BARNES & DIEHL
PROFILE: ERIK D. BAINES B
arnes and Diehl, P.C. is proud to announce that Erik D. Baines has joined our team of attorneys.
Erik was born in Newport News, Virginia and raised in northern California. He returned to Virginia as a high school student to attend Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia and then attended the Virginia Military Institute from which he graduated with honors in 2002. Post college, Erik considered law school, but instead explored several careers including two enjoyable years teaching 8th grade math, retail store management, and owning and operating his own business. Over time, Erik came to realize that a career in law was his true calling and he matriculated at the University of Richmond School of Law in Fall 2009, graduating in May 2012. During his final year of law school, Erik obtained a third-year practice certificate which allowed him to gain litigation experience while still a student. He appeared in court while interning with the Chesterfield Commonwealth’s Attorney and with the Jeanette Lipman Family Law Clinic, where he represented indigent clients with family law issues before the Richmond and Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. Erik is a member of the McNeill Law Society and the Order of the Coif. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Melvin R. Hughes, Jr. and the Honorable Bradley B. Cavedo of the City of Richmond Circuit Court. Post-clerkship, Erik’s practice has focused on family law. In addition, he serves as adjunct faculty at the VCU School of Business where he teaches a survey course on the legal environment of business. Erik serves on the Board of Directors for the Fishburne Military School Alumni Association. Erik is married with a daughter and two sons. He, his family, and their menagerie of pets live in Chesterfield County. His leisure interests include outdoor recreational activities, such as camping, backpacking, and kayaking.
BARNES & DIEHL, P.C. Centre Court – Suite A 9401 Courthouse Road Chesterfield, VA 23832 Ph: 804.796.1000 Fax: 804.796.1730
Three Paragon 6806 Paragon Place, Suite 110 Richmond, VA 23230 Ph: 804.762.9500 Fax: 804.762.9654
www.BarnesFamilyLaw.com A Tradition of Experience and Devotion to Family Law *as listed in US News-Best Lawyers: Top Tier Richmond Family Law
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Same great everything else. Hello, I’m Dr. Baxter Perkinson. In 1974, I started a small dental practice here in Richmond. I just wanted to help people smile. As time went by, more and more people came to us, so we brought in more doctors to help. Then we saw the need and added specialists. This now allows us to use a team approach to your dental care. We’ve grown to 11 offices in Central Virginia, so it’s convenient for you to come in no matter where you live or work. All this has allowed us to invest in the most modern equipment and on-going training to learn the newest techniques that help improve the health of your smile while focusing on your comfort. And now, there’s one more change. To better reflect who we’ve become, Dr. Baxter Perkinson and Associates is changing our name. We’re now Virginia Family Dentistry. I suppose about the only thing that hasn’t changed in all these years is our commitment to you and your family. Call today and let us show you how a nice smile makes all the difference.
Find the office nearest you by visiting us at VAdentist.com COS M E T IC DEN T IS T RY • O RT H O DO N T IC S • PERIODO N T IC S • EN DODO N T IC S • IM PL A N T S • SEDAT IO N • CHIL DRE N ’S DE N T IS T RY
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Learn it. Plant it. Love it! That’s what kids do when they participate in Project Plant It!, a unique program designed by Dominion that makes learning about trees and the environment fun. Project Plant It! has received awards from the Arbor Day Foundation and Scenic Virginia for the innovative way it teaches kids about trees—through classroom activities and teaching materials, an interactive website and a free tree seedling for each participating student. We’re making our world a greener place to live. One tree at a time.
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8 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
COURTESY OF AMC
Contents March/April 2014
28
Features
61
AMC's TURN
Behind the scenes with writer Steve Cook
A Day in...Carytown
Secret parking tips and the best places to eat, shop and play
66
Farm to Table
Where Richmond's chefs shop for fresh produce
Departments Lifestyle 16 Finance
Insurance? No Thanks!
18 Seniors
Pets are the Best RX
20 Community
Pursue Your Passion Through Volunteering
22 Family
Best Summer Camps for Kids
24 Health
Virginia Family Dentistry
My Town 32 Business
Local Spotlights
Flavor 38 Scoop
Max's on Broad, Zoe's Kitchen, Dixie Donuts
39 Entertainment Richmond Raiders
40 In Search of...
Appetizers and Starters
44 Spotlight
Keagan's Restaurant
River City 50 Backstage
Brent Havens
51 Sports
Interview with Brian Callaghan
53 Raising the Bar
Back to the Classics
56 Dining
River City Scoop
Design 73 Around the House
Craft a Theme Garden with Vicki O'Neal
76 Business
Local Spotlights
Yesterday 80 Looking Back
Baseball Memories & Hometown Heroes
58 Entertainment Downtown is for Art Lovers
46 Events
Local Happenings
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CONTRIBUTORS
AMY CONNOLLY Amy Connolly has been a journalist for more than 20 years, covering issues locally and worldwide. She has a wonderful husband, three terrific kids, an adorable bunny, two needy chickens and one very mean cat. When she's not working or caring for her family, Amy loves to quietly relax with her thoughts and a cup of coffee.
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER William J. Davis, Jr. VICE-PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Cheryl T. Davis ASSISTANT PUBLISHER John Corbett MANAGING EDITOR Ginger Warder CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Joseph Wharton ART DIRECTOR Trey Tyler ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Jared Davis
CHRISTINE STODDARD
Ann Small
Christine Stoddard is a writer and filmmaker, originally from Arlington, Va. She edits Quail Bell Magazine (www.quailbellmagazine.com), which recently released two anthologies. “The Nest: An Anthology of The Unreal” and “Airborne: An Anthology of The Real” are available at www.belleislebooks.com, www. barnesandnoble.com, and local bookstores. Learn about Christine's documentaries and short films at www.poerichmond.com and www.rvadeadburied.com.
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Justin Warner PHOTOGRAPHERS Tim Hill Robert Thomas Zach Wingold CONTRIBUTORS Tammie Wersinger, Christine Stoddard, Tammy Brackett, Steve Cook, Amy R. Connolly, Erin Pittman, Vicki O'Neal, Jack Trammel, Davy Jones, Max Heyworth, G. Carl Mahler, Jr.
DAVY JONES Davy Jones (no relation to the Monkee or the locker, though he likes pointing out that David Bowie’s real name is David Jones) is a 30-year-old copywriter, music blogger and musician. He likes listening to vinyl, watching basketball, listening to vinyl while watching basketball and eating meals on the couch with his food-obsessed wife. His band, Road Kill Roy, plays around town regularly and even records songs every once in a while.
ROBERT THOMAS A Richmond native (Hermitage High-Class of 65), Robert Thomas’s long career providing photographic services to area residents began in what he calls the "Dark Ages” (predigital). Proficient in all styles of photography, he is also an avid outdoorsman, serving on the Board of Directors of The Virginia Outdoors Writers Association, The MasonDixon Outdoor Writers Association, and The Fly Fishers of Virginia.
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 Facebook.com/RichmondNavigator Email us: 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
ALL ARTICLES AND CONTENTS OF THIS MAGAZINE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE OPINIONS OR THOUGHTS OF WEST END’S BEST MAGAZINE, ADVERTISING CONCEPTS, INC OR THE PUBLISHER ABOUT OUR COVER Chef Walter Bundy of The Jefferson Hotel's Lemaire Restaurant started his own urban garden to offer freshly-picked herbs and vegetables and even keeps bees for making his own honey. Photo courtesy of The Jefferson Hotel.
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EDITOR'S LETTER
COURTESY OF RICHMOND SPCA
A
Edi tor Gi ng er Warder a nd her nie c e , Jen n y a t tende d the R ich mond SPCA ’ s A n n ua l Fur Ba l l a t T he Jef fers on Hotel i n O c tob er . T he four - le gg e d g ues t pic t ure d here i s Jen n y ’ s res c ue d g reyhou nd , Sara .
F TER SHIVERING THROUGH our first polar vortex, we're all ready for the first signs of spring: trees beginning to bud, sunny daffodils popping up everywhere, and the anticipation of strolling outside without our gloves, scarves and heavy winter coats. Earth's annual renewal always inspires us to get our own hands in the dirt and in this issue, our design expert, Vicki O'Neal, shares ideas for planning and planting exotic themed gardens, while Amy Connolly explores the farm-to-table movement to find out where Richmond's best chefs shop for fresh ingredients. Even better, she's convinced the chefs to share one of their favorite recipes exclusively with you! If spring inspires you to renew your indoor spaces, check out our feature on simple tips to organize and de-clutter your home on our website at www.richmondnavigator.com. The coming of the season also heralds the new promise of a great year of baseball, and fans will want to read Max Heyworth's interview with Brian Callaghan, co-owner of the Rich-
mond Squirrels, as well as Jack Trammel’s look back at the Richmond Braves. Steve Cook takes an insider peek at the filming of the new AMC miniseries Turn on location in Powhatan.. As always, we have a great roundup of the best restaurants in the city for everything from appetizers and martinis to elegant brunches, as well as a jam-packed events calendar to keep you entertained. Last, but certainly not least, we’ve launched a new version of our website, www.richmondnavigator.com, with new feature content, a directory of restaurants and local businesses, and a special deals section just for you, featuring local resident specials at hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues, as well as discount offers from retailers and service providers. Here’s hoping the return of warmer weather puts a spring in your step!
Ginger Warder GWarder@AdvertisingConceptsInc.com
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COURTESY OF JENNY ALFANO
Lifestyle
F I N A N C E P i n n a c l e H E A LT H P e t s FA M I LY S u m m e r C a m p s C O M M U N I T Y Vo l u n t e e r s
LIFESTYLE finance
Insurance? No Thanks! By G. Carl Mahler Jr.
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SHOW UP at work every day to advise families on everything financial. Included in that job description are recommendations about all types of insurance. Most of my clients prefer not to have those discussions at all, which is totally understandable when you consider why we feel we have to buy insurance. Of all the insurances we must consider, life insurance has always been one that raises the hair on the back of everyone’s neck. It is a hated product! Well, it’s hated right up until the time it’s your family member who died – particularly one who was a breadwinner for the family and his or her paycheck was vital to your family’s survival. Then, that purchase had an entirely different meaning. Over the years, I’ve seen this product put into motion and I’ve yet to have a single family survivor say, “we had more insurance than we needed.” I’m not going to use this article to debate the merits of life insurance. What I do want to discuss briefly is Long Term Care Insurance (LTC). I bring this to your attention because it is very fresh in my mind. I lost both of my parents in 2013. Both had LTC insurance and both qualified for benefits to be paid from their policies. With a great deal of difficulty, I convinced them to move out of
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their home of 50 years in Bon Air into a progressive care facility. My mother suffered from dementia and was housed in the memory unit, while my dad lived in the independent living area. Although he was fortunate to be living there rather than assisted living, we had to have caregivers 24/7 during the last several months of his life. It will not shock anyone to hear these facilities and this care is not cheap. Morningstar reported that some 70 percent of us will need some form of LTC as we age. I know firsthand what this looks like and have become a convert to the merits of owning LTC insurance. I urge you to take a hard look next time you deal with those dreaded insurance needs, and join me for an informational session on March 19th. For more information, see our ad below or call our office.
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 ( 8 0 4 ) 378 - 1624 w w w. pi n n a cl e g ro u p . n et G. Carl Mahler, Jr. is a Certif ied Financial Planner®. Securities of fered through Ray mond James Financial Serv ices, Inc. Member FIN R A/SIPC. Any opinion s are those of G. Carl Mahler, Jr. and not necessarily those of RJ FS or Ray mond James. The information has been obtained f rom sources con sidered to be reliable, but we do not g uarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. 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”.
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LIFESTYLE health
Pets are the Best RX COURTESY OF THE RICHMOND SPCA
St udies show concrete ev idence that ow ning a pet can result in bet ter hear t health By Erin Pit t man
H
AVING A PET offers many emotional and physical health benefits. What is it
about pets that can turn your mood from irritated to giddy in an instant? A gentle nuzzle from your dog or the sound of your cat’s purr can take your frustration down 10 notches. It turns out you’re not imagining it. Having a pet offers many emotional and physical health benefits. First, they encourage us to be more active. Taking a walk with your pooch isn’t just good for the pup; it keeps you moving, too, and lures you out of doors for physical activity, a natural mood booster. In a 2005 study, the National Institutes of Health found that dog owners appear to be more physically active than those without canines. And getting outdoors for walks or trips to a dog park can lead to increased socialization for humans, as well as their four-legged friends. Sharing the experience of pet ownership is an easy conversation starter and fosters natural connections with others. Additional studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NIH show concrete evidence that owning a pet can result in better heart health – decreased blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol – and improves recovery rates after surgery. When we spend time interacting with our pets, we’re likely to feel calmer and experience lower heart rates. Pets offer particular benefits to the young and old. Children who grow up with a pet have unique opportunities to learn empathy, how to care for others and to build self-confidence. They also learn responsibility through feeding, training and exercising their pet. Animals can encourage the elderly to stay active and self-sufficient longer. Waking up to a pair of big brown eyes begging for some play time is a reminder that someone is counting on you to get up and get moving and reaffirms that life is not without purpose. There are programs, such as the Richmond SPCA’s Seniors for Seniors program, that seek to pair seniors with pets at discounted rates. Robin Starr, CEO of the Richmond SPCA, says, “If a senior over 65 adopts a pet from us that is five years or older, we have a significantlyreduced adoption fee, along with supplies and gifts from our retail shop and assistance with future care costs. I think this is a great program for both the people and the pets.” For people in the hospital, a nursing home or rehabilitation facility, being unable to have a pet can be very difficult. In these cases, therapy dogs may be able to help fill that gap through regular visits. Therapy pets have reduced the need for medication in some patients with chronic pain. They also reduce anxiety and offer opportunities for increased socialization. The Richmond SPCA offers therapy dog training and certification for owners interested in sharing their loving pet with others. It’s clear that having pets provides emotional and physical benefits, but perhaps the greatest perk of all is the joy of experiencing unconditional love. Knowing that your furry friend is waiting for you at home is the best medicine of all! 1 8 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
Pet Adoption Agencies Richmond SPCA 2519 Hermitage Road (804) 643-6785 | www.richmondspca.org $105 adoption fee for a dog or cat includes spay or neuter procedure, age-appropriate vaccinations, free behavior helpline support, a packet of valuable discount coupons and special offers, micro-chipping and 24PetWatch for a year. All Richmond SPCA alumni also qualify to become clients of the Clinic for Compassionate Care. The Seniors for Seniors program offers a discounted adoption fee of $50.
