Greater Richmond Grid by Palari Publishing LLP

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BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

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G R E AT E R R I C H M O N D

Behind the Mystique of Neo‑Burlesque

CONNECTING LIVE + WORK + PLAY

LOFT LIFE BIZ SAVVY GALLERIES BOOKS WEBSITES MUSIC DESIGN WORKOUTS

FREE | ISSUE #1 | SUMMER 2009

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Peek‑a‑boo Perfect!

ALSO ON THE GRID:

PREMIERE ISSUE

ʻBY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLEʼ Richmondʼs User‑Content Driven Magazine

FOOD:

ELLIE BASCH’S CAPRESE SALAD

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LIVE CONTENTS

The Virtuous Circle

QUICK,

WHATʼS A FOUR LETTER WORD THAT CAP‑ TURES THE VIBRANT BUSINESS, ARTS AND CULTURE; THE WEALTH OF HISTORY; AND THE SPECTRUM OF LIVING OPTIONS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN RICHMOND? namics of our regionʼs city and counties. Perhaps the gridʼs popularity in contem‑ porary art is that the simple structure can have so many complex meanings. Associa‑ tions are many, the grid of a calendar, its use in architec‑ ture, thereʼs even the invisible grid in publishing (itʼs the rows and columns formed by

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“INLIGHT” PHOTO COURTESY OF 1708 GALLERY

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ER G R E AT

| ISSUE #1

FUL BEAUTI PEOPLE

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Remember the brand has to represent the online commu‑ nity as Virginia has always been on the cutting edge of technology. And before you answer, youʼll want to include the diverse blend of people, array of communities and the seemingly endless festivities that celebrate our many cul‑ tural origins. Such is the challenge of brand creation. While we had named a lot of publi‑ cations before, this one had us stumped. Because this magazine has been produced in a diﬀerent way from our previous ones. Much like the latest trend of user‑generated content for websites, this publicationʼs editorial matrix came about in large part through interac‑ tion with readers on social media sites. Thatʼs why youʼll ﬁnd a lot of the subjects of arti‑ cles and many of our writersʼ bylines have been tagged with the social media key. Back to the name. In keeping with the spirit of user‑generated content we held a contest for the brand. Many of the hundreds of sug‑ gestions evoked the regionʼs geographic location, refer‑ ences to the James River abounded as did the fact that Richmond is a state capital. But it wasnʼt until Court‑ ney Moates Paulk submitted “Grid” that we realized we had been approaching the chal‑ lenge a bit myopically. The name shouldnʼt brand the content, it should carry the vibe, the essence of an urban layout of neighborhoods as well as the interconnected dy‑

+ PLAY

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Cover Art: Image based on ʻInLight Richmond 2008ʼ photo by Lindsay Stovall. Go with the crowd to page 39 for more on this yearʼs event.

the white space between the articles and pictures̶youʼre never aware of it, but itʼs al‑ ways there). Which brings us back to the beginning of the virtual genesis of this real‑world publi‑ cation. Through the grid of friend requests, photos, tweets, instant messages and wall posts found on the social community web pages, we expanded our sense of Rich‑ mondʼs real‑world options and produced this premiere issue of Greater Richmond Grid as well as its online version at RichmondGrid.com̶creating a virtuous circle of virtual and actual community.

FAMILY Bored No More! With staycations all the rage, Grid put together a summer day Downtown that is fun, active and̶best of all̶ guaranteed to tucker out your little tykes.

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COMMUNITY NEXUS Shockoe Bottom Green

Courtney Moates Paulk Winner of Grid’s Naming Contest held this past June, Attorney Courtney Moates Paulk practices law at Hirschler Fleischer. How did you find out about the contest? C.M.P.: I heard about the contest from a posting on Facebook. In fact, I ran into it on the last day and I thought̶why not! What does the name mean to you? C.M.P.: Iʼve always loved the fact that you can start on all variety of streets downtown and stay on that same street for miles and miles. For example, take Patterson Avenue and you go from Richmond, to Henrico to Goochland to Maidens. Take Hull Street and you go from Richmond to Chesterfield to Powhatan to Amelia. It is that larger grid that connects us. That trig‑ gered the idea for “Grid”̶which brings up all sorts of additional connotations like electricity, tech‑ nology and diversity. It goes to the heart of the physicality of the greater metropolitan area. It goes to the vibrancy and innovation of the greater metropolitan area. It connects our future with our past. It just seemed to fit. What are your thoughts about Richmond as a city? My favorite thing about Richmond right now is the growth downtown and restoration thatʼs taking place everywhere. When I was a kid, I used to go shopping downtown on the weekends at Thalhimerʼs and Miller & Rhoads. And, then, there was a long period of time that the only thing that happened downtown was “work.” Now, new commercial and residential space is going up. Old, historic buildings are being renovated for offices, condos and apartments.

