUR ROUTES. The Richmond area is rich in its array of bucolic places to jog, with scenery that will motivate you to be out there. You may prefer to run the same routes, or you may prefer the variety of great jogging routes to be had in the metro Richmond area. Mixing in some route variety will keep the experience fresh, and a not-to-be-missed option is the route along the Kanawha Canal downtown and across the pedestrian bridge to and around Belle Isle.

FOCUS ON THE TIME OF DAY THAT FEELS RIGHT, not the timing of your pace. Start with shorter distances and add to them gradually. Don’t initially put yourself on the clock – just go at a pace that feels right. Experiment with jogging at different times of day, seeing how it fits your schedule and how it makes you feel and enjoying the scenery around you. Jogging after sunset or before sunrise has its own beauty and can be the solution to fitting your exercise into a hectically busy schedule. If you do run after dark, jog on well-lit streets if possible, wear reflective clothes, and use lights that keep you visible to drivers. Apply this remarkably easy-to-use breakthrough medical news to your life. The scientific data says you’ll live both longer and better. Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

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LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

THE EXPERTS

LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD Healthy is beautiful! By taking great care of yourself, you enhance your beauty, both inside and out. A beautiful smile, strength and fitness, vibrancy and self-confidence – these are reflected in the way you present yourself, while bringing you more joy in everyday life. This month’s experts can help you look better and feel better. Their knowledge and insights can help enhance your life!

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Before

After

Deborah Keller

acac

joe niamtu, III, DMD

How To Stick With A Beginning Exercise Program

This Is Not Your Mother’s Facelift

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO gain real benefits from working out, no matter when

acac Amenities : • Cardio & strength-training equipment • Functional training space • Indoor aquatics, including warm water • Supervised exercise circuit • Tennis and squash • Fully equipped locker rooms • Outdoor pools • Access to personal trainers and nutritionist • Group exercise, water exercise, and mind-body classes • Indoor track • On-site childcare

THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT I hear from patients in their late forties and older is about excess skin around their neck and jowls. Through the combination of lifest yle, genetics, and gravit y, we all eventually develop f loppy, excess skin and fat under our chin and jawline – the dreaded “turkey neck.” As much as some patients don’t like to hear it, the ONLY way to correct this with natural and long-lasting results is a facelift. But the good news is – this is not your mother’s facelift. Today’s procedures are vastly improved from the aggressive “old school ” operations that required a three-day stay in the hospital and produced a tight, unnatural look. Today, we have much more advanced technology and a better understanding of facial aging. We now realize that in addition to cutting out sagging skin, it’s important to “put something back.” Modern cosmetic surgeons will add volume and contour to the facelift through facial implants, the patient’s own fat, or injectable fillers to create a more natural result. Advances in medications and anesthesia have also made the entire procedure much easier. When performed correctly, a facelift is still a signif icant operation and requires at least two weeks for recovery at home. It is not a casual decision, but there is no other procedure that can produce the same results. “This is the best thing I have ever done for myself,” says my patient Deborah Keller. “I used to hate looking in the mirror and now I love it. It has really boosted my selfDr. Joe Niamtu is a conf idence and attitude! ” Board Certified oral Face and neck lifts are one of my favorite and maxillofacial operations and I have performed nearly 1,000 surgeon who specialof them in my fully accredited off ice surgery izes in cosmetic facial suite. I love it when I can take a patient who surgery. He has been in walked in with a “turkey neck ” and give them practice in Richmond for over 30 years and is back the neck they had in high school. It’s consistently voted “Best easier than you think!