Henrico Humane Society 10421 Woodman Road (804) 262-6634 | www.henricohumane.org $150 adoption fee for cats and dogs. Henrico Humane does not have a physical location, but pets can be seen at adoption stands around town each week. See their website for available pets and a schedule of where weekly stands will be set up.
Richmond Animal League 11401 International Drive (804) 379-9725 | www.ral.org Richmond Animal League offers a variety of specials on their adoption prices. See their website for current pricing. Adopters age 55 and older qualify for reduced adoption fees for dogs ages 5-7 and waives fees on dogs 8 and up and on cats 5 and up. Adoption fees include, spay/neuter, vaccines, microchipping, deworming and appropriate health tests.
Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation P.O. Box 15262 | www.aarf.org $150 adoption fee for all pets. The adoption fee includes spay/neuter and up-to-date vaccines. Visit the AARF website for a listing of available pets and locations of adoption stands.
Animal Control Shelters All local county shelters offer adoptions of cats and dogs. Contact your county’s animal control department for shelter hours and adoption rates and procedures.
The place to settle down if you like to keep moving.
There are a lot of things to love about living at Cedarfield. And being able to walk out the door without worrying — that’s one of the best. With no concerns about maintenance or security, it’s easy to head out any time. For a night on the town. Or a trip around the world. To learn how you could live this worryfree lifestyle, call us today.
2300 Cedarfield Parkway • Richmond, VA 23233 (804) 968-5520
hermitage-cedarfield.com Cedarfield is a Lifecare Community of Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc.
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COURTESY OF HANDSON RICHMOND
LIFESTYLE community
W hether you want to work with animals or volunteer at a food pantry, Richmond programs like HandsOn pair volunteers with their passions.
Pursue Your Passion Through Volunteering
Hand sOn Greater Richmond prides itself on being "one-stop shopping for volunteeri sm" By Amy R. Connolly
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F YOU KNOW how to smile, there are senior citizens who would love to see you. If you can read, some elementary students would enjoy listening to you. If you can pet a dog, an animal shelter needs you. Volunteering can be quick, easy and fun. Not only is it gratifying and helpful, it’s also the new normal. With deep cuts in government spending and the slow pace of the financial recovery across the country, local agencies are clamoring for volunteers of all kinds. Luckily, we live in an area where volunteer opportunities are plentiful and a lot of agencies are willing to make a pairing, including the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program. The city-run program acts as a liaison between needy organizations, including the city government and potential volunteers. Paul Manning, the program’s chief service officer, says there’s never been a greater need or better opportunities. “Citizens across the nation don’t have to find and solve all of the problems, but if we collaborate and go deeper, we can solve some of the problems,” Manning explains. “It’s all about identifying the need and the will to act together,” Probably the most difficult part for any would-be volunteer is figuring out where to start. It seems as though so many organizations need help, but it’s tough to find a jumping-off point. That’s where HandsOn Greater Richmond steps in. The organization prides itself on being “one-stop shopping for volunteerism,” says Holly Gordon, the organization’s programs and operations manager. This group helps make the connection between volunteers and groups in need, but its reach is perhaps wider than similar organizations. The HandsOn website allows potential volunteers to narrow their selections by organization, work needed, frequency and other parameters. This has been particularly helpful for potential volunteers who want to sample different types of opportunities. For Claire Tetrick of Bon Air, it was a gateway to her passion. 2 0 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
When Tetrick moved back to the Richmond area from Atlanta, she was looking for a chance to volunteer with dogs but didn’t know where to start. Today, thanks to HandsOn, she’s a volunteer leader at Bandit's Adoption and Rescue of K-9s (BARK) in Ashland. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to lock into a long-term commitment,” says Tetrick, 35. “HandsOn was ideal because I was able to choose a day that worked for me. I went out that one Saturday and have been now every Saturday for six years.” For the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, the army of volunteers has been the key to success. Since 1986, the local Habitat has had more than 34,000 volunteers, who help build homes, answer phones, work in the retail store and sort through donated merchandise at the warehouse. “People are really excited that there are a lot of ways they can get involved,” says Whitney Guthrie, the volunteer talent manager. Even newly-elected Gov. Terry McAuliffe stressed the importance of volunteering. Days before his January swearFor more information ing-in ceremony, he worked at a reNeighbor to Neighbor gional food pantry www.richmondgov.com as part of the Commonwealth Day of HandsOn Greater Richmond Service. Hundreds www.handsonrva.org showed up at events Richmond Metropolitan statewide with a Habitat for Humanity renewed focus on www.richmondhabitat.org volunteering.
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L I F E S T Y L E f a m i ly
Best Summer Camps for Kids Find the perfect summer camp to suit your child's age and interests By Erin Pit t man
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CCOURTESY OF JENNY ALFANO
COURTESY OF CHANCO ON THE JAMES
HOUGH THE WEATHER in Richmond may still be a bit on the cold side, believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about summer camp registration. Camp experiences can build confidence, new skills and countless fun memories. But, which one is right for your child? Consider your children’s hobbies, age and maturity level when making your decision. Are they comfortable being away from home overnight? Are they passionate about robotics and building with LEGOs? Does soccer make them bounce with excitement? Virginia offers many camp options, ranging from special interests to overnight or sleep-away camps. We’ve got the scoop on some local favorites. Camp Friendship (www.campfriendship.com) is a Virginia residential summer camp nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 520 acres of rolling hills and scenic woods. For boys and girls, ages 7-16, Chanco on the James ha s a pri stine beachf ront on the James River, perfect for water f un f rom sw imming to Camp Friendship prides itself on sailing and kayaking. The 125 wooded acres along the river al so of fer outdoor advent ures like zip-lining. helping children increase self-esteem, form new friendships, gain social competence and learn to work as part of a team. Summer activities and year-round programs range from equestrian camps, sports clinics and field trips to teen camps. Located in Surry County, Chanco on the James (www.Chanco.org) is surrounded by wildlife along the James River. For more than 40 years, Camp Chanco has been providing successful residential camping programs for children 8-16. Campers stay in rustic cabins in the woods, reminiscent of the classic summer camp movie “Parent Trap”, and enjoy swimming, kayaking, sailing, zip lines, archery, arts and crafts, off-site trips and more. In nearby Mechanicsville, Camp Hanover (www.camphanover. org) offers a sleep-away camping experience close to home and serves children from grades two to 12. Outdoor living activities encourage campers to explore, grow and interact with their peers. tures track, where they receive "a taste of everything," or a variety Nestled near the beautiful Piankatank River in Hartfield, Virof specialty tracks, where they can focus on activities like horseback ginia, Camp Piankatank (www.camppiankatank.org) has long been a riding and sailing. Virginia favorite among campers ages 10-17. The camp offers overIf your child isn’t comfortable being away from home, a local day night, week-long camps sessions, as well as weekend retreats and day camp may be the perfect introduction, and can be paired with your camps throughout the summer. Campers have a number of different child’s particular interest or needs. See a detailed list of day camp programs to choose from including the popular Amazing Advenoptions on our website at www.richmondnavigator.com 2 2 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
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LIFESTYLE health
Perkinson & Associates is now Virginia Family Dentistry Name Change Ref lects Team Approach to Dental Care
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R. BAXTER PERKINSON & Associates has changed its name to Virginia Family Dentistry. The change, effective immediately, reflects the practice’s growth in multispecialty dental care and its expanded presence in Central Virginia today with 11 locations. “ When I opened my practice more than 40 years ago, it was a small dental office with one mission, to help patients smile by giving them quality dental care in a caring patient centered environment,” founder Dr. Baxter Perkinson recalls. “ We’ve grown substantially over the years because of this philosophy and have always invested heavily in professional training and the latest dental equipment to deliver the best care possible to our patients. We are proud of our team approach in caring for each of our patients in all of our locations. Our group now consists of 45 doctors who spend hours of additional training to be at the forefront of dentistry. In fact, we have just completed our own 100-seat training center so we can learn and share new ideas with each other. It is truly an exciting time for growth and development of our practice.” And, Perkinson has often been referred to as a pioneer in dental implants and fullmouth dental rehabilitations.
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Dr. Baxter Perkinson & Associates has provided Central Virginia with a unique dental practice model, one that provides its patients with multispecialty care – including orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, cosmetic dentistry and prosthodontics, as well as general dentistry for patients of all ages. “Virginia Family Dentistry is a perfect description of who we are,” according to Gil Roberts, CEO and practice administrator. “We’re a family of more than 300 dental professionals and staff, who provide just about every procedure dentistry has to offer. And we focus on the family, from small children to mature adults. Our patients come from across Central Virginia and beyond. The name suits us very well.” “Nothing but the name has changed”, Roberts added. “Our many services, our attention to detail and patient-centered dental care are still our top priorities.”
Founded in 1974 as Dr. Bax ter Perkinson & A ssociates, Virg inia Family Dentistry is a multispecialt y dental g roup practice prov iding comprehen sive care for patients of all ages throughout their 11 of f ices in Central Virg inia. A team approach to the diag nosis and treat ment of dental issues prov ides patients w ith access to ex perienced professionals dedicated to high-q ualit y and cost-ef f icient care.
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Robert H. Taylor, D.D.S. General Dentist
DENTURES | PARTIALS | EXTRACTIONS | IMPLANT RETAINED DENTURES Dr. Taylor has provided denture related services for patients in Virginia for over 25 years. His years of experience and continuing education enable him to offer the highest level of care.
ARE YOU TIRED OF LOOSE or UNCOMFORTABLE DENTURES?
Can't Eat What You Want? Can't Talk or Laugh with Confidence? Dr. Taylor has helped many patients stabilize their dentures with one simple procedure. Dental Implants have been a tremendous help for patients by freeing them from loose, painful, embarrassing dentures. This procedure allows patients to smile with confidence again, eat what they want and eliminate denture sore spots. Dentures simply snap into place with little or no need for adhesives.
Call 804.723.5658
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in Mechanicsville Conveniently located just off I-295 on Lee Davis Road in the Hanover Plaza 2 6 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
to schedule your Complimentary Consultation!
Valley Denture Care 7472 Lee Davis Road | Mechanicsville, VA 23111 * Ask about our payment plans and new patient discounts
COURTESY OF AMC
My Town
A M C ' s T U R N | P ro j e c t P l a n t I t ! | Ko p row s k i & A s s o c i at e s | M a n n K i dw e l l | P l a n e t H a i r
MY TOWN
f e at u r e
AMC TURNs to Richmond for New Cable Series By Steve Cook
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ILITARY INTELLIGENCE IS a story that, as they say, could be ripped from the headlines. However, the producers of AMC’s new drama, Turn have ripped their story from the history books, especially from author Alexander Rose’s Washington Spies, upon which the series is based. Turn centers around Abraham Woodhull (played by Jamie Bell), a farmer living behind enemy lines in Long Island, New York, who, with a group of childhood friends, forms The Culpeper Ring, a team of secret agents who helped George Washington turn the course of histor y. Although the stor y takes place primarily on New York’s Long Island, Richmond and its environs will be “playing the role” of several New York sites. When the series premiers on April 6th, many local folks will be tuned in, not just because the topic is one of interest, but specifically to discover if we recognize any local landmarks. 2 8 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
“There are so many great Colonial, historical sites here,” says executive producer, Craig Silverstein. I love it that the buildings are really as old as the time period they portray.” As for local locations “starring” in the new series, Silverstein says, “The James River has been the Hudson Bay, and various New York rivers, and at times, we’ve digitally removed the river bank and it ’s been the Atlantic Ocean.” Additionally, Petersburg has been used for scenes of New York City, and according to Silverstein, could also be used for future episodes set in Philadelphia. An entire mockup of the Long Island town of Setauket was built at the State Farm Correctional Facility in Powhatan County. Frank Baber, Agribusiness Director for Virginia’s State Farms, says the film crew has added on to a set located just outside the prison’s walls, which had been used when the mini-series John Adams was filmed here in 2008.
According to Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office, Turn is the first TV series to be filmed entirely in the Richmond area. And Silverstein says that the city was chosen, not just because of its historical character, but because the state has been so welcoming. Despite what many locals may think of this past winter, actor Angus MacFadyen, who portrays Robert Rogers, a mercenary and former ally of George Washington, says even the Richmond weather has cooperated. “We’ve been very lucky. Part of the storyline involves being snowed in and we actually got snow on those days.” Edmunds says that it’s the state that’s been very lucky. “The filming of Turn makes a significant impact on Virginia’s economy. It’s given employment to over 600 people,” and has generated some 45 million dollars in revenue.” If AMC picks this up as an ongoing series, that would mean 45 million a year, he adds.