Courtney Moates Paulk

The 17th Street Farmersʼ Market part‑ nered with Venture Richmond in May 2009 to create the Shockoe Community Garden.

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Fab Finds at the Farmers’ Market This ultimate shop‑local option is also a bazaar‑trollerʼs bonanza.

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GATHERING PLACES TOMATOPALOOZA! One day, two festivals, a city, a county and a whole lot of vine‑grown love.

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Pure Energy Ellwood Thompsonʼs new coﬀeehouse, called Ellwoodʼs Coﬀee is located at the top of Carytown.

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LOFT LIFE Living Easy with a Touch of Panache Homeowners Colleen Hall and Carol Damonʼs fabulous condominium with a stunning river view proves that simpli‑ fying your life doesnʼt mean you have to forgo comfort or style.

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DESIGN FORWARD Engineering Aesthetics The multimedia design and fabrication ﬁrm, Tektonics Design Group employs a wide array of materials and innovative techniques in their projects.

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GREEN SPACES Waterway Innovations The Canal Walk is beautiful, canal boats are full, but has it really been an economic success?

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WORK CONTENTS BIZ SAVVY Regional Business News page 18

MOMENTUM Open for Business: Amazing Tales of Entrepreneurship Lisa Ritchie transitions from a branch manager for a local personnel service to starting her own publishing franchise.

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Legal Brief: Aggregate or Aggravate? You donʼt need a lawyer to tell you that more news is available in more places as a result of news sites, blogs, email & newsletters.

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Marketing Maverick: Engaging the Inevitable

8:15 SATURDAY NIGHT IN CARYTOWN

Blog, tweet, friend, link. These are the action verbs of social media.

Richmond on foot is a completely diﬀerent city than it is by car. Strolling streets, youʼll happen upon interesting moments like this one. The scene seemed somehow familiar snapped in front of the Byrd Theater. The usher taking a break, enjoying her thoughts in the last few minutes of twilight with kids idling by on their bikes. While creating the above painting in Photoshop, it came to us. Edward Hopperʼs “New York Movie” [shown left] holds a similar moment of reverie in the city. Life imitating art, art imitating life̶either way itʼs a timeless moment.

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Leadership: On a Need-to-Know Basis Leadership and management are two sides of the same coin, but they each require diﬀerent skill sets.

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EMERGING MEDIA ‘I’ve Seen the Future of Business, and it’s on Facebook.’ Social media tags people to email addresses and blurs the boundaries of business and pleasure.

Executive Publisher Ted Randler

Publisher | Senior Editor David Smitherman

804‑355‑1236

804‑355‑1035

Ted@theworkfactory.com

Dave@palaribooks.com

RichmondGrid.com for a complete listing of the magazine’s distribution locations throughout the Greater Richmond Region. Also online, connect with Grid’s writers and photographers.

A Conversation with Social Media Club Richmond’s Program Director Nathan Hughes page 23

T0 ADVERTISE CALL 804-355-1035

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Greater Richmond Grid is published in the months of

JULY, OCTOBER, JANUARY & APRIL General comments, story suggestions and letters to the editor for publication consideration should be directed to Ted Randler at

GRP NEWS Business First; GRP Celebrates 15 Years of Business Expansion page 26

ted@theworkfactory.com.

Greater Richmond Grid & RichmondGrid.com

of any text, photograph or il‑

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duction in whole or in part lustration without written

PO Box 9288 Richmond VA 23227

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INDICATES MEMBERSHIP TO

Go to

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INNOVATORS NEAT, LLC; Top Notch Richmond; Pirates Sweet Booty

Social Media Key

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permission from the pub‑ lisher is prohibited.

twitter.com www.myspace.com www.facebook.com www.youtube.com www.linkedin.com The articles you ﬁnd in the magazine are also available online. The online icons from the Social Media Key are linked to the individualʼs various community memberships. The icons in the articles are there to inform read‑ ers that they may learn more about̶and possi‑ bly contact̶the writers and subjects of articles found in the Greater Richmond Grid. Many of the articles in print have additional ma‑ terial and/or associated web features that can be found on RichmondGrid.com. Wherever pos‑ sible, additional articles have been noted, but readers are encouraged to check the site for ex‑ panded articles and daily updates.