2201 Old Brick Rd. | Glen Allen | 804-464-0990 ACAC.com

11319 Polo Pl. | Midlothian | 804-934-3223 LoveThatFace.com

you start. Countless research studies over the past two decades confirm the indisputable benefits of exercise, and more keep coming. The most significant and prevalent findings of recent research into aging is that it is never too late to start an exercise program. Major health benefits will result, regardless of your age when you start. But getting started is the real challenge for many people. Finding the right place and program is the key to both sticking with it and finding something that gives you the results you desire. If you are new to exercise or it’s been a long time since you last exercised, consider finding a place that will help you gauge what you should be doing as well as direct you in how to get started. The Physician Referred Exercise Program, or p.r.e.p®, at acac Fitness & Wellness Center connects new exercisers to fitness professionals, an on-site nurse, and the prescribing physician to create a team of people that will guide them through the first 60 days of an exercise program. Participants commit to two 30-minute weekly sessions. In addition, they have access to a free personal training session and nutrition consultations, plus use of the fitness center for the entire 60 days. p.r.e.p.® costs only $60, and there is no commitment beyond the 60 days. However, many participants find it’s something they can stick with because the benefits are so great. “We see participants get off their high blood pressure and cholesterol meds, lose weight, and just be generally happier with life,” says nurse Cathy Adams. Prescribing physicians can receive regular updates on their patients’ progress in the program. To learn more about how to achieve your fitness goals, p.r.e.p.®, or acac Fitness and Wellness Centers, go on the web to www.acac.com or call acac Short Pump at 804-464-0990 or acac Midlothian at 804-378-1600.

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Cosmetic Surgeon” by local magazine readers.

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virginia family dentistry: New Year, New Smile, New You! by

Dr. Melanie Wexel Spears

treat yourself this New Year! Is there anything about your smile that bothers you? Often orthodontics is a solution for many aesthetic dental issues, such as crowding, spacing, or teeth sticking out. An improved appearance of the smile is only one of the benef its of orthodontics; there are also many health benef its. Aligning the teeth makes them easier to clean, therefore reducing the risk for cavities and gum disease. Orthodontics can also provide a more balanced bite for improved function. Last but not least, orthodontics can enhance your overall well-being. Adults report that life is more stressful when you are embarrassed to smile for fear of judgment. Having an attractive smile can help you face your career and your personal relationships with confidence! “What will others think? ” “How will I look? ” “Am I too old? ” These are the questions adults often ask themselves when they think about traditional orthodontic treatment. Set your preconceived notions aside – it’s never too late! There are more alternatives to traditional braces than ever before. Clear brackets and Invisalign® are less noticeable but effective options to meet your orthodontic treatment needs. Invisalign® aligners are clear, making it diff icult to tell that you are wearing them. The aligners are smooth and comfortable, and have no food restrictions, as you can take your aligners out to eat. Invisalign® f its conveniently into your busy lifestyle since treatment time is often shorter and IT'S 2015: TIME TO

12390 Three Chopt Rd. | Richmond | 804-364-7010 VADentist.com 5 4 We s t E n d ’s B e s t

fewer visits are needed. Although people may not notice your aligners, they will notice that your teeth are looking nicer and you are smiling more! Our Virginia Family Dentistry orthodontists are in the top one percent of all North American providers. Being among the most experienced providers, we can bring you the newest innovations in Invisalign®, including the iTero digital scanning system. Itero scanners take a 3-D digital scan of your teeth, eliminating the need for messy impressions. The scanner offers a fast and comfortable record-taking experience that also gives a more precise f it of your Invisalign® aligner. Are you an Invisalign® candidate? It is true that not everyone can be treated optimally with Invisalign®. You may have been told in the past that you aren’t a candidate, but with the latest advances with Invisalign® materials and methods, you may now be eligible. Your orthodontist will discuss your treatment options at your complementary consultation. Call our off ice for your complementary orthodontic evaluation today. Virginia Family Dentistry is a group practice of 50 doctors specializing in Orthodontics, Dental Implants, Prostodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics, Cosmetic and General Dentistry. With 11 convenient locations in the Richmond Metro Area, we can assist you in creating your youthful smile. For a location near you, visit VADentist.com.

A native of Virginia, Dr. Melanie Wexel Spears is a magna cum laude graduate of James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. She received her orthodontic specialty training and master’s degree at the University of Florida. Melanie W. Spears practices orthodontics with Virginia Family Dentistry in the TriCities location. She will be practicing in an additional location in Chester starting summer 2015.