Does the story have a long-run series potential? Silverstein says it definitely does. "We’ve done ten episodes for this season,” he says, “and we’re not even close to the Benedict Arnold story.” Silverstein also thinks the relevance of the story as it relates to current concerns about intelligence gathering will contribute to its popularity. “I think it’s incredibly relevant,” he says. “It shows that spying was in our DNA. It turned the tide of the war. Without it, we wouldn’t have won.” Silverstein says even then espionage was a controversial subject. “They realized it was a necessary evil,” he says. “It was even used against our own population directly following the war.” Silverstein and several of the actors who met with local reporters during a recent press conference at the studio (located near the Richmond International Raceway in Eastern Henrico) say that audiences may well be surprised by the telling of the story. “Many see it (a story about the American Revolution) as a museum piece,” Silverstein says. “Turn is not just flute and drum. This was a wild and unruly time.”
A MC c rea te d a L o n g I sl a n d v i l l a g e i n Po w h a t a n f or t h e f i l m i n g of the pi lot epi s o de . A l l p h o t o s a r e c o u r t e s y o f A M C Te l e v i s i o n .
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MY TOWN
f e at u r e
Behind the Scenes
With the Ca st of "Tur n" By Steve Cook
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OLLOWING THE RECENT press conference with many
of the cast and crew of Turn, I had an opportunity to sit down with a couple of the actors for a brief one-on-one chat (well, make that one on two). I spoke with Seth Numrich (who portrays Ben Tallmadge, a friend of Abraham Woodhull), as well as Daniel Henshall (in the role of Caleb Brewster). Of his character, Caleb Brewster, Henshall, sporting a full beard in keeping with his role in the film, said, “He’s brash and bold. He’s an adrenaline junkie. He’s a patriot. As far as he’s concerned, the only good Englishman is a dead one." Henshall said his character adds a humorous element to what is, for the most part, a show filled with drama and tension. I asked Numrich if he feels the series has long-run potential. “We have lots of stories to tell,” he said. “There is so much rich material. And it’s not like anything else on TV.” Henshall, a native of Sydney, Australia, told me that prior to beginning production, he had no pre-conceived notions about the American Revolution. “I had no idea how undermanned the Continental Army was, or of the brilliance of the ones in power, specifically Washington,” he said. Commenting on how his heritage impacted his take on this era in American history, Henshall said, “We share a similarity. Our country was a penal colony. Yours wasn’t, but we both come from English stock so I can understand this despising of the motherland and its class system… this being disrespected.” I asked both actors about their impressions of Richmond. “Getting to spend half of the year here…I couldn’t think of a better place to do it,” said Numrich, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Steve Co ok ch a t s w i th " T U R N " s tar S eth Nu mr ich . A l l pho to s are c ou r tes y of R ob er t T hom a s .
“I love the history,” Henshall told me. “Richmond is so accessible. The country is just minutes away. You can run out to Belle Isle or to the James River, which is stunning.” Both actors spoke highly of the city’s dining scene. “Dan and I work a lot together and we’ve been exploring.” Numrich said, “There is a plethora of great places to eat. I love Richmond.” When asked to pick a few favorites, both cited Balliceaux, Millie’s, Proper Pie Company, and Julep’s. I had one more question: “Can you tell me how it ends? Who wins? “You’ll just have to tune in and find out,” Numrich laughed. I feel quite certain that we will be doing just that.
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MY TOWN
business
Project Plant It! Dominion in spires young t ree planters
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HIS SPRING, thousands of future arborists
are learning about trees and their many important benefits to the environment with Dominion’s Project Plant It! program. Nearly 10,000 students in the Richmond region will participate in the free program geared towards elementary school students who are bursting with curiosity about the natural world. Project Plant It! provides a variety of educational activities, both inside the classroom and outdoors, for students to get up close and personal with one of Mother Nature’s most versatile inhabitants. In fact, trees are the ultimate multitaskers: They make oxygen and clean air, provide shelter for birds and wildlife, prevent soil erosion and can be strategically planted to help reduce heating and cooling costs, among other attributes. The cornerstone of the program is the distribution of a redbud tree seedling to each participating student to plant in honor of Arbor Day, which is typically the last Friday in April. “The redbud is native to Virginia and grows well throughout the state,” says Paulin Cheatham, Project Plant It! spokesman for Dominion, the parent company of Dominion Virginia Power. “It is one of the first trees to bloom in the spring and is easily identified by its beautiful pink blossoms and distinctive redtinged leaves.” “Each and every year, Project Plant It! continues to effectively engage students by connecting them with nature,” explains Jo McElwain of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Project Plant It! puts Eastern Redbud trees into the hands of the next generation of tree-planters who will always cherish the memory of planting a tree and watching it grow.” The Arbor Day Foundation, which inspires people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, has partnered with Dominion’s Project Plant It! since the program was established in 2007. This organization is responsible for planting, growing, packaging and shipping the more than 250,000 tree seedlings that have been distributed to students in several states where Dominion conducts business. The website, www.projectplantit.com, features videos and interactive games about trees. For more information, visit the website or “Like” Project Plant It! on Facebook. 3 2 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
COURTESY OF KOPROWSKI & ASSOCIATES
Koprowski & Associates The g ra ss i s always g reener By Amy R. Connolly
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HEN STEVE KOPROWSKI looks at a yard, he doesn’t just see some grass, plants and a few pieces of ill-placed lawn furniture. He sees what could be. Perhaps an open lawn with some hillside plantings? Or maybe a chipped gravel garden path that leads to a custom fountain. Better yet, how about a custom swimming pool surrounded by a blue flagstone terrace? Imagine it and Koprowski can do it. From spacious and luxurious backyards that span acres to quaint and cozy courtyards no bigger than an average bedroom, residential landscape design is Koprowski’s specialty. For more than 20 years, Koprowski, the principal of Koprowski and Associates, has wowed homeowners with stunning landscape designs. No job is too small or too big. He loves all the challenges that different types of landscaping can bring. To say that design is Koprowski’s passion is an understatement. His career actually started in high school when he got his first glimpse at landscape architecture. He was so captivated that he attended Louisiana State University’s prestigious Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture. After graduation, Koprowski perfected his skills during an internship in Japan and went on to utilize his talents for design firms in Texas and Arizona. In opening his Richmond firm a decade ago, he was able to bring form and function together for the local community. Koprowski says his job is to create a thoughtful landscape master plan for homeowners and follow through with the installation. “My roles as a project manager is to be the homeowner’s agent in the field,” he explains. Koprowski said the process for any homeowner is quite simple and worry-free. During the first visit, which is free, Koprowski likes to walk the property with the homeowner and get a feel for the area. “It’s a re-
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ally thorough meet and greet,” he says. “I ask questions, and we discuss goals. We talk about all aspects of the property.” With the meeting in mind, Koprowski then prepares a design proposal. Once the homeowner approves and the contracts are signed, Koprowski’s work begins. He visits the property again and scrutinizes the area even further. He takes pictures, measurements and starts to visualize what will be. Back at the office, he meticulously prepares the design on paper and presents it to the homeowners. With the homeowner’s approval, the contractors are ready to start working. In some cases, homeowners have particular contractors they want to work with, Koprowski explains. In other cases, Koprowski recommends some of the top contractors in the area. The beauty of it all is that homeowners don’t need to supervise any of the work. That’s Koprowski’s job. “My job is to be there to work with each one of the contractors, to follow the master plan the client has approved and to act as their agent,” he adds. “As the project manager, I work for the homeowner.” When the work is completed, Koprowski can look at the redesigned property with satisfaction. It’s another job well done. “I enjoy working with the homeowners,” he says. “They are vested in their space, and I want to make sure they are completely happy.”
For more information Contact Koprowski at 683-1893, or visit KoprowskiAssociates.com w w w. r i c h m o n d n av i g a t o r. c o m 3 3
MY TOWN
business
MannKidwell By Tammie Wersinger
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HETHER YOU ARE looking to update your home with
“We stand behind all of our products and services, and many of our products come with a lifetime warranty,” explains Andrew, adding that customers have the comfort of knowing they are working with a company that has “an unsurpassed reputation built over 60 years.” Andrew prides himself on repeat business and has serviced many of his customers in multiple homes – from their first home and their vacation home to their retirement home. The personal relationships he fosters are what set MannKidwell apart in the industry.
COURTESY OF MANNKIDWELL
top-quality window treatments or are decorating a space for the first time, MannKidwell is the top choice for custom products with superior quality and outstanding performance. For more than 60 years, this local, family-owned company has earned a reputation in the custom window treatment business for excellence in products and customer service. The company originally opened as Mann Shade Company in 1950 and was purchased by Andy Kidwell, Jr. in 1967, who renamed it MannKidwell Shade Corporation. After college, Andy’s son, Andrew Kidwell III, worked alongside his father and learned the business from the ground up. Andrew bought the business from his father in 1997, and under his leadership, the company has continued to grow, while still maintaining the personal service that his customers have grown to expect. In 2005, MannKidwell expanded its product lines and moved into a full-service showroom at 6011 W. Broad St., where helpful staff members are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to help customers browse a full array of products, including Plantation Shutters, Wood Blinds, Roman Shades, Roller Shades and hundreds of fabric options. An on-staff interior decorator is also available to help with all your design needs. “Whatever type of window treatment you can envision, we can help make it a reality,” says Andrew. “My number one goal with every customer is to earn their trust and satisfaction.” Although the showroom is in Richmond, MannKidwell offers service throughout Virginia and beyond. Having technicians and installers on staff makes it possible to offer complete product service – from cleaning and servicing to in-shop repair of existing blinds.
For more information To make an appointment for a free quote, visit MannKidwell.com or call (804) 288-2819 3 4 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
Planet Hair By Amy R. Connolly
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HE THANK-YOU cards speak volumes. They are letters of gratitude, notes of optimism and messages of hope. “I appreciate all that you do for so many on the cancer journey.” “I wanted to thank you for all the care you took with me when I came in to look at wigs to cover up this oh-so-bald head of mine.” “Meeting you was a real blessing for me.” For Cheryl Tankersley, owner of Planet Hair in Richmond, they’ve become part of doing her job. Since 1999, Planet Hair has been offering natural-looking and beautiful wigs for clients who are battling cancer and suffering with alopecia and other conditions that cause hair loss. Located on the corner of Cox Road and Three Chopt Road in Towers Shopping Center, Planet Hair offers more than 100 wigs
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from designers that include Jon Renu, Gabor and Raquel Welch. Most range in cost from $100 to $400. In the salon, Tankersley carefully and lovingly helps clients pick out the best look for them, all in a discrete setting. The salon has a private room that’s big enough for a couple of friends to come along for love and encouragement. Once clients find the perfect look, Tankersley also styles it for a personalized touch. Planet Hair has become so well known and respected, Richmond physicians have recommended it for their patients. Tankersley said her success comes in her client’s faces. “I love to see our clients smiling,” she said. “It means I’ve done my job.”
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S P OT L I G H T S
MEXICO RESTAURANT Part of the community for 23 years, Mexico Restaurant offers a great menu selection with something for everyone in your family. Using the freshest ingredients to cook your favorite. 10321 West Broad Street 559-8126 Mexico-Restaurant.com
BUCKHEAD'S "Extra-aged" steaks, fresh seafood, and an award-winning wine list have made this Richmond's premier dining location since 1994. Try the steak tenderloin medallions with Vermouth DemiGlace and topped with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat. 8510 Patterson Avenue 750-2000 Buckheads.com
KABUTO In business for the past 30 years, Kabuto specializes in customizing each customers meal to meet their needs. Food allergies? Dieting? No problem! Skilled Hibachi chefs prepare your meal at your table or enjoy fresh sushi made to order. 8052 West Broad Street 747-9573 KabutoWestEnd.com
DEEP RUN ROADHOUSE Deep Run Roadhouse is excited to bring its smoky barbecue and comfort foods to the West End. Take the night off and stop by to pick up a Family Pack that is sure to please everyone! 12379 Gayton Road 740-6301 DeepRunRoadhouse.com
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Flavor
Your dining and entertainment source
S C O O P D U J O U R R e s t a u ra n t N ew s S P OT L I G H T Ke a ga n ' s R e s t a u ra n t CA L E N DA R M a rc h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4
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FLAVOR
Scoop Du Jour By Tammy Bracket t An interior shot of Max's on Broad
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F ONE PARTAKES of the five o'clock, one does not approach the dinner with the proper quality of expectant gastric juices. And the dinner, let us remember, is the supreme meal of the day! —Inspector Hercule Poirot Inspector Hercule Poirot – the little Belgian detective with big moustaches and a penchant for crime, food and wine – would be charmed with the new Max’s on Broad. A true Belgian dining delight and an instant star downtown in the Art Walk District, the restaurant serves traditional Belgian fare and French favorites. There are 24 Belgian beers on tap downstairs at the bar. Upstairs is another world, with super-fine dining in an elegant atmosphere. Try the traditional Waterzooi – a stew of rockfish, crabmeat, fingerling potatoes and baby carrots. There’s steak tartare, pan-roasted duck breast, mussels, handcut fries, beer-braised short ribs and lots of seafood options. All menu items are served seven days a week. Find out more about opening hours and menu items at www.maxsonbroad or call (804) 225-0400. We’re continuing to watch the de-malling of Willow Lawn and are happy to see Zoe’s Kitchen coming to join American Tap Room and Travinia Italian Kitchen in the West Tower building of the complex. Zoe’s rounds out restaurant row by offering a distinctly Mediterranean-inspired menu. Based in Alabama, Zoe’s Kitchen has 90 locations in 15 states, including four in Northern Virginia. Menu items include kabobs, pita sandwiches, hummus, soups and salads. Zoe means “life” in Greek, and it’s good to see the rejuvenation of the former Willow Lawn Mall. Keep apprised of Zoe’s Richmond opening by visiting www.zoeskitchen.com. 3 8 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
Dixie Donuts, a Carytown favorite, has opened a second location at the former site of Daylight Donuts, 10260 W. Broad Street. Owners Betsy Thomas and James Frank partnered with the former owners of Daylight Donuts last fall. “After a transitional period in December, we were ready to roll out the new Dixie Donuts on West Broad,’’ says Frank. “We’re bringing our artesian doughnuts from the Cary Street store to the new Dixie Donuts, but also keeping a few favorites, like Bismarks and jelly-filled, for old customers.” Thomas adds that they have been trying to “get the word out that the doughnuts at the new Dixie Donuts are new,” and that they will feature a combination of traditional raised doughnuts and cake doughnuts. So whether your delight is traditional with glazed or jelly-filled orbs or you favor specialty flavors like French Toast or Maple Bacon, Dixie Donuts now has two locations to get your doughnut on. Visit them at www.facebook.com/dixiedonutsrva. In other news, Todd Richardson, of Verbena fame, has taken over as the Executive Chef at the Blue Goat, with Will Mitchell joining him as Sous Chef.