Ted Randler

David Smitherman

Found a mouse living in our garage while cleaning. Sherry talked cutesy to it until it ran onto her feet, at which point screaming ensued. 5:11 PM Jul 18th from web

And as if this week couldnʼt get any more “fun”̶ weʼre oﬀ to the dentist later today! 6:39 AM Jul 13th from web

With Facebook, people with self‑identity issues can ﬁnally come to terms with which Jonas Brother, breed of dog or crayon color they are. 2:34 PM Jul 16th from web

What does being too lazy to go to the grocery store taste like? Parmesan Goldﬁsh dipped in peanut butter. 3:52 PM Jul 12th from web

I just got the ﬁrst tattoo at #Tattooleetup. Chris was my artist, and heʼs amazing! Pics and vids coming... Who else wants one? 5:53 PM Jul 10th from web

Awesome, very southern 4th. Fireworks‑related injuries (Grace), great tato salad, way too much food, and yeah, Nascar. Love my family. =) 11:32 PM Jul 4th from web

Toddler refuses to eat lunch. I suggest putting syrup on everything. Wife refuses. Whoʼs being unreasonable now? about 20 hours ago from Tweetie

Okay, 11 new posts on four sites. Iʼve worked oﬀ any excess energy I've been carrying on me since I woke at 4 a.m. Time to crash. 9:51 PM Jul 1st from web

See extended Tweet Talk on RichmondGrid.com

Hot Tweets @younghouselove

RICHMOND TWEEPLE COMPILED BY PAUL SPICER

Following: 550+ | Followers: 1,650+ | Updates: 850+ JOHN & SHERRY PETERSIK Web: www.younghouselove.com Bio: “Iʼm John. Sheʼs Sherry. Weʼre 27. Our house is 50. Itʼs old enough to be our parent, but we treat it like itʼs our baby.” “We began tweeting half out of curiosity and half out of fear of being left behind. We saw other bloggers on Twitter and ﬁgured it was a space we should be in too. Heck, we thought we might even get a few new read‑ ers out of it. Originally we planned to use it to make mobile updates, like we're out shopping and spotted a deal. We slowly discovered other uses̶making micro‑posts (subjects not worthy of a whole blog post, but still interesting) and to converse with readers and others. It's this conversation part that we didn't anticipate. We ﬁnd ourselves corresponding with designers, other bloggers, readers, and even people behind our favorite HGTV shows.”

@JephKelley

PLAY CONTENTS SONGFEST In Concert The 25th Anniversary Friday Cheers; Richmond Folk Festival Announces 2009 Acts; Zac Brown Band@ Brownʼs Island; Ellis Paul @ Ashland Coﬀee & Tea; B.J. Kocen; The Hot Seats

page 28

Todd Hale’s Top 5 Local Bands page 30

MULTIMEDIA Film Noir For The Net With several web series underway, Greg Dayeʼs projects will include gigs for CBS Channel 6 & CW.

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The Beauty of Pandora Pandora Internet Radio founder Tim Westergren discusses the radioʼs future.

Following: 170+ | Followers: 815+ | Updates: 1,090 + JEFF KELLEY Web: www.tarichmond.com Bio: “My mom says I'm funny, which I guess counts for something. “

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A Magical Night With Emmy, Alex & Oprah

“Through Twitter, I have connected to a community of people who use it solely for writing comedy. It sounds really weird, but you develop a very close con‑ nection to these people, even never having met them. Is that healthy? Yes, it is. Iʼm a very social person, and Twitter is a very social medium. Creative writing is probably one of my favorite things to do, and this is a way of compiling what I think are funny thoughts into a single place. ”

@JolieODell

Richmonder Alex Germanotta wins an Emmy.

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FIRST FRIDAYS Gallery Tour and Exhibit Review page 32

EXHIBITIONS Eldridge Bagley: ‘A Road Taken’; Artspace Biennial page 38

Following: 2280+ | Followers: 3,345 + | Updates: 4,060+ JOLIE O'DELL Web: http://is.gd/uMwK Bio: “ReadWriteWeb tech journo. Geek catalyst. Lover of rollerskates, sandwiches, and rock and roll.“

PERFORMANCE Front & Center Seats: CenterStage Grand Opening;

Seeing the Light:

“There's a lot of speculation that Twitter will get bought in 2009/2010. Depending on how Twitter plans to monetize, I think that our collective use of the platform could change across the board. Also, as the ecosystem of third‑party services grows, the ways we all use Twitter are constantly changing. Twitpic and other services have allowed us to send images; others are focusing on autotweeting blog posts or measuring Twitter buzz about products, services, and brands.”