THE EXPERTS

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

corner barre Tone and Strengthen Your Body: Low Impact, High Results lifts, tones, and sculpts your entire body, that improves flexibility, posture, and core strength, and that achieves all this while still being low impact? There’s a class for that! Corner Barre classes are the only form of exercise that safely and simultaneously strengthens all of the larger as well as smaller supporting muscle groups in one workout. This exercise technique allows participants to literally feel their muscles changing shape by working to the point of fatigue known as shaking! Core strength is quickly built when participants learn to hold and maintain a specific tucked core position while performing micro-movements. Stretching follows each strengthening series to lengthen the muscles, resulting in a lean, toned physique. Classes at Corner Barre are suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels because individuals can tailor the workout to meet their needs. Instructors encourage participants to utilize guided modifications for more or less intensity or to take breaks as needed. The instructors at Corner Barre provide constant verbal cues along with hands-on corrections to provide proper form throughout the entire workout. Since Corner Barre is open seven days a week, you can take classes at your convenience. You can benefit from personal and small group training as wells as private weight loss counseling from a certified nutritionist. Many people have enjoyed these additional offerings for fun, healthy group social events and individualized weight loss success. Corner Barre is a relaxed, comfortable environment that welcomes and encourages people of all ages and sizes to participate in this oneof-a-kind workout that will provide noticeable results in as little as eight to ten sessions. The first class is always free for new participants and no experience is needed. WOULD YOU BENEFIT FROM AN EXERCISE CLASS THAT

3466 Lauderdale Dr. | Richmond | 804-360-3820 CornerBarre.com Ja n u a r y / Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

dominion dermatology Brown Spots Begone!

Dr. Jean K. Calhoun

become merely a memory. The FDA has approved a new laser that is safe and very effective in removing brown spots from the face, hands, arms, chest, and any other body areas. It can be used on all skin types, and there is very little down time. The results are very impressive! A list of conditions that can be treated by the new Fraxel Thulium Laser 1927nm include brown spots, age spots, sun spots, skin discoloration, dull skin tone, textured surface irregularities, and even precancerous skin cells. Although insurance does not cover these procedures, the price is affordable for your skin rejuvenation. Some patients even get improvement in pore size, but this is not guaranteed. This laser is less invasive than older laser types. It’s considered the gold standard for aesthetic skin resurfacing. With any procedure, there are risks and side effects that patients may experience. The main negative with the Fraxel Thulium is discomfort. We strongly recommend that patients use a strong topical aesthetic prior to having this procedure done, and we provide the prescription. Other patients experience a “sunburn” tight feeling after the procedure as well. There may be some redness and swelling for a few days, followed by dead skin cells exfoliating in three to 10 days post treatment. Unlike with some other laser treatments such as the IPL, there appears to be no risk of hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (areas of darker or lighter skin color). The side effects and number of treatments Dr. Calhoun graduated may vary depending upon the patient and condition. from JMU and received There is also a second laser, the Fraxel Erbium her M.D. from MCV. 1550nm, that can penetrate deeper into the skin. It She moved to Richmond can help with fine lines, superficial wrinkles, and in 2011 after working for Harvard Vanguard certain acne scars. If desired, the treatments can Medical Associates. Her be done together, with the patient experiencing a interests include skin slightly longer downtime. cancer prevention and BOTHERSOME BROWN SPOTS CAN

5201-A Hickory Park Dr. | Glen Allen 804-262-6060 DominionDermatology.org

treatment, surgery, and cosmetic dermatology, including facial rejuvenation, chemical peels, and lasers.