Restaurant Tips? Email Tammy Brackett: Tammy@MoonstruckPromotions.com
A New Reality for Hanover By Max Hey wor th
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t’s mid-February in Hanover County and there’s a construction site that looks like every other commercial build project seen throughout central Virginia. Imagine a cleared lot in its beginning stages, nothing more than a field of that familiar red clay soil found throughout the Piedmont region. But that’s about where the comparison ends, because what’s being built here is unlike anything else in the Richmond area, or even this part of the country, for that matter. This site, just off of Route 301 across from Hanover High School, is the future home of Sports Reality, a premier sports performance training center and the future training facility for the Richmond Raiders professional indoor football team. To be clear, this isn’t a health club that sells memberships to the public; it’s a performance training facility that will serve athletes from middle school to pros looking to be trained in their respective sport (such as football, soccer and lacrosse). But in doing so, Sports Reality will help support the surrounding community by drawing business to the area, adding to the tax base and, importantly, bolstering youth athletic and healthy living initiatives through camps, working with targeted school/youth groups and more. Sports Reality is the brainchild of Raiders franchise owners Mike and Elizabeth Fraizer. For the past several years, the Raiders have held practices at the (continued on page 43)
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FLAVOR
in search of ...
Starters & Appetizers C ROST IN I A L S A LMON CHIANTI'S
Freshly made toasted Crostini bread is topped with a creamy, homemade smoked salmon sauce. For a tangy Italian finish, top this with capers.
COURTESY OF TIM HILL
www.ChiantiRichmond.com | 1304 Gaskins Rd. | (804) 740-5050
MIN I CRA B CA KES BUCKHEADS
COURTESY OF ROBERT THOMAS
Two of the Old Dominion’s most revered foods, Chesapeake Bay crab and Virginia apples, are the star ingredients of this mouth-watering appetizer. Seared Chesapeake-style crab cakes are served with tomato marmalade, sour apples and greens. www.Buckheads.com | 8510 Patterson Ave. | (804) 750-2000
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FLAVOR
in search of ...
Starters & Appetizers STUFFED MUSHROOMS BOOKBINDERS
It’s safe to say that Virginia is renowned for its ham, and its chefs are spoiled for choice when it comes to sourcing great pork products. Inspired by this Old Dominion favorite, these silver dollar mushrooms stuffed with Virginia Country ham, goat cheese and fine herbs. A must-have mouthful!
COURTESY OF ROBERT THOMAS
www.BookbindersRichmond.com 2306 E. Cary St. | (804) 643-6900
G R O U P E R BITES KEAGAN'S RESTAURANT
COURTESY OF ROBERT THOMAS
Start your meal off with a bang with these lightly blackened Bayou-style grouper bites, served with lemon caper tartar sauce. www.KeagansRichmond.com 2251 Old Brick Road | (804) 360-9240
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(continued from page 39) Dove Street Armory in Highland Park, a convenient albeit imperfect solution to their training demands. When the City of Richmond announced that it would be demolishing the Dove Street Armory in the summer of 2014 as part of a positive redevelopment project, Mike Fraizer knew this was an opportunity not only to help his team, but to grow a new business and aid the community. The prospects for Sports Reality became more favorable with news of the Redskins relocating their training camp to the River City, and Mayor Dwight Jones tapped Mike Fraizer to lead the team evaluating sites, along with design and funding options for the Redskins’ new training facility. “It was a full-time job from June to November of 2012,” Fraizer recalled, “and we learned a lot.” He now had a road map for building a practice facility that could meet the demands of some of the world’s most elite athletes. Following the success with the Redskins’ project, Fraizer set his sights on finding a new home for Sports Reality. With the land purchase being the first investment of the project, the Hanover site came at the right price. “What impressed me the most about all of this is how Hanover worked through the typical red tape to get this project launched,” explained Frazier. “Every department showed up to the table and got involved in the discussion.” Despite the snowy winter, construction of this 50,000 square-foot indoor athletic facility has already begun in a factory in Texas. When completed, the , it will be shipped on flatbeds to be assembled like a giant Erector Set. The Fraizers believe Sports Reality will be close to completion sometime in May, and once built, will boast two regulation 50-yard fields with Shaw “Legion” turf, a pro-grade Hammer Strength Platinum weight room, high-tech film review rooms, rubberized sprint lanes, offices, a filming/observation deck and full trainer, locker and equipment rooms, complete with laundry service, all under one massive, 50+ft- high roof.
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FLAVOR
r e s t a u ra n t s p o t l i g h t
Good Food, Good Friends, Good Times
COURTESY OF KEAGAN'S RESTAURANT
At Keagan's Restaurant By Amy R. Connolly
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OEL GILBERT CAN describe Keagan’s Richmond Restaurant & Tavern in one word: experience. “We aren't white tablecloth; we aren't a sports bar; and we aren't a homogenous nondescript chain. It may be difficult to define precisely, but that is the point,” Gilbert, who co-owns the restaurant with friend Jay Shah, exclaims. “Keagan’s is an Irish bar and restaurant and so you expect to relax, have a pint, and enjoy yourself.” Welcome to Keagan’s Richmond, where delicious Irish delights, local craft beers and local bands come to meet. It’s a place where the restaurant’s regulars and newcomers alike can enjoy signature dishes that includes Giant’s Causeway Fish & Chips or The Original Drunken Ribeye. It’s not unusual to see Keagan’s brimming with a variety of diners – from young couples on a first date and grandparents with grandkids to a group of buddies hanging out. “This is a place where a business meeting breaks up in the private room and everyone stays for dinner and a drink,” Gilbert says. “Given the spaciousness and separate areas, all these things may be happening at once. There just aren't many places like Keagan’s.” Opened in 2011, Gilbert and Shah purchased Keagan’s Richmond from a small restaurant group in summer 2013. They immediately decided to make some pivotal changes. Instead of looking at stuffy business models or hiring consultants, they turned to the longtime regulars who have embraced Keagan’s. “Before June, I would have thought that if someone was disappointed in a restaurant or bar, they would simply go to another,” Gilbert says. “That may be true for most, but there is something about the people who call Keagan’s their place that is different. It makes me proud to call myself the owner.”
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Since taking over Keagan’s, Gilbert said he and Shah have listened to the regulars. They have proudly put a new emphasis on local bands and locally-made craft beer. The band schedule reflects only the finest of homegrown artists, while the 11 new draft beers are almost all exclusively brewed in Richmond. Gilbert and Shah also listened when the regulars wanted the inside dining areas to be smoke-free. “For a long time, Keagan’s was known as a place where smoking was allowed in the main room. Unfortunately, the main room was where everyone, especially non-smokers, wanted to be,” Gilbert explains. “After much discussion and debate, much of it with our regulars, we decided to eliminate all smoking inside.” Today, Keagan’s boasts some of the best food and drink specials in town, with a daily Happy Hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The burgers and Reuben sandwiches are Keagan’s classics that leave diners clamoring for more. All of this is nestled into the three expansive dining rooms and bars that open onto the spacious patios in the center of West Broad Village. There’s also a private dining room that can comfortably fit up to 100 people with a customized buffet-style menu and a private bar.
For more information Keagan’s Richmond | 2251 Old Brick Road | Glen Allen Call 360-9240 or visit www.KeagansRichmond.com
TA S T E T H E M E N U At Keagan’s Richmond, Irish fare meets Richmond creativity. The restaurant prides itself in the freshest ingredients and delicious edibles.
Combo Spring Rolls (Reuben and Chicken) This combination platter features Keagan’s most popular appetizers: the Reuben Spring Rolls and Chicken Spring Rolls. The Reuben is made with homemade corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and comes with thousand island and stone-ground mustard to dip. The Chicken is a light and crispy Asian flavor, with a Sweet Thai Chili dip. Put them together and it’s a feast for the mouth.
Giant's Causeway Fish & Chips What says Ireland more than fish and chips? This lightly beer-battered delight is served with creamy coleslaw, potato wedges and a lemoncaper tartar sauce.
Spinach with Roquefort & Apples Salad If you’re looking for the light side of Irish fare, try this salad. It’s made with baby spinach leaves and Roquefort cheese crumbles and then topped with Granny Smith apples and homemade croutons.
Belfast Black & Bleu Burger This juicy burger is made with fresh-ground beef that’s blackened and topped with imported blue cheese crumbles. It’s all topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickle on a Kaiser roll and served with
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEAGAN'S RESTAURANT
a side of Keagan’s distinctive potato wedges.
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COURTESY OF TEDXRVA
L I F E S T Y L E ev e n t s
March 28 TEDxRVA, Virginia Rep’s November Theatre TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. On March 28th, TEDxRVA will present their second annual conference with the theme of “re______,” a theme meant to reinvigorate, reimagine, reinvent, and more through a series of dynamic talks by national and local speakers. Be prepared for a day filled with experiential engagement in a creative environment. Tickets are on sale now. TEDxRVA.com
March 21, April 18 Target $1 Family Night Children’s Museum of Richmond Bring the whole family to enjoy what The Children’s Museum of Richmond Central has to offer from 5:00-7:30 pm on the third Friday of every month for just $1 per person! C-Mor.org
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March 22-23 Church Hill Irish Festival Church Hill
March 27-30 French Film Festival The Byrd Theatre
March 29 Mike Epps After Dark Tour Altria Theater
In addition to great entertainment, there will be plenty of family fun, including children’s games, face painting and Irishthemed crafts. Enjoy wonderful “Irish Lasagna” prepared by the Ladies of St. Patrick’s, “Fish and Chips” and other favorites provided by Rare Olde Times Irish Pub, and many more. ChurchHillIrishFestival.com
For 20 years, the French Film Festival has earned acclaim, in the U.S. and in France, for introducing more than 400 French and francophone films to American audiences. Since 2003, it has been recognized formally by former French Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Jean-David Levitte, as the most important French film festival in the country. FrenchFilmFestival.us
Comedian Mike Epps and Live Nation have come together for Mike’s 2014 tour deemed “The Mike Epps: After Dark” which will cover over 42 cities nationally and internationally. AltriaTheater.com
April 30-May 2 Richmond Garden Week Richmond Area The Garden Club of Virginia will present the 81st Historic Garden Week in Richmond beginning Wednesday, April 30, through Friday, May 2 from 10 am to 4:30 pm each day. This is a new schedule for the Richmond tour and the first year it will be held on Friday rather than Tuesday. Approximately 1,500 visitors will tour lovely private homes and gardens each day. Proceeds fund the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic gardens. VaGardenWeek.org
March 14-April 27 Shrek, The Musical Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn Come along on an irreverent musical romp based on the Academy Award-winning film. We’ve got a hero who’s green and stinky, a donkey who never shuts up, and a princess who puts the “i” in feisty. Richmond talents Jason Marks and Aly Wepplo (whom we loved in Seussical!) bring the regional premiere of Shrek to life, as our favorite swampland ogre saves Princess Fiona and wins her love. This musical extravaganza will blow your socks off. Va-Rep.org
April 1 - June 1 A Million Blooms Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
March 11-June 22 Elegant Entertaining Maymont Mansion A millionaire’s mansion during the Gilded Age was the scene of elaborate social occasions carefully planned, flawlessly presented and carried out by a host of well-trained servants. Visit Maymont Mansion and feel as though you are among the honored guests at one of the Dooleys’ extravagant affairs during the social season more than 100 hundred years ago. Maymont.org
April 4-6 The Bizarre Bazaar Spring Market Richmond Raceway Complex This large-scale event provides an optimal shopping experience for all including gifts for Easter, graduation, birthdays, bridal and baby showers, and unique offerings including gourmet food and cookbooks, fine linens, designer clothing, toys, fine crafts and artwork, decorative home accessories and jewelry to name a few. Springtime also brings gardening and the outdoors to the forefront – included in the array of items available are whimsical garden art and accessories, spring and summer perennials, outdoor furniture and much, much more. TheBizarreBazaar.com
COURTESY OF RICHMOND CENTERSTAGE
Spring arrives with magnificent splendor as the Garden celebrates 30 years. See a succession of breathtaking blooms that color the landscape with beauty. Enjoy entertaining activities, exhibits and family events. Play and learn in the Children’s Garden, browse the Garden Shop, dine with friends, or relax with a good book in a scenic retreat. LewisGinter.org
Amos Lee, an American singer-songwriter whose musical style encompasses folk, rock and soul, will perform at the Carpenter Center on Tuesday, April 15. The tour is named for his new release, “Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song.” RichmondCenterStage.com M a rc h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4
Hanging Metal Bird Exhibitor: Simple Digz
PHOTO BY DAVID STOVER
April 15 Amos Lee: Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song Tour Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage
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richmond A Delicious, New and Exciting Kind of Chicken.