@sarvay Following: 185+ | Followers: 450 + | Updates: 2,360 + JOHN SARVAY Web: www.floricane.typepad.com Bio: “I've been using the Internet as a business and communications tool since the early 1990s, and have always tried to keep my fingers in what‑ ever new technology resource seems to be emerging to facilitate conver‑ sation and communication.“ “During the early part of this decade, it was the weblog platform which emphasized long‑form posts filled with material snatched from and hyperlinks directed to other online sources. I was skeptical of Twitter ini‑ tially, but in the three months that I've been actively "tweeting" I've found it to be an interesting way to keep my voice in the online mix.”

Tatjana Beylotte previews InLight 2009

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GLITZ & GLAM The Beautiful People; Peek-a-boo Perfect!; Street Chic: 3 Designers & Street Vendors page 40

Unique Boutique; Shopping Spree page 41

What’s Kyra Wearing?; Consider the Source Working in conjunction with the national 3/50 Project, the Retail Merchants Association rolls out its “Think. Shop. Buy. Local” program.

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FOOD Mosaic Café & Catering; Savor’s Chef Ellie Basch page 43

YOUR WORKOUT Island Jogging; Sweat Equity

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PAGE VIEWS page 46

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DON’T JUST SIT THERE.

DO SOMETHING!

Show your appreciation by sending ﬂowers from Strange’s. It’s the perfect gift for new business or a job well done. It’s a smart business decision because, when you order online, you save with no wire services fees (up to a $13.95 value) for ﬂowers sent anywhere in the US and Canada. A smile is just a click away online at www.stranges.com.

www.stranges.com

Northeast 321-2200

3313 Mechanicsville Pk., near Laburnum Avenue.

West End 360-2800

12111 W. Broad St. between Rt. 288 & Short Pump Town Ctr.

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Bon Air 321-0460

8010 Midlothian at Buford Rd.

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Midlothian 321-0455

11704 Midlothian Pk., one block west of Huguenot

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Hull Street Road 321-0470 6710 Hull Street at Chippenham

Your best resource for sports, recreation AVAILABLE NOW! and wellness in Greater Richmond. JULY | AUGUST In print and online at SBQnow.com ISSUE C a l l ( 8 0 4 ) 3 5 5 - 1 0 3 5 fo r a d i n fo.

Take ’Em On A Cruise

BY ANNE FLATIN

‘Row, Row, Row Your Kayak...’

Family

JUST LOOK AT HER. SHEʼS SO CUTE, SO ENERGETIC, SO LOVABLE AND̶OH SO DEMANDING! ʻMOMMY, IʼM BORED.ʼ ʻDADDY, LETʼS PLAY.ʼ JUST ABOUT THIS TIME EVERY SUMMER YOUR AIR‑CONDI‑ TIONED, CABIN‑FEVERED DARLINGS LOOK TO YOU AS THEIR ENTERTAINMENT DI‑ RECTOR. FEAR NOT, WITH STAYCATIONS ALL THE RAGE, Grid PUT TOGETHER A SUMMER DAY DOWNTOWN THAT IS FUN, ACTIVE AND̶BEST OF ALL̶GUARAN‑ TEED TO TUCKER OUT YOUR LITTLE TYKES.

LIVE

Bored No More!

James River Park: Some of the most beautiful spots in Richmond, James River Park is a nature‑loving kidʼs paradise. Oﬀering hiking, rock‑climbing, ﬁshing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming, as well as group educational programs, the James River Park System welcomes kids of all ages. Parents can enjoy nature walks and picnics on Belle Isle with younger children, or easy canoe and kayak runs with older children. To learn more about the James River Park System, visit http://www.jamesriverpark.org.

Bonus Points

On the footbridge to Belle Isle.

James River and Kanawha Canal: River District Canal Cruises oﬀer 40‑ minute tours of the canal by covered boat. While parents soak in Rich‑ mond history, kids can enjoy a scenic boat ride. You can even charter boats for private parties. Think about a birthday party on a boat. For more information, click on canal cruises at www.venturerichmond.com.