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SMART & SAVVY in 2015 By Vicki O’Neal, ASID, CID, VSLD

V ick i O ' Neal , ow ner of FOR M & F U NCTION , prov ides c ommerc ia l a nd res iden t ia l i n ter ior a nd la nd s ca p e des ig n . She i s a profes s ion a l memb er of A SID , VA Cer t if ie d In ter ior D e s ig ner ( CID ) , Ma s ter Gardener , a nd a VA Cer t if ie d La nd s ca p e D es ig ner ( V SLD ) a nd a Hor t ic u l t ur i s t . 804-897-8558 FormAndFunctionLLC.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Furniture and kitchen appliances are some of the higher-priced items in your home. It pays to take your time, investigate, and know what you’re buying. THIS PAGE Furnishings come in varying qualities and nearly endless styles. I took this image at the fall 2014 furniture market in High Point.

AKING MAJOR PURCHASES for your house or tackling a home improvement project can be daunting, so it’s good to consider your options before starting the search for products and services that best suit your needs. Before hitting the stores – either virtual or bricks and mortar – you need a plan of attack that takes into consideration quality, timing, options, and pricing. SHOP SMART − PRODUCTS For every conceivable need there is a specialized product, and perhaps several, to choose from. Sources for equipping your home include conventional retail stores, online, vintage, and consignment, each having pluses and minuses. Conventional retail is by far the most common resource. Products, in contrast to services, are fixed commodities. A SKU number (a store or catalog’s product identification code) is not subject to negotiation, and typically the price is the price. What may be different are

delivery charges, installation options, warranties, and other specifics offered by various resellers. Therefore, the best price may not be the smartest choice. Stiff and ongoing retail competition is producing aggressive marketing and pricing strategies that benefit the consumer’s wallet. While those policies have dramatically changed the climate of retail, there are still predictable, repetitive, and seasonal cycles throughout the calendar that can offer optimal buying opportunities. On the other hand, retail events like

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday (now Cyber Week), for example, are not necessarily the advantageous shopping days they once were. In the current retail environment, you can stretch your dollars further by making use of these savvy shopping strategies:

THE INTERNET IS YOUR FRIEND In some cases, the retail climate has become quite the self-service atmosphere. Products are continually becoming more complex and so sophisticated that it can be challenging to get all the information needed to make an informed decision. Input from sales staff may be limited, so your own research or professional advice will be especially productive. Nothing beats the Internet for identifying and comparing products and services and for evaluating consumer reviews. It is a powerful tool. Consumer Reports and similar reviews are rich sources of information, but changes happen at great speed, and sometimes the reviewed product may not be the latest model or the specific one you’re considering. Design websites offer great tools for searching ideas and identifying likes and dislikes. Some manufacturers even offer planning and visualization software to allow the consumer to experiment.

Be aware that prices may be marked up and then marked down to look more enticing.

Inquire about price matching. For a specific period of time after purchase, many retailers will match prices found elsewhere or match a price at the time of purchase.

Ask if a price credit is offered should an item go on sale after purchase.

Double-check return and cancellation policies. Many companies have changed policies in recent years.

Avoid impulse decisions or pressure to buy.

Use gift cards or store credits as soon as possible. Some expire, companies go out of business … you get the picture.

Beware of the deepest discounts, important consideration in outfitting your home. Offerings mimic many of the such as a huge percent off in creature comforts found inside. bold, orange letters! There is no proof I’m aware of, but gut instinct tells me there may be a reason. SHOP SMART − SERVICES

Take advantage of tax-free sources or days.

Outdoor living is an increasingly

Don’t hesitate to question a price. Although marked as the final word, prices on bigger-ticket items are sometimes negotiable. THE LATEST, GREATEST, BIGGEST, BEST Advances in technology and turnover in manufacturing create the potential for rapid product obsolescence. Consider televisions. It’s not all that many years ago that flat screens replaced our massive, heavy, and bulky boxes. There has been continuing evolution in just that one category. Not only did TVs change, but, by necessity, the furniture to accommodate them changed as well. This phenomenon raises a point: is it important to own the latest thing that comes on the market? Of course, sometimes the answer will be yes. But if you’re not sure or not completely sold on a product, perhaps pausing for more definitive information or a refinement in offerings may help the best choice become clear. Furniture and appliances are among the highest-priced items in your home. Because of the price tag, it pays to know exactly what you’re buying. Looks can be very deceiving. Materials, construction methods, and even finishing techniques will affect the life span. Expensive and high-end items sometimes carry a substantial warranty and have other compelling selling features. Although it’s important for furniture to hold up, consider how long you would really like to keep a particular piece. Buying the best may, or may not, be the best choice.