Listed Under:
“Best Chicken Wings in the Country” - 2012, February 5. CNN
2013, yelp.com
8026 West Broad St. | Henrico, VA 23294, Tel: (804) 716-2029 www.bonchon.com
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RiverCity richmondnavigator.com March/April 2014
BACKSTAGE with brent havens RAISING THE BAR RIVER CITY SCOOP DOWNTOWN for art lovers If art is in the eye of the beholder, then River City is a feast for the eyes, with outdoor sculptures and murals, as well as eclectic galleries and museums filled with food for the soul.
Julie Hinzemann and Shawn Saharko, “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You”, winner of both People’s Choice Award and Most Environmentally Conscious Award, 1708 Gallery’s InLight Richmond 2013. Photo by Terry Brown
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BACKSTAGE
Brent Havens
COURTESY OF BRENT HAVENS
By Dav y Jones
B
RENT HAVENS DOESN'T just conduct orchestras. As the founder of Windborne Productions, he's the guiding hand behind film and TV scores, football halftime-show music and nine symphonic rock programs, collaborating with orchestras far and wide to add vivid color to the music of legendary groups like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen and, most recently, The Rolling Stones. With nearly 20 years of symphonic rock experience and a Rolling Stones program with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra coming up on April 12th, we talked over the phone about how the show came together.
How did you come up with the set list? With [The Rolling Stones], it’s 50 years of music, so it’s a whole lot of catalog. I take a listen to their greatest hits… see if each and every one of those tunes will work with an orchestra. I also get input from Stones specialists, or classic rock specialists. I’ll have them send a list of 30 favorite tunes. I’ll have four or five guys doing that, including the guys in the band.
Does lead singer Brody Dolyniuk ever say, “I just have to sing this”? Yes, all the time. [laughs] He has to sing it, so he’s one of the guys I ask. He’ll send me his list and say, “This is the list. You don’t have to do anything other than this. This is the perfect list. Do that and we’re good to go.”
H ave yo u wo rke d w i t h t h e R i c h m o n d S y m p h o ny b e f o re ? Yes, we worked with them a long time ago, back on the Led Zeppelin show. It was a couple years after we started it, and we were just getting started in the industry. 5 0 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
How much time do you get to spend with each orchestra? With an orchestra this good, I’ll only spend around 90 minutes. It’ll be the first time they’ve seen the music, probably, and they will play it perfectly. That’s a great orchestra.
Do you have any rituals before you go onstage? I do like to sit and concentrate a little bit before I go out, so I’ve got the music in my head, I’m concentrated on what I’m doing at the moment. Then, we go out and just have a blast because it’s a fun show. A lot of that is because of Brody. He has a great rapport with the audience. He actually teaches them some Mick Jagger moves. It’s a blast.
What’s your favorite part of conducting? The sheer reaction of the audience when they hear their favorite tunes in this brand new way. They’re going to get to hear the music the way they remembered on the recordings, but then there’s a 50-plus piece orchestra there adding this whole new dimension. It’s when they realize, “Oh my gosh, this is a straight-up rock and roll show. We’re going to have a great time.”
It seems like you reach a broad audience. That was really the original intention of this. Why not expand your audience, because these orchestras are incredible. They can play anything, and a lot of people think “Eh, they just play their classical, and that’s good,” but then they realize their local symphony orchestra – like the Richmond Symphony – can kick butt with a rock and roll show too.
SPORTS
A Natural Fit
COURTESY OF MELISSA CALLAGHAN
By Max Hey wor th
B
RIAN CALLAGHAN IS a man who knows business. His experience of building, leading, and ultimately selling one of the largest IT staffing firms in the nation – Apex Systems, Inc. – has seen to that. But as his corporate career reached its twilight, Callaghan saw an opportunity to repurpose his business acumen in a field about which he is particularly passionate: baseball. In 2010, he became part owner of the Richmond Flying Squirrels organization, and has served as the primary local investor in the team.
Why would you buy into a minor league baseball team to begin with? I love the sport, but more importantly, I love what minor league baseball is about. We, the team as a whole, are providing something for families in the community that’s as good a value as you have anywhere. You can go to a minor league baseball game for less than what it costs to go to the movies. And when you consider everything else a minor league team does in the community, it’s a really fun thing to be a part of. How would you say the experience has affected you as a baseball fan and as a businessman? As a fan, it’s given me a deeper understanding of how major league organizations develop their talent. And coming from the corporate world, where talent development is very important, it’s interesting to see how they do it. How does the Squir rels affiliation with the Giants work exactly? We have what’s called a Player Development Contract with the Giants, meaning anyone who deals with the actual game – the players, the coaches – is an employee of the San Francisco Giants organization. They decide everything from what a player gets paid to the starting pitcher for a given game. What our organization, The Flying Squirrels, is in charge of is pretty much everything not directly involved with the game itself, like uniforms, entertainment events, concessions, etc. M a rc h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4
What is your role in the organization? My role, actually, is that of a traditional investor, so there isn’t anything that I really have to do. And that’s great, because I believe we have the best people in all of minor league baseball to run the dayto-day operation, especially among our execs. If you can find anyone who’s more talented and qualified and capable than Parney [VP and COO Todd Parnell], show him to me. He’s really the gold standard of in-market operators. The confidence I have in our people allows me to really enjoy the experience. Had it been a goal of yours for a while to own a baseball team or was this one of those situations where the opportunity struck? The opportunity struck. I got a call one day from a group of guys down here in Richmond who were looking to buy a team. I listened to their pitch, did my research and figured it would be a sound investment that I would enjoy. So I wrote them a check, but the deal ended up falling through. I got my money back, but I read that the Eastern League was still hoping to find local investors so I called the Eastern League President, Joe McEacharn, and told him I was still interested. So, it seems you’re pretty happy so far with your investment. Yeah, I love it. Richmond’s a great market, it’s growing, and it’s more of a sports town than it gives itself credit for.
For more information Read more of Max Heyworth’s interview with Brian Callaghan, including his thoughts on the stadium issue and his fondest baseball memories, at www.richmondnavigator.com.
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RICHMOND FLYING
SQUIRRELS
804.359.FUNN SQUIRRELSBASEBALL.COM
April 10th Opening Night Richmond Flying Circus Post-Game Fireworks
April 26th Stefanie Scott "Lexi Reed" Appearance
April 14th Tribute to The Wizard of Oz
April 15th Jackie Robinson Day Wristbands (First 2,000 Fans)
April 30th Salute to Construction Wednesday Happy Hour Post-Game Fireworks PURCHASE YOUR MINI-PLANS TODAY BY CALLING 804-359-FUNN!!
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RAISING THE BAR
Back W
to the
By Steve Cook
hat goes around comes around, or so they say. That is certainly true of the trend in the local bar scene. “We've moved past the era of the oddly flavored martinis and into a more spirit-driven cocktail scene,” says John Maher, owner of one of the city’s most recent dining options, The Rogue Gentlemen. Maher says that Richmonders are seeing such a great local selection of artisan products, be it craft beers or small production spirits, and so many great restaurants with fantastic beverage programs, that they want to try new things.” Just down the street from The Rogue Gentlemen, Justin Ayotte and Sara Kerfoot, co-beverage managers at Saison, have been busy concocting a collection of classic cocktails for a clientele that appreciates the renewed interest in the drinks of yesteryear. Regarding the shift in tastes, Ayotte says, “Things fall out of style and then surge back. Cocktails are no different.” That change in tastes is certainly true with Maher, himself, who explains, “Over time, my tastes and interests grew and matured. Back in college, I didn't even like brown spirits, mostly because I didn't understand them. Today, my go-to drink is a rye Manhattan. I began to fall in love with the old classic cocktails, most of which contained bitters. There's just something so timeless about a wellmade Manhattan, Sazerac, or Old Fashioned.” Kerfoot’s assessment of today’s sophisticated consumer mirrors Maher’s. “Some take their food and beverage very seriously. Some travel all over the world to experience different cuisines,” she says. “We have guests who know just as much about the spirits as we do. They are amazed at the site of our bitters and eclectic spirit selection.”
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Classics
John Maher agrees. “I think more people are starting to enjoy the bitter end of the spectrum as opposed to the sweeter end.” He explains, “This is exactly who we want in The Rogue Gentlemen, one that has an interest in trying new things as opposed to staying with one basic cocktail; someone who appreciates the different tastes of quality spirits, be it gin, bourbon, or amari.” Both restaurants excel in creating the perfect setting in which to experience the return to the classics. “The atmosphere at Saison is cozy and comfortable,” Ayotte says. “The lights are dim, music is playing, conversation and laughter fill the room.” Kerfoot adds, “Both behind the bar and in the kitchen, we take the freshest ingredients available and incorporate them in our food and beverages.” Of The Rogue Gentlemen, Maher says, "We chose a decor to have a nice mix of old and new. We make several types of bitters, tinctures, and shrubs here as well as make and bottle our own tonics, sodas, and ginger beer. We've scoured local thrift stores and consignment shops for vintage glassware that we constantly get comments on.” Located in the burgeoning Jackson Ward neighborhood, both spots offer locals the chance to get in touch with their evolving tastes in cocktails, and, perhaps, according to Justin Ayotte, even an opportunity to discover the evolution of their own personalities. “Cocktails have a way of melding creativity and personality,” he says. “These drinks are an expression of both the bartenders and the guest’s personalities. Sometimes you learn more about your guests through their beverage than the time you spend talking across the bar.”
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RAISING THE BAR
The Rogue Gentlemen CosNo
Saison Queens Park Swizzle
1 ½ ounces gin
1 ½ ounces White rum
½ ounce Cappelletti Americano
½ ounce Rhum Agricole
½ ounce blood orange juice
¾ ounce Demerara syrup
½ ounce lime juice
¾ ounce lime juice
Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake for 20 seconds.
12 mint leaves
Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
Muddle mint in Demerara syrup, fill pilsner glass with crushed ice, swizzle, top with Angostura and Peychauds bitters, garnish with mint
“At The Rogue Gentlemen,” says owner, John Maher, “we want (guests) who are open to trying new things. (We) open
“Originally the term ‘cocktail’ specifically meant a drink with
people’s eyes to new spirits or to those that they thought they
booze, sugar, water, and bitters,” says Sara Kerfoot, co-beverage
hated because they haven't had that type of quality spirit.”
manager (with Justin Ayotte) at Saison. This is why it is now referred to as the Old Fashioned.” Ayotte adds that the term, today,
618 N First Street | 477-3456 | TheRogueGentlemen.com
is used very loosely. 23 W. Marshall Street | 269-3689 | SaisonRVA.com
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RAISING THE BAR HAPPY HOUR SELECTS
American Tap Room 1601 Willow Lawn Drive Monday to Friday 3–7 $3.50 Select drafts $5.00 Select wines (red and white) $6.00 ATR Margarita, AppleJack and Chocolate Martinis Special Happy Hour Bar Food Menu
F.W. Sullivan’s Canal Bar & Grille 1001 Haxall Point Monday to Friday 4–7 $3.50 Drafts, house highballs and house wines $5.00 Select appetizers
Havana 59 16 North 17th Street Monday to Friday 4:30 – 6:30 (Friday drink special extended to 7:30) $4.00 Mojitos and select wines $1.00 Off domestic and imported beer $1.00 Off rail liquor $4.00 Select appetizers (includes fried calamari, tacos, wings, and Cuban nachos)
Lunch. Supper!
Buckhead's Maple Old Fashioned 1 ounce Maple Syrup 1 ½ – 2 ounces bourbon 3 dashes Angostura bitters Juice of 1 to 2 slices of orange Stir, add ice and garnish with an orange twist. “It seems that everything old is new again,” says private dining manager, Heather Mitchell. “Guests are returning to the classics. However,” she adds, “we really haven’t had to change our bar, because we have always been a classic steak house.”