Parents with older children can easily plan outings in downtown Richmond, particularly if

‘Let Them Eat Cake...’ That They Make

Mise En Place: This Richmond culinary school oﬀers private parties for children through their “Kids In The Kitchen” program. With guidance from the Mise En Place staﬀ, guests are taught to prepare an entire kid‑ friendly meal (dessert included!) that they can then enjoy as a group. Great for the birthday party of a bud‑ ding chef, Kids in the Kitchen provides a fun, hands‑on activity in the heart of Richmondʼs downtown, Shockoe Slip. For more information, visit their website www.miseenplaceshockoe.com.

their kids have an interest in history. There is a great deal to choose from: the Valentine Richmond History Center, Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Black History Museum, the Edgar Allen Poe Museum, and the Virginia

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State Capitol building, to name a few.

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RICHMONDʼS SHOCKOE BOTTOM HAS JUST BECOME A LITTLE GREENER. THE 17TH STREET FARMERSʼ MARKET PARTNERED WITH VENTURE RICHMOND IN MAY 2009 TO CREATE THE SHOCKOE COMMUNITY GARDEN. THE GARDEN, ADJACENT TO THE MAR‑ KET ʼS MAIN OFFICE (100 N 17TH STREET ), CONSISTS OF OVER 18 BEDS OF RAISED GARDEN CONTAINERS THAT WILL GROW VEGETABLES AND HERBS AS A WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. BY LAUREN RINKER

BOLOS: “We envision the gardens having a positive economic impact to the community both in the produce they yield along with the beauty they provide.” 8

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17th Street Farmersʼ Market Manager George Bolos describes how the garden came to fruition. “[The] 17th Street Farmersʼ Market approached Venture Richmond with several proposals, one of which was the idea of a neighborhood garden, which they immediately loved,” he explains. “They felt as we did that this was an af‑ fordable project that would enhance the surround‑ ing neighborhood.” The garden project is for neighboring restaurants as well as part of the “Little Sprouts” program for 50 children from faith based organizations who came out and planted the vegetables. Since this project is prima‑ rily a childrenʼs project, the property was oﬀered to the 17th Street Farmersʼ Market at no cost. Yogi Singh, a volunteer with Venture Richmond, helped re‑ cruit construction companies to build the garden plots. “Having a hand in building the garden, with friends and

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skilled craftsmen from Cap‑ stone Contracting and Kjell‑ strom and Lee, Inc., was an experience I will remember for a long time,” describes Singh. “I hope this garden will serve as an amenity for the commu‑ nity for years to come.” While a few businesses in the area asked for and were granted plots in the Commu‑ nity Garden, not just anybody can have a plot in the garden. “This year it is for our Lit‑ tle Sprouts program,” says Bolos. “Next year we may ex‑ pand the plots to in‑ clude others who are interested. We have to take baby steps before we walk.” In addition to chil‑ dren benefitting from volunteer work, Bolos also wants the garden to benefit Richmond by helping to make the area “green.” “We are working in part‑

GARDEN PHOTOS: LAUREN RINKER

Shockoe Bottom Green

LIVE

Community Recycling

nership with Tricycle Gar‑ dens and representatives from Lewis Ginter as a way of introducing Urban Gar‑ dening methods to the City of Richmond,” Bolos says. “Specifically, we would like to assist some of the other programs that are happen‑ ing within the Richmond Re‑ development and Housing Authority and promote self‑ sustaining gardens.” Restaurants in the area were granted plots in the Community Garden. They are tending to their gardens, harvesting their crops and using the produce and herbs for special features. The other week folks from LuLuʼs came down and harvested a big batch of mint. Guess what their special was that night? Shockoe Community Garden Mojiotos!

Community Nexus

Venture Richmond and the Downtown Neighborhood As‑ sociationʼs Downtown Recy‑ cling program have added two new community recycling dumpsters to the River District. They are located at the 17th Street Farmersʼ Market in the parking lot on the northwest corner of 17th and Franklin streets and in the La Diﬀerence parking lot at 15th and Dock Street (on the south side of Dock Street).