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Companies and sources for home services vary as greatly as the projects themselves. Projects involving design, construction, and home improvement run the gamut of complexity, from basic upgrades and fixes to full-blown renovations and construction projects. With so many companies providing so many different types of services, sorting and comparing expertise, competence, credentials, and specialization have never been more important. Frequently, once a project is identified, there is a sense of urgency to jump in and get it done. Although there may be a little resistance to spending time and dollars on the front end of a project in planning and strategizing, focus and quality of effort in the early planning process is always reflected in the final outcome. That principle applies to any service. Because my specialty is design, I am keenly focused on the fact that what is designed is what gets built. Quality design takes effort and expertise, using creative skills that are honed through knowledge and experience. Chemistry between service provider and client is a major factor as well. DECISION TIME! The moment does come when it’s time to make a decision and get moving. If you’ve done thorough exploration and preparation, you can move forward with confidence. Be a savvy consumer and enjoy the fruits of making informed choices! Visit the FORM & FUNCTION Lifestyle blog by Vicki O’Neal for more information on entertaining, interior design, and landscape design at FormAndFunctionLLC.com.

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COURTESTY OF RACEDECK

HOME

10 Elements of the Perfect Garage I RECENTLY

10 Organization

stumbled upon the blueprint of the perfect house: 1,800 square feet of garage plus 200 square feet for a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Knowing that my wife would not agree to such living arrangements, however, I must settle for less, so I’ll plan a garage that nonetheless provides all that I need.

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It’s inevitable that I must share my garage with the other family members as well as with yard tools: bicycles, sports equipment, yoga mats, ladder, lawnmower, weed eater – the list is endless, but a welldesigned organizational system can keep my space neat, storing these extraneous items out of my way till needed. 99 Workshop My wife would dispute my talent, but I persevere in my attempts to tackle woodworking projects, basic electrical and plumbing repairs, and even masonry. Whatever my pursuit du jour is, I need a sturdy workbench with adequate lighting and electrical outlets, plus storage for my tools. 88 Tailored flooring To protect my garage floor from the inevitable grease drips without detracting from the aesthetics, I’ll put in my own RaceDeck sturdy modular flooring tiles. I lean toward the classic, black-and-white checkerboard look, bordered by bright red tiles to complement the red Lamborghini that’s also a part of my dream garage. Perhaps I’ll let someone else do the work, professionally applying an epoxy or urethane surface or even a classy granite-like finish.

Gary Manneshöhle

77 Garage doors I need garage doors that match the house exterior, but they also need to be strong and insulated. Since we’re dreaming here, I’ll add the MyQ Garage remote door control, enabling me to open or close the door remotely using my smartphone. As my wife reminds me, I do tend to forget to close it at times. I can even install the system myself, further fulfilling my DIY desires. 66 Lighting Ideally, my garage will have windows for a bit of natural light, but of course I’ll need to supplement this with the best lighting. Besides fluorescent lighting above my workbench – at various angles to illuminate my task – I’ll need some portable lighting to angle over or under my auto repair work. 55 Plumbing Besides the utility sink that my work will require, I envision a bathroom in my perfect garage. After all, I’m sure my wife won’t want me wandering through the house with grease on my hands and feet. 44 Sound system Bose speakers attached to satellite radio are a must. Not only do some tedious tasks call for background entertainment, I want to make sure I don’t miss any important games.