1213 Summit Avenue Monday to Sunday 3–7 $4.00 Select wines $3.50 Rail drinks (incudes mimosas and Bloody Marys) $3.00 Draft beers
Phil’s Continental Lounge 5810 Grove Avenue Tuesday to Friday 4–7 $2.00 Domestic pints $4.00 Craft pints $3.75 Rail drinks $4.00 Vodka limeades $1.00 Hot dogs, sliders, & tacos
8510 Patterson Avenue | 750-2000 | Buckheads.com
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dining
River City Scoop By Tammy Bracket t
T
COURTESY OF KIERAN WAGNER
DINING
HE GOOD NEWS in River City is the closing of Popkin Tavern in February and the anticipation of the arrival of Top Chef alum, Mike Isabella, who will be bringing his second location of Graffiato to the space in late spring. Isabella is partnering with Richmond restauranteur, Travis Croxton, owner of Rappahanock. In other River City news, M Wine Bar & Bistro at Rocketts Landing closed in February as well, with no replacement waiting in the wings, and Chef Kevin LaCivita, who owned the popular Pomegranate Euro Bistro in Shockoe Bottom (closed in 2009) and was instrumental in helping launch the Blue Goat, has opened a new Pomegranate at 3321 W. Cary. Remember when going to the food market involved, not a ride in a car, but a walk? I remember my mom sending me to Mr. Wilson’s store a block away from home for bread and milk. And if I had been a good girl, she’d even give me an extra nickel to buy a banana Popsicle to munch on the way back home. Harvest Grocery+Supply owner Hunter Hopcroft intends to revive this vintage concept of the local neighborhood corner food market that was so prevalent in the 40s and 50s. And, folks in the Fan are loving it. “I was an investment analyst at a small firm in town,” Hopcroft says. “I left my job and was interviewing with a large firm in Los Angeles. While I was there, I noticed there was a neighborhood market on every corner. I’d always been an avid home cook, and I like food and the concept of a neighborhood market intrigued me.” Because farmers’ markets and sourcing local food have become very popular, Hopcroft decided that a neighborhood market with local fare that supported local food crafters would be attractive to Richmonders. After a bit of research, he found the location for Harvest Grocery+Supply at 1531 West Main St in October 2013 5 6 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
and opened in January, carrying items from local farms including dairy products from Old Church Creamery, Yoder’s tomatoes and McLellan meats, as well as local beer and wine. Keep informed of what’s new and fresh at Harvest Grocery+Supply by visiting www.facebook.com/harvestrva or www. harvestrva.com or calling 804-257-4300 After a two-year journey, The Rogue Gentlemen opened in January in Jackson Ward to much well-deserved fanfare. John Maher, owner and general manager, found the location for The Rogue Gentlemen, and then began the lengthy process of carefully preserving and renovating a historic property. The results are impressive. The north wall of The Rogue Gentlemen is original exposed brick. There’s a modern matte black concrete bar that seats 14, juxtaposed with walls of hard pine and cedar, gleaned from a 1908 tobacco warehouse in Lynchburg. “I like the concept of old and new, used and vintage,” says Maher. While the simple farm-to-table cuisine is notable, the stars of the show at The Rogue Gentlemen are the cocktails. “We were inspired by the pre-Prohibition era of standards and service,” explains Maher. “Our cocktails reflect a true attention to detail.” Three-gallon bourbon barrels from Reservoir Distillery in Scott’s Addition are used to age cocktails. “We serve a Rogue Manhattan with apple wood-smoked bourbon, sweet vermouth, barrel-aged bitters and a tobacco vanilla tincture. It’s garnished with an orange,” explains Maher. “The essential oils are ignited as it’s served.” For a taste of something out of the ordinary, visit The Rogue Gentlemen at 618 N. First Street. For details, go to www.theroguegentlemen.com or call (804) 477-3456. Rappahannock Restaurant, owned by cousins Ryan and Travis Croxton, embraces the farm-to-table concept in a
COURTESY OF THE RAPPAHANOCK
Lef t John Maher of The Rog ue Gentlemen. Above an exterior shot of The Rappahannock.
truly intimate way. The cousins also own Rappahannock O yster Company – a family owned and operated enterprise dating from 1899. Rappahannock ser ves oysters raised on the Croxton’s many farms across the Chesapeake Bay. “Our farm-to-table concept at Rappahannock evolved from 12 years of building friendships with food purveyors, restaurants, chefs and other farmers,” says Ryan Croxton. “ We acquired a knowledge of how distribution works and how product moves and is sourced. That gave us a considerable leg up and has allowed us to source some of the best ingredients in Virginia from some of the most inspiring people in Virginia.” Check out what ’s shucking at Rappahannock by visiting www.facebook.com/rappahannockrva or call 804-545-0565.
Restaurant Tips? Email Tammy Brackett Tammy@MoonstruckPromotions.com M a rc h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4
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ENTERTAINMENT
Downtown is for art lovers From outdoor in stallation s and urban st reet ar t to world-cla ss galleries, Richmond's ar t scene i s a fea st for the eyes. By Jody Rathgeb
Y
OU CAN SATE your food cravings almost anywhere in the
COURTESY OF ART WHINO
Richmond area, but when it's time to feed your soul with art, downtown is the best restaurant. The city's urban neighborhoods provide a smorgasbord of works by artists, ranging from anonymous ancient sculptors to modern painters who live right down the street. Entrée: Start your feast for the eyes at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, our state-supported centerpiece for fine arts. With 33,000 works of art from various cultures worldwide and several major donors, this is Richmond’s Art Central. Beyond the astounding permanent collection, with its icons of modern art, British sporting paintings, African art and the famed Fabergé eggs, VMFA nets exciting visiting exhibitions that feature such giants as Picasso, Dale Chihuly and Tom Wesselmann. Don’t try to do everything in one day. Admission for the permanent collection is free, so you can savor the experience over time. For catching the major events at VMFA, a museum membership is one of
Not a l l of R ich mond ' s ta len te d ar t i s t s show their work s i n for ma l ga l ler ies .
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the best bargains in Richmond. Individual memberships are $60 ($10 student, $45 senior) and family memberships are $85 for a full year. It includes parking, admission to special exhibits and discounts at the VMFA shop and for classes. Stroll and sample: Another “don’t miss” in the downtown arts scene is the First Fridays event, presented by the Downtown Neighborhood Association and sponsored by the University of Richmond, Altria and Venture Richmond. On the first Friday of every month, from 5 to 9 p.m., galleries, shops and restaurants along Broad Street and its environs celebrate the arts with openings and specials. Much of the work is created by local artists and is for sale. You can wander along the streets and drop into any of the galleries for snacks, wine and eye candy, then head to a nearby restaurant to discuss your discoveries. See the accompanying map for participating galleries. Neighborhood noshing: Tied up on the first Fridays? Don’t worry; there are plenty of other local events and hot spots for art. Art
For more information For more information and a map of First Friday ArtWalk locations, COURTESY OF TERRY BROWN
visit www.RVAFirstFridays.com Me de olo g y Col le c t i ve : A les sa ndro Im p era to , J i m Glad ma n , a nd Kel ly McCl u ng , “ B r idg e of Sig n s ” , 170 8 Ga l ler y ’ s In Lig h t R ich mond 2013 .
COURTESY OF THE VMFA
Works in Manchester offers similar Fourth Fridays in its warren of studios and galleries, and 1708 Gallery organizes InLight – an annual public exhibit of interactive, light-based art. It is a roving outdoor show that highlights a different neighborhood each year. Many of Richmond’s neighborhoods also harbor galleries where you can grab an art snack while shopping or running errands. In Carytown, for example, there are the Chasen Galleries, exhibits at Chop Suey Tuey Books and the murals of the Street Art Festival at the former GRTC garage. The Visual Arts Center studio in the Fan complements that neighborhood’s architectural goodies. And don’t forget the schools. Virginia Commonwealth University has the Anderson Gallery, and Virginia Union University’s library has a small but jaw-dropping exhibit of art from Africa and Oceania. Street fare: Just as the Richmond dining scene has its street carts, there is also street art. Public art allows you to take in works without even stepping into a gallery, and they’re everywhere. Among
Chih u ly ' s Re d Re d s make a s t u n ni ng s ta temen t a t the V irg i nia Mu s eu m of Fi ne A r t s .
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them, check out John Newman’s “Skyrider” across from Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom; Allan Rosenbaum’s “Cradle” at the Richmond Ambulance Authority, 2400 Hermitage Ave., and “Park Guardian” by Charles Pool at Oregon Hill Linear Park. Then, there are the murals. Mural projects have brought life to buildings in the Fan, Shockoe Bottom, Church Hill and the Canal Walk, often through large mural-painting events. Not everyone is fond of the works, particularly some that make social comment, but they do engage people and create discussion about art, which is one of the goals of such events. Perhaps the best known local muralist is Ed Trask, who serves on the Public Art Commission and has played a major role in most of the mural projects, as well as another project, En Plein Air, which places artists in the heart of the city. Trask – who began painting murals illegally in the early 1990s and gradually gave even the corporate community new ideas about what murals can and should be – is responsible for a number of the murals that have come to define certain places and buildings, including his trolley on the Canal Walk, the hard-edged beauty queen on the Sidewalk Café in the Fan and a portrait of jazz singer Nina Simone on the side of GlobeHopper Coffeehouse & Lounge in Shockoe Bottom. Unless you already know a particular artist’s work or look up details about a public art project, it’s hard to find the titles of much of our street art. Those who appreciate the work compensate through description and assigning names of their own making. Mention the “crazed panda” to anyone in Shockoe Bottom, for example, and they’ll quickly point you to the work of Aaron Martin, aka Angry Woebots, on the side of Tiki Bob’s Cantina. Such engagement is exactly the intent of “takin’ it to the streets.” Viewing art among the gritty streets of the Bottom or the traffic of the Fan may seem a world away, but it’s all part of the continuum of the downtown arts feast. Dig in. For more information: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard, VMFAMuseum.com; First Fridays, RVAFirstFridays.com; InLight, 1708Gallery.org; public art, RichmondGov.com/CommissionPublicArt and RVAStreetArt.com w w w. r i c h m o n d n av i g a t o r. c o m 5 9
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Carytown
A Day In...
By Chri stine Stoddard
I
In 2007, the iconic landmark was purchased by The Byrd Theatre Foundation, with the purpose of restoring and preserving this slice of Richmond’s entertainment history. The Foundation also plans to integrate cultural, educational and community programs and events into the venue’s programming, in addition to offering affordable movies 365 days a year. With 1,300 seats and a still-operational Mighty Wurlitzer Organ that introduces its Saturday night performances, the Byrd’s $1.99 second-run movies and special events like the upcoming French Film Festival are both budget-friendly and family-friendly.
COURTESY OF DEMENTI STUDIO
t ’s no surprise that Richmond’s oldest family-owned photography studio, Dementi (www.dementi.com) captured this vintage shot of Carytown’s Byrd Theatre. Founded in 1924, Dementi Studio has a vast historic archive of the city’s historic landmarks and treasured architectural memories. What is surprising is that The Byrd looks much the same as it did in 1928 when it opened, and has been operating almost continuously over the past eight decades as a movie theatre. Named after William Byrd II, one of Richmond’s founders, the building is a true cinematic treasure, and is both a State and National Historic Landmark.
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A Day In Carytown
C
arytown — that stretch of mom-and-pop retail heaven between I-195 and the Boulevard that attracts couples, families and students of all tastes and pocket depth — first became known as such in 1974. In the 1960s, West Cary Street was full of traditional stores, like corner shops, mixed in with apartments. Though the strip has experienced many changes since that point, it is now famous for its more than 300 boutiques and restaurants. Plus, there are historic sites – like Cary Court, the East Coast’s oldest outdoor shopping center, and The Byrd, the River City’s movie palace since 1928. With festivals, street performers, killer brunches and late-night dining, Carytown surely embodies its motto of “Eat. Shop. Play.” Today, storefront after storefront looks vibrant and welcoming with unique merchandise that's unlikely to grace standard commercial shopping malls. This is the district to stumble upon that perfectly-distinctive gift or enjoy a meal that satisfies a craving you never knew you had (until you become a Carytown regular).
N
ow that Carytown's part of my social routine, I'll sit at my desk suddenly wanting a peanut-butter milkshake from Galaxy Diner or randomly wondering what's playing at The Byrd. As it heats up, I'm confident more than one afternoon this season will be spent outside at Can Can, savoring a cheese plate with friends. This spring and summer, the French-inspired brasserie will feature local breweries and delicious seasonal dishes to complement the warm weather and craft beers. If I’m craving Mexican a bit of “la vida loca”, Nacho Mama’s is on my mind. When my wardrobe needs a quick update for a party or picnic, I'll hit Heidi Story for a new look or accessory. Heidi may not have been a star on “Project Runway”, but she did go to the Parsons School of Design and can tailor your look for that custom designer fit. For one-of-a-kind gifts for everything from birthdays to wedding showers, The Stolen Pig always yields a treasure: check out the Mason Jar Martini Mixers and wooden muddlers for the mixologists on your list. Virtually anytime I'm looking to drop cash for fun, I go to Carytown, and I'm far from the only one. 6 2 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
Shop for e cle c t ic home f ur ni shi ng s or u niq ue g if t s a t one of Ca r y to w n ' s m a n y l o c a l l y - o w n e d b o u t i q u es or s i m pl y rel a x o v er a ref re s h i n g bi t e a t o n e o f t h e g rea t re s t a u ra n t s a l o n g t h e s t r i p . C l o c k w i s e f r o m l e f t P h o t o s c o u r t e s y o f S t e v e Pa r i s h / U rb a n I n ter i or s , Ca nCa n , T h e Sto l en P i g a n d Na ch o M a m a ' s .