33 Flat screen TV This ideal garage is, of course, more than just a workspace. My wife would heartily agree that I should have my own place to watch the games and races, where I can curse the umps and jeer at the opposing team. 22 A fridge We don’t want to have to leave the comfort of the man cave to go inside for a beer now, do we? In fact, we might just want to add a kegerator system to this vision. 1 Comfortable seating Given the flat screen TV, beer fridge, kegerator, and other amenities in my garage, my buddies will undoubtedly be joining me for the big game. I’ll need space and comfortable seating – though perhaps not too comfortable. For my own use, I’ll get a very comfortable recliner. Come to think of it, I want it to be one of those extra wide recliners, but not a double recliner. After all, you know, my wife just might join me out there occasionally. And if she does, the size should be just right. Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

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au stralia

by Annie Tobey photos courtesy of

David Hill, Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism (unless otherwise noted)

my bucket list until I read Bill Bryson’s In a Sunburned Country. In typical Bryson style, the book was humorous while informative. But alas, his humor emphasized the dangers of the land down under rather than minimizing them. “It has more things that will kill you than anywhere else,” Bryson says of this massive island. He catalogs the dangers, and adds later that Australians “spend half of any conversation insisting that the country’s dangers are vastly overrated and that there’s nothing to worry about, and the other half telling you how six months ago their Uncle Bob was driving to Mudgee when a tiger snake slid out from under the dashboard and bit him on the groin, but that it’s okay now because he’s off the life support machine and they’ve discovered he can communicate with eye blinks.” I finished the book and crossed Australia off my list. And then my daughter, Rachel, decided to spend a year there, and I had to scribble it back on. Of course, the obvious choices for Australian travel, given my concerns, would be the safer ones. But I often fail to choose the obvious. Rachel had survived the country for

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USTRALIA WAS ON

Like the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Australia’s Blue Mountains were named for a bluish haze that sometimes emanates from the breath of the trees.

PHOTOS: Scenic views of Australia's Blue Mountains.

11 months, so we might as well tempt fate for another three weeks. And that’s how I ended up bushwalking, canyoning, and abseiling in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales; driving a twisty, oneand-a-half-lane road along mountain cliffs, never knowing what to expect around the bend; crawling through the world’s oldest cave system; handling wallabies, kangaroos, dingoes, koalas, and snakes; and driving on the wrong side of the road. Before you become too wide-eyed in respect (or aghast at my stupidity), I must point out that these activities were not as extreme as they sound. Like the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Australia’s Blue Mountains were named for a bluish haze that sometimes emanates from the breath of the trees. This World Heritage wilderness area covers over one million hectares (that’s nearly 2.5 million acres to us Americans) just west of Sydney. Rachel and I began our explorations outside Katoomba, bushwalking (hiking) along a trail to Echo Point lookout. The pathway skirted the mountainside, which plunged to the deep valley below, looking out onto an undulating green blanket of mountains and valleys stretching into the distance, punctuated by gray-brown rock cliffs and extensive plateaux. Our hike ended overlooking the Three Sisters massive

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rock formation. “When I reached the lookout at Echo Point,” a stone monument there proclaims, “the light was thick and golden, as if it had passed all day through a butterfly’s dusty wing.” The Echo Point overlook is part of Katoomba, a quiet, quaint little town with motor inns and luxury rooms, casual dining and haute cuisine – hardly a land of dangers. Southwest of the town is Scenic World, with the Katoomba Scenic Railway, the steepest funicular railway in the world (a cable railway on a cliff ), as well as a cable car, affording views of Katoomba Falls and Orphan Rock. The next morning, we ventured further outside our safety zone with a full day of canyoning – exploring a canyon by any means necessary to reach the bottom. Led by an experienced and well-trained guide from Blue Mountains Adventure Company, we descended Juggler Canyon by abseiling (aka rappelling) down waterfalls, scrambling over rocks, hopping across streams, and jumping between cliff outcrops. Not counting the practice abseiling session, we tackled five abseil drops of varying heights, with plenty of challenges in negotiating the downward trek. Most unnerving were the drops where you simply could not see what lay below until af-

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The world’s oldest cave system offers 10 developed show caves, adventure caving, and underground events, like concerts and theater.

PHOTOS: Exploring the underground landscapes of Jenolan Caves.

ter you had committed to going over the edge. Fortunately, my one minor slip resulted only in a wet shoe. After each abseil, I gained confidence and was able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings more; but by the end, I was also pleased it was over. As we descended, it was clear why these mountains are a World Heritage area. The flora was lush and diverse, with dark, moss-covered gorges, grand ferns, thick undergrowth, and towering trees. Our next adventure was to and through Jenolan Caves. The drive there was the most nervewracking part of the trip, along a narrow road that is one-way from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. to accommodate buses – the transportation I’ll use next time. The world’s oldest cave system offers 10 developed show caves, adventure caving, and underground events, like concerts and theater. The fossils in the limestone cave system demonstrate that the caves once lay below a warm, shallow sea. Cracks show how the earth’s continental plates once shifted. The wondrous underground landscape is a breathtaking array of otherworldly karst and speleothems: stalactites, stalagmites, canopies, shawls, flowstone, and curly helictites that look like whiskers and snakes. In keeping with the quasi-adventurous nature of our trip, Rachel and I sampled one of the adventure tours, spelunking through undeveloped, winding ancient passageways, abseiling, climbing, and squeezing with only headlamps for illumination. Knowledgeable guides led the way, but I was also accompanied by the realization that I had no sense of direction in the pervasive underground darkness, as we twisted through tubes, crawled under low ceilings, and entered expansive cathedrals. Though we saw and heard many new-to-us animals, birds, and frogs in New South Wales, our most memorable wildlife encounters were at Featherdale Wildlife Park, between the Blue Mountains and Sydney. This small interactive zoo highlights Australia’s unique wildlife, providing a wide selection of animals to see up close. While I often feel saddened by the unnatural lifestyle of animals in captivity, these animals seemed content. Though certainly not in their natural habitat, they seemed merely transplanted, like country folk who had adapted to life in the city. The wallabies had the freedom to hop around the park grounds, receptive to pats from visitors, yet there was a roped-off area where they could retreat. The wallaby and red kangaroo feeding areas pleased both visitors and a n d

LUXURY AND ADVENTURE exist side by side in the Blue Mountains. The region is dotted with towns, for easy access to lodging and dining, entertainment, and heritage sites. Here are options that Rachel and I wholeheartedly recommend.

Lavender Majestic, Katoomba An 1890 restored sandstone home with sleeping quarters, hot tub, spa services, and afternoon tea, rented to families and groups. Silk’s Brasserie, Leura Sumptuous, modern Australian food with a French influence in a 100-year-old building with high ceilings and a black-and-white “chequerboard” floor. Lilianfels, Katoomba A historic resort that pampers its guests. Darley’s Restaurant menu features fresh regional ingredients, and the accoutrements for lodging guests are extensive. The Carrington, Katoomba An 1882 hotel established to welcome international visitors and Sydney’s elite for lodging and dining.

animals alike. Petting the koalas and having a photo taken with them was allowed and included in cost of admission, yet still controlled for koala safety. Visitors who truly wish to flirt with danger can find more rugged pursuits throughout the Blue Mountains. An abundance of guides are available to help visitors navigate the Australian wilderness: bushwalking, mountain biking, mountaineering, canyoning, abseiling, rock climbing, fossicking (prospecting, as for gemstones), camping, and horseback riding. I’ve been to Australia, but it’s still on my bucket list. There’s so much more to explore.

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Jenolan Village A variety of dining and lodging options for visitors to the caves. For lodging, choose from the historic, Victorian-era Caves House; motel rooms; cottages and apartments; and budget backpacker accommodations.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Scenic World, providing views of the Blue Mountains; feeding the wallabies in Featherdale Wildlife Park (photo by Annie Tobey); abseiling in Juggler Canyon

Bygone Beautys, Wentworth Falls and Bullaburra Self-contained cottages that are ideal for romantic weekends, family holidays, or groups.

VisitBlueMountains.com.au LavenderBlueMountains.com TheCarrington.com.au JenolanCaves.org.au Lilianfels.com.au BygoneBeautys.com.au/frmCottages.aspx

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