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COURTESY OF JANET BROWN INTERIORS
A Day In Carytown
K
eep your eyes wide open on the Mile of Style. Two places to check out – if you’re not familiar with them already – are Fiamour Lingerie for all you summer brides and Janet Brown Interiors for those in need of a home makeover or small touch of panache to update your space. Fiamour Lingerie, located at 3030 W. Cary St., touts beautiful intimate apparel. Co-owners, longtime neighbors and friends Shari Harabedian and Danyelle Evans, seek out designs from Italy, France, Germany, Canada and the U.S. Since opening in the fall of 2012, Harabedian and Evans have worked to provide customers with a wide range of sizes, especially those hard to find in standard department stores. If you want a look that nobody else in town will have, check out the Traveling Chic Boutique. Think trunk show-turned-
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retail store, where items are all unique and only carried once, with a wide range of prices and styles from affordable accessories to designer brands including Yumi Kim, Rory Beca, Hunter Bell and SOLD denim. Pictured above, Janet Brown Interiors, located at 3140 W. Cary St., boasts eye-catching antiques, furniture, pillows, lamps, tabletop linens, bed and bath linens, artwork and more. Blending the past with the present, Janet Brown makes home shopping appealing and flexible. The store carries more than 500 pillows in stock and offers a personalized gift registry service. Apart from selling home décor, Janet Brown also consults clients for realizing the full aesthetic potential of their homes. Looking for an in-town adventure this weekend? Eclectic Carytown has got you covered!
COURTESY OF RICHMOND REGION TOURISM
Getting Around In Carytown
Carytown’s popularity for one-stop shopping explains why one can be hardpressed to find parking on the weekends. That being said, free parking is available (and plentiful during the week). Here are a few locations. • The parking lot at the 3000 block of West Cary Street at the intersection of North Belmont and West Cary, behind the shops. • The parking lot at 3100 block of West Cary Street at Cary Court. • The parking lot at Carytown Place at the intersection of Nansemond Street and Ellwood Avenue. • The parking deck at 2900 block of West Cary Street at the intersection of Colonial Avenue and West Cary behind The Byrd. • The parking deck at 3300 block of West Cary Street adjacent to the McDonald's. As an avid walker, I do not mind parking on Ellwood Avenue or Floyd Avenue and walking to Cary Street. For those who prefer not to walk, are in wheelchairs, must push strollers or have other reasons for parking as close to the action as possible, the decks are the way to go. Well-marked and easy to find, the decks also protect your car (and you) from the elements. Just be prepared to wait your turn for a space! M a rc h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA CENNAMO CROWE
COURTESY OF THE JEFFERSON HOTEL
EATINGLOCAL from
Farm to Table W
HEN THE AREA'S best chefs need the freshest produce and meats for their signature dishes,
they don’t have it shipped in by the truckload or make a run to the nearby grocery store. Instead, they turn to farms or their own urban gardens for the freshest vegetables and meats available. By Amy R. Connolly
EATINGLOCAL
COURTESY OF JAY PAUL
Today, that small movement has spread like wildfire. Americans are more concerned than ever about food sources, environmental issues and healthful eating, and they have found that being a locavore is the answer. In the Richmond area, farmer’s markets, food co-ops and family farms have been around for years. Even community-supported agriculture (CSA) groups, which allow residents to buy into a farm’s harvest, have been thriving. What’s new is how this has hit the mainstream. No longer is local eating exclusive to the foodies. It’s tastier, healthier and provides a good boost to the economy.
Local Eating From Large to Small Certainly, Central Virginia boasts some of the most Chef Wa l ter B u nd y of L emaire beautiful farmlands that offer the freshest and best proODAY, HOME CHEFS, as well, are making this move toward duce and meats. Look at Tuckahoe Lamb & Cattle Company locavore – that is, growing, cooking and eating foods that are in Cartersville, located less than an hour outside of Richmond. locally produced. In the past several years, Virginia has emerged With 90 head of cattle, 200 sheep, 100 pigs and some chickens as a leader in the local food movement. Richmond restaurateurs and on 680 acres, owners Daniel Thompson and Emily Lenschow home chefs – even the local food bank – have seized this movement and say they have seen an uptick in the number of residents who made it their own. are interested in their meats. Many consumers come to them Steve Gallmeyer, owner of Gallmeyer Farms in Richmond, says the because they like the accountability that local farmers offer. locavore movement has crossed a line. “I find at the farmer’s markets that some folks select us because “I don’t know that it’s a fad anymore,” he says. “It’s more a they like our practices and other folks select us because they like the trend than a fad. There’s a growing number of people who are in taste of the meat,” Lenschow says. search of local foods.” At Casselmonte Farms in Powhatan, the wide variety of fruits and Eating local means different things to different people. For some, vegetables keep customers wanting more. Casselmonte, which grows it’s about eating produce and meats produced within a 50- to 100-mile only certified organic produce, grows specialty crops, including aspararadius. For others, it means eating only homegrown products from backgus, ginger, beets, bok choy and 32 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, just yard gardens. Regardless of how it’s defined, locavore seems to be a trend to name a few. Bill Cox, who owns the farm with his wife India, sells to that’s here to stay. local residents at the Powhatan and South of the James farmer’s markets. He realizes there’s more to local eating than just buying produce at a The Beginnings of Local Eating farmer’s market. Consumers need to know how to cook the food as well. “If you want to succeed in this business, you have to underReally, there’s nothing new about local eating. For centuries, homestand you are in the education business,” Cox explains, adding that town farms have produced foods for communities of all sizes. he’s always talking to his customers about the produce they’re buy“It’s how our country was formed, and it is what we are based on,” ing and swapping recipes. explains Sally Schwitters, the executive director of Tricycle Gardens, a This area also has some of the most plentiful small gardens. Richmond-based nonprofit that encourages local growing and eating. About a decade ago, Tricycle Gardens started the first community But, as the nation shifted, so did area residents. Big-box grocery stores, garden, with a focus on refreshing blighted areas, says Schwitters, with meats and produce being shipped from across the country, became the the organization’s executive director. While they may have started norm. While that seemed to work well for a while, a grassroots movement with flowers and plants, these gardens now have a bountiful selecstarted questioning the food sources. They wondered if it was environmention of vegetables and fruits, as well. Tricycle (continued on page 70) tally sound to ship food across the nation and questioned the health benefits.
T
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Chef Walter Bundy of Lemaire g rows some of hi s ow n produce and sources the rest f rom local far m s.
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EATINGLOCAL (continued from page 68) Gardens even helped the city of Richmond in 2011 when it started Richmond Grows Gardens, which encourages community gardens on city-owned property and now has six working gardens with flowers and vegetables. “I believe, as the population increases, community gardens will become more important and will be planned into new developments,” says Victoria Campbell, the city’s community garden coordinator. “And, I'm hoping that the interest in community gardens will encourage citizens to start their own backyard gardens and become directly involved with their own food supply and food security.”
A Taste of Local
COURTESY OF LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDENS
Even restaurants have turned to the community-garden model. About a decade ago, Walter Bundy, the executive chef at the awardwinning restaurant Lemaire, started an urban garden near the hotel’s employee parking lot. Today, he has a full line of produce from his garden, including tomatoes, okra, cantaloupe and a variety of herbs. While it’s never enough to fully sustain the whole restaurant, it’s enough for some of his signature dishes. “It doesn’t get any fresher or any more local,” Bundy boasts. “I do think that we do have a larger movement here that embraces local. In the past couple of years in Richmond alone, several farmers markets have popped up.” If you’re looking for a taste of local foods, here’s a small sampling of what’s available:
Pick Your Own: Tuckahoe Lamb & Cattle Company, located at 989 Cartersville Road, Cartersville, prides itself in raising only grass-fed cattle and lambs and pasture pork. Customers can purchase meat cuts at a variety of Richmond-area farmer’s markets or by calling Tuckahoe. TuckahoePlantationLivestock.com. Gallmeyer Farms, located at 3622 Darbytown Court and 4506 Millers Lane, has two Richmond locations– a seasonal you-pick strawberry patch and an extensive farm stand. GallmeyerFarms.com. Grow Your Own: With five grassroots community gardens throughout Richmond and an urban farm in Manchester, Tricycle Gardens allows for plenty of local farming and eating opportunities. Tricycle also runs a weekly farm stand at 2314 Jefferson Ave, Richmond. TricycleGardens.org. Last year, Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond produced 23½ tons of produce. While the garden does not allow private growing, all of the crops go to Feed More, which operates Central Virginia’s food banks and Meals on Wheels. The garden is open to volunteers to work the crops. LewisGinter.org. Richmond Grows Gardens, located at various locations is a citywide initiative that allows for community gardens on city-owned land. Crops can include fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and plants. RichmondGov.com/CommunityGarden.
Shop For It: GrowRVA farm stands, various locations. Formerly
called The Market Umbrella, GrowRVA is aimed at connecting residents with farm-fresh foods. The group runs two food markets: the South of the James Market and the South of the James Winter Market. The winter market runs through April 26, and the other runs from May 3 through Dec. 6. Both are located New Kent Avenue and 42nd Street, Richmond. GrowRVA.com. Lakeside Farmers’ Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., Richmond. With both indoor and outdoor pavilions, Lakeside runs a year-round market with a variety of foods from local farms. LakesideFarmersMarket.net. Victory Farms Urban Farmstand, Volunteers plant a communit y 4500 Reedy Ave., Richmond. Victory kitchen garden at Lew i s Ginter. Farms sells, not only direct to the conPhoto courtesy Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. sumer, but also to several area markets and restaurants. VictoryFarmsInc.com. Dine Out: Lemaire in The Jefferson Hotel, 101 West Franklin Street, Richmond. Executive Chef Walter Bundy takes enormous pride in the restauOrder It Online: Fall Line Farms. This online food market alrant’s urban garden. Although the garden doesn’t yet produce enough to comlows customers to shop and buy local farm foods online. The food is pletely sustain the restaurant, it does make a high yield in certain vegetables and then delivered to one of 12 locations in Richmond and Chesterfield. herbs, including tomatoes, parsley, basil, thyme and rosemary. The restaurant FallLineFarms.com. also uses locally-grown produce and meats. LemaireRestaurant.com. Dominion Har vest. This online seller produces boxes of Pasture, 416 E. Grace St., Richmond. Opened in 2011, Pasture local foods with meats, breads and produce culled from local depends on local growers for produce and meats. The restaurant also farms. The boxes are delivered to the customer’s doorstep features organic sustainable-farmed wines and beers from the eastern DominionHarvest.com. seaboard. PastureRVA.com.
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Local Recipes
Fried Green Tomatoes
Chopped Kale Salad
Walter Bundy, Lemaire Restaurant
Gina Collins, Victory Farms
Ingredients 6 green tomatoes, sliced ¼-inch thick
Ingredients ½ bunch kale, chopped 1 carrot, grated or chopped matchsticks 1 thinly-sliced onion
For the Breading 3 cups flour 2 cups buttermilk mixed with 5 whole eggs 4 cups panko bread crumbs (Japanese style) 1 cup kosher salt ¼ cup fresh ground white pepper 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Mix the rice wine vinegar, basil, sugar and water together. Slice the green tomatoes evenly with a sharp knife. Place tomatoes in a casserole dish layered evenly. Cover with the marinade. Let the tomatoes marinate for about 20 minutes. Drain them in a colander over a sink for about five minutes.
Ingredients to Taste Pine nuts or toasted almonds, walnuts or sunflower seeds Chopped olives (green, cured or Kalamata) Chopped dried tomatoes with some of the oil (or substitute fresh tomatoes) Capers Lemon juice Step by Step Toss generously with a balsamic or fruity vinaigrette dressing.
COURTESY OF BETH FURGURSON PHOTOGRAPHY
For the Marinade 2 cups rice wine vinegar ½ cup water ¼ cup basil, chopped 2 tablespoons sugar
Lay the green tomatoes out on a cutting board and season with kosher salt and fresh ground white pepper. Step by Step Carefully place the seasoned tomato in the all purpose flour. Lift it out and shake off the excess flour. Then, drop the tomato into the buttermilk/egg mixture and remove it. Let some of the egg wash slide off. Then drop the tomato into the bread crumbs and thoroughly coat. Lay the breaded tomatoes on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place in the freezer until ready to use. Fry in vegetable oil at 350 degrees until golden brown. Drain on brown paper bags and serve immediately.
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DESIGN
a ro u n d t h e h o u s e
Craft a Theme Garden By Vicki O'Neal , A SID, CID, VSLD
O
NE OF THE most fun and creative endeavors in landscape design is creating theme gardens. Not only are they pleasing to the eye, they give interest, organization and intention to landscape design that is all but otherwise unachievable. A theme garden may be formal and structured, or it may appear loose and pleasingly haphazard. In any format, and whether it’s in a public or private setting, theme gardens offer an opportunity to richly appreciate the landscape through the vision of an imaginative creator. There are a plethora of theme gardens, some with iconic imagery that is instantly recognizable. Many theme gardens conjure up visions of elegant and noble historic sites, romantic settings, and classic designs of enduring beauty. Consider the unforgettable mind’s-eye picture of the geometric parterre gardens of Versailles, the romantic sensibility of Monet’s Giverny garden, the lushness of an English garden, or the serenity created by the archetypal elements of a Japanese garden. Many theme garden styles can be implemented in a residential or commercial setting, although some of the less formal aesthetics are more easily adaptable for the home gardener. Themes to consider include a rock garden, herb garden, moon garden, water
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garden, fragrant garden, butterfly garden, maze or labyrinth, bog garden, cottage garden, or children’s garden. Some of these garden styles are primarily seasonal. Many theme-garden concepts overlap one another. For example, a rock garden may include herbs, plants that attract butterflies or perennials found in a cottage garden. There are no rules for your theme garden except the ones you establish. PA R T E R R E GA R DE N S of intricate geometric patterns are particularly thought of as elegant and noble, and are often seen in historic settings. Many memorable European gardens include intricate parterres. They are the most formal, planned and symmetrical of all landscape designs, and require the highest and most skilled maintenance to be kept
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 es 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 . ( 8 0 4 ) 897 - 855 8 F a nd F des ig n . c om In for ma t ion i n ar t icles w r i t ten by V ick i O ’ Nea l i s i n tende d for g enera l referenc e on ly .
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DESIGN
a ro u n d t h e h o u s e
at their best. They are visually striking, with definite paths, sight lines and focal points. Their rhythmic grace can be especially enjoyed when viewed from above. Knot gardens are somewhat more casual parterre interpretations. Great examples are right in our backyard, so to speak, as Colonial Williamsburg contains several of both. The layouts can be quite elaborate or more simplistic, and typically consist of low-manicured plantings, paths and hardscape elements, and perhaps sculpture. Although for the home garden, a parterre is more involved to create, smaller expressions can be integrated with a good plan and care during initial layout. J A PA N ESE GA R DE N S are unmistakable in their imagery. Just the sight of a Japanese maple in all its beauty and elegance evokes the tranquil feeling of a Japanese garden. These gardens contain particular components and usually incorporate backdrops and plantings of evergreen trees and shrubs, stone features, natural paths, ponds or water features (often containing koi), and architectural or sculptural elements. Size is frequently a limiting factor in the gardens of Japan. To overcome the challenge, their designers are masters at creating spatial illusion. Landscape features – strategically placed in the foreground, mid ground, and background – visually expand space. Texture and color are also used to create the impression of greater space. For example, finely-textured, blue-tinted foliage used at the rear of a garden is perceived as further away than it actually is. Consider a path leading to a hidden destination. Its meandering presence subliminally engages the imagination and invites travel through the garden. 7 4 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
Unlike our idea that the warmer months should be filled with flowers that bloom the entire season, the Japanese aesthetic is to enjoy brief shows of blossoms and color. The deep appreciation of these transitory and fleeting displays make those garden moments-in-time very special and fondly anticipated. The cherry blossom festival is a punctuation in the calendar, as are other brief but vibrant shows. I love this philosophy, and it relieves the self-imposed pressure that the garden should be a showplace from spring through fall. MOON GA R DE N S are one of my favorite garden themes! In essence, a moon garden is intended to be enjoyed during the evening hours. Most people work through the day, so a garden planned to be at its peak at night is a special treat. The primary feature of a moon garden is white flowering plants. Have you ever noticed how bright the moon can be? A garden of near exclusively white flowers almost seems to glow and shimmer in the soft evening light. Outdoor lighting can particularly enhance a moon garden, and the addition of candles also makes an extraordinary setting. One of my all-time favorite flowers is the moon vine, Ipomoea alba. It is a cousin of the morning glory and its flowers are the purest white. As the name implies, it blooms at night. It is an annual, and as such, requires planting every year. The blossoms are huge—up to six inches across—and immensely fragrant. The flowers open at dusk, uncurling in a magnificent show right before your eyes. The vine is vigorous, blooming from late July until the first frost. CON TA IN E R GA R DE N S offer an opportunity to have accent plantings where you want them. Containers are a great way of locating bold colors for a specific event or purpose, or to accentuate a par-
ticular focal point. Well-planted containers, or better yet, groupings of containers, can provide the seasonal splash you may want for any number of reasons. One great thing about containers: when a specific plant doesn’t look its best, it can usually be plucked out with ease and replaced with a fresh specimen. The formula for stunning containers is to include a “thriller, filler and spiller.” This means one larger, taller feature specimen, fillers (I use a few) under and around the thriller, and spillers to run down the pot and perhaps crawl along the ground or surface. Amazing combinations of color, form and texture can be achieved. The plantings do require intensive watering during our hot, dry spells, but the special attention is confined to a small area. If you have an irrigation system, a dedicated micro zone can be installed to do the job for you. PL A N TING A T H EM E GA R DE N involves considering some of these guidelines before digging in. Unless you have a large property, a single theme is usually best. However, complementary themes can be integrated from front to back, or in smaller vignettes within a larger context. In contemplating the type of theme garden to integrate into your site, consider the overall look, mood and character you would like to achieve, and the architecture and motifs of your home and neighborhood. Your theme garden should look natural in its stylistic interpretation and setting. Also consider the level of maintenance that may be associated with a particular style or type of design. A theme garden can be built around any idea that provides a unifying or organizing principle. I once planned a perennial garden that was configured in the shape of a modified rainbow. It was great fun and allowed for the inclusion of some impulsive finds. One unique idea might be to include edible plantings throughout your landscape rather than relegating them to a vegetable garden. Creating a theme garden is an opportunity to let go and engage your imagination and creativity. The result can be strikingly artistic and enjoyable.
Design services for home or business Interior Design
Landscape Design
• Space planning • Lighting design • Outdoor living • Hardscapes • Remodeling & additions • Furniture • Pools & water features • Construction drawings • Color & materials • Plant selection • Installation
804.897.8558 | FandFdesign.com | M a rc h / A p r i l 2 0 1 4
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DESIGN
business
Trinity Renovations By Tammie Wersinger
W
HEN MIKE RIDENOUR started Trinity Renovations Inc.
15 years ago, it was just him, a pick-up truck and his desire to build a great reputation in the specialized industry of bathroom and kitchen remodeling. Today, with his hard work and planning, it has become a reality. Mike and his wife, Stephanie, have built their Mechanicsville business into a top-notch, full-service bathroom and kitchen remodeling company, with a 3,000-square-foot showroom. They offer a complete turn-key service and everything needed to get the job done. Mike says, “From removal of the old plumbing fixtures to the painting and clean-up, everything is always done by our in-house employees. We don't hire out any of the work to subcontractors.” Trinity Renovations recently expanded its showroom at 6102 Brashier Blvd. to feature full-size bathroom and kitchen displays. And, their design team specializes in helping customers navigate through all the tasks of remodeling, selection of products, colors and any special needs or requests. “Our renovation specialists will listen to you and provide professional advice,” Mike explains. “They are there from the first consultation until the remodeling project is complete.” Licensed and insured with guaranteed competitive prices, Trinity Renovations Inc. has 13 employees and eight vehicles on the road, which makes it possible to serve the kitchen and bathroom remodeling needs of homeowners throughout the Richmond area. “Our biggest asset is the top quality employees we've got working for us. We all take pride in our work and the special care that we give our customers' homes,” Mike says. “Our remodeling and renovation projects provide outstanding value, total commitment, superior products and quality craftsmanship.”
For more information Visit the new and expanded showroom at 6102 Brashier Blvd., call Trinity at 318-1907, or visit www.TrinityRenovationsInc.com 7 6 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
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DESIGN
business
Eagle Construction of Virginia Celebrating 30 years of excellence.
F
OUNDED IN 1984, Eagle Construction of VA, LLC, celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year. One of Virginia’s leading independent builders, Eagle takes pride in delivering an Elite Homebuyer Experience to each Homebuyer. Their portfolio offers lasting craftsmanship and enduring value in Richmond’s favorite places to live. Currently building in 11 communities in the Richmond area, Eagle Construction builds in prime locations buyers seek out- in award willing school districts- centrally located to amenities. Their continuous efforts to refine the buildi ng process, create innovative ideas and offer new designs has awarded them with honors such as “Richmond’s Builder of the Year” and “One of the Top 200 Builders in America”. You can see Eagle’s craftsmanship for yourself at West Broad Village. In this urban village, homeowners can escape the hassle and noise of city-life without having to sacrifice the convenience of walk ing everywhere they want to go. Residents enjoy the state-of-the-art clubhouse that features a fully equipped fitness room with children’s play area, a resort-style pool, Movie Theater, and a pub room with a billiard table and poker area. Errands are stress free when you can simply walk to the bank, pick up groceries at Whole Foods, grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants and shop one of the retail spots like HomeGoods for all their decorating needs. Eagle Construction takes this luxurious, yet easy-living lifestyle of West Broad Village to the next level with two distinctive home styles – the Brownstones priced from the $530’s and the Village Townes priced from the upper $360’s. These three and four story townhomes offer beautiful kitchens, spacious living areas and bedrooms, well-appointed details and true two car garages. And these homes are also low maintenance, meaning instead of doing yard work, residents have the time to enjoy all that West Broad Village has to offer. Tour one of our models to learn more about Eagle’s homes and how you can live, work, shop and play in West Broad Village! A full list of Eagle Construction’s communities and locations can be found at www.eagleofva.com. One of the reasons Eagle has been so successful over the past 30 years is because of their ability to stay ahead of the trends and their true understanding of meeting the buyers’ needs. The Eagle Construction Award Winning Home Gallery in West Broad Village makes it easy for homebuyers to design the home of their dreams. The nearly 4,000 square-foot facility displays the latest trends in appliances, technologies, products and interior design, ranging from modern and simplistic to old-world and ornate. Staffed with full time design consultants and open 7 days a week in a store front location, Eagle encourages both homebuyers and non-homebuyers to stop in and browse the endless choices for personalization. Eagle also stays ahead of the industry when it comes to building green homes. Each Eagle Construction home is E3 Certified (Eagle Energy Efficiency) by a third party contractor. Their E3 technology includes spray foam insulation in all exterior walls, Low E windows, 7 8 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
high efficiency HVAC systems, high efficiency fireplaces, and tankless water heaters. E3 homes are cleaner, healthier homes. Along with a smaller carbon footprint, their homeowners can expect to save over 30% on monthly utility costs, while saving valuable environmental resources for years to come. Not only has Eagle Construction proven to be a leader in the homebuilding industry but they can also take pride as they continue to build on their experience as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary.
For more information Check out Eagle Construction and West Broad Village: www.eagleofva.com
YESTERDAY
looking back
Baseball Memories and Hometown Heroes
COURTESY OF VINTAGE RVA
Richmond's love af fair w ith professional ba seball dates back to 1884. By Jack Trammel
HAT DO VIRGINIAN'S, Crows,
Lawmakers, Blue Birds, Giants, Colts, Rebels, Vees, Climbers, and Braves have in common? All of them were names of Richmond professional minor league baseball teams, predecessors to the Flying Squirrels. Professional baseball has been in Richmond since 1884, when the Richmond Virginians of the American Association compiled a less than impressive record of 12 wins and 30 losses (.286 winning percentage). In spite of that losing record, the Virginians remain Richmond’s only Major League level club, as they were elevated to replace another team briefly at the end of the big league season. The variety of stadiums and locations where the game was played over time is impressive. In 1884, the Virginians’ stadium was on the site of the presentday Robert E. Lee monument; there were early ball fields at the old fairgrounds at Monroe Park; the Colts played games at Tate Field on Mayo Island in 1940, and in 1942 moved to Mooers Field at Roseneath and Norfolk streets in Scott's Addition; Parker Field (built in 1934) replaced Mooers in 1954 and was at the fairgrounds; the Diamond was first used in 1985. Perhaps Richmond will have another stadium soon to add to the list. But, most of all, Richmonders appreciate their baseball heroes and memories. Many names may be familiar from the past: Dale Murphy, Tom Glavine, Ryan Klesko, Javier Lopez, Joe and Phil Niekro, Andruw Jones, etc. But one of the most popular is recentlyretired shortstop and third baseman Chipper 8 0 We s t E n d ' s B e s t
Jones, who many believe will soon be a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee. “I remember watching Chipper Jones and Ryan Klesko play,” Ross Luck of Luck Chevrolet recounts. “Ryan Klesko went to the International League All Star Game one year and hit something like a home run, two doubles and a triple. During an afternoon game, Chipper Jones was called out by the ump at home plate when he appeared to be safe, and then was promptly ejected for arguing with said ump. During the inning change, the announcer told the crowd that Chipper had won some kind of league award; too bad he wasn't around to hear it!” Luck also remembers seeing Hank Aaron play in a sold-out Parker Field, and then later on seeing Parker Field torn down and the Diamond built. “I remember eating pregame meals at Bill's Barbeque; sad to see that lot empty now…” Even younger residents remember the popular Jones, who won numerous recognitions – ranging from MVP (most valuable player) to Rookie of the Year – and brought a World Series title to the Atlanta Braves, the Richmond Braves’ MLB parent club. “Chipper Jones is still my all-time favorite,” Alec, a student at Randolph-Macon who worked on the Diamond grounds crew for an internship, remembers from his youth. “He was awesome, and I remember those trips to the Diamond like they were yesterday.” What’s clear when you look at old photographs, news clippings, and talk to people who have lived in Richmond, is this: Richmond has always been a baseball town.
Above Parker Field at the Fairg round s in the 1960's wa s a favorite of Richmond ba seball fan s. B elow In 18 8 4 , the V irg i nia n s ' s tadi u m wa s lo ca te d on the s i te of the pres en t - d ay Rob er t E . L e e mon u men t .
COURTESY OF RICHMOND REGION TOURISM
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EX N NE PA EW R SH N D O ED IG DE S
Trinity Renovations, Inc.
OUTSTANDING VALUE • TOTAL COMMITMENT SUPERIOR PRODUCTS • QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP
Open
• Remodeling bathrooms and kitchens for 15 years Monday–Friday 9 am to 7 pm • No subcontractors
Saturday 9 am to 1 pm
• Large showroom with finished bathrooms and kitchens • Professional consultants to help you with your selections
• We take pride in our work and the care we give your home • Licensed and insured • FREE Consultation • References available upon request
Showroom Located at 6102 Brashier Boulevard, Suite H, Mechanicsville
www.trinityrenovationsinc.com | (804) 318-1907
FROM THE LOW $500’S
URBAN LOFT-STYLE LIVING WITH ROOFTOP TERRACES
4 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 2,700+ SQ. FT.