Fab Finds at the Farmers’ Market

Sure the 17th Street Farmersʼ Market is a veritable cornu‑ copia of fresh produce and vegetables. But this ultimate shop‑local option is also a bazaar‑trollerʼs bonanza. From the kitschy‑chic to designer unique, Grid’s afternoon ven‑ dor tour turned up a shopping cart full of must‑have items. [Clockwise from top left]

Fast becoming a showcase for jewelry, the market had Allen Behlingʼs Tourmaline crystal pendant plus Tourma‑ line and sterling silver necklaces by Margie Chism. (Oh right̶the parrot? Sorry, not for sale. Follow the bird to page 41 for more on these two artisans). A $40 Wedg‑ wood‑(sort of) vase is always in vogue. Who can resist a butter dish thatʼs so happy to see you? Sporting lips that Lady Gaga would kill for, this reclining fellow is a perfect mis‑match to the asian‑patterned salt & pepper set.

Oh‑so‑collectible tourist shot glasses, timeless keepsakes that we canʼt get enough of!

Lauren Rinker has a degree in English from Florida State University & enjoys reading, coffee, karaoke & working out.

Fine art or Americana artifact? Either way, there is wealth of folk‑spun paintings, fun prints and posters to be had. Lauren Rinker

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ell it was bound to happen, what with the regionʼs agricultural ancestry and Richmondʼs never‑ending in‑ ventiveness to have a good time. It seems that we have this proclivity for celebrating certain fruit with tents full of tasty treats and sparkly trin‑ kets. Donʼt get us wrong, weʼre not shy when it comes to milling about, mindlessly stuffing sugary fried‑dough treats in our mouths, or sam‑ pling delectables from local restaurants and stores. But now we are at a loss. Thereʼs the 31st Annual Hanover Tomato Festival AND the 11th Annual Shockoe Tomato Festival...both on the same day! What to do...What to do? Hmmm...Why not both? Dare we? How can we not? Off we go. Thanks to a beautifully overcast summer day and possibly the popularity of staycations, the 31st Annual Hanover Tomato Festival at Pole Green Park in Hanover County had one of its largest turnouts̶even causing two‑ hour traffic delays! Tomato lovers from all over braved the crowds to get a chance to sample the countyʼs famous produce in every form imaginable̶ tomato sandwiches, salsa, pie, and even the fried green vari‑ ety (our favorite!) could be sampled and wrapped up for the trip home. Other delectables sans tomato ingredients included exotically flavored fudge like Dreamsicle and Pina Colada from Pirates Sweet Booty [read more about this interesting venture on page 25]. There were over 200 vendors providing food sam‑ ples, crafts, and jewelry. Acts like the Hanover Con‑

cert Band, Susan Greenbaum and Marna & Macy enter‑ tained festival goers as they sampled Hanoverʼs most cele‑ brated fruit. There is a dayʼs worth of food and fun to explore, but we are on a mission. Back to Shockoe Bottom we go. With events such as the Hot Tomato Talent Con‑ test̶thatʼs right you guessed it, your talent had to exhibit a tomato theme̶and the Tasti‑

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Other delectables sans tomato ingredients include exotically ﬂavored fudge like Dreamsicle and Pina Colada from Pirates Sweet Booty.

TOMATOPALOOZA! ONE DAY, TWO FESTIVALS A CITY, A COUNTY & A WHOLE LOT OF

VINE-GROWN LOVE

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est Tomato Contest, the street festival has almost a state fair feel. There are plenty of ven‑ dors tents to browse. An intriguing yet odd combo of tomato marmalade

Kwahu Originals has an impressive array of American indian‑ themed baubles and beads.

shares a display with home‑ made granola (see in above photo). Treats abound̶some more tomato‑oriented than others. And we do what we al‑ ways do at these food‑based

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PURE ENERGY BY REBEKAH CLOSS | TOP PHOTO: PAUL SPICER | COMPOSITE IMAGE: T. RANDLER

extravaganza, graze all day and buy way too many toma‑ toes to take home. At one point one wonders why the tomato, strawberry and watermelon get their fes‑ tivals. What makes them vine‑ grown celebrities in the in‑ digenous produce circuit? Anyone up for a persimmon throw‑down? But we digress. Kwahu Originals has an impressive array of American indian‑themed baubles and beads. And thank goodness, Cafe Gutenburg is steps away, a latte can do wonders for fes‑ tival stamina. Hold on! Letʼs scurry. The Biscotti Goddess is giving away free samples!

woodʼs Coffee one can quickly recognize its atypi‑ cal feel. Its patio made of locally recycled pine and signage made of recycled junkyard metals tell its visitors they are about to enter into a truly unique, yet warm environment. Ellwoodʼs Coffee values its community, and displays this through its coffee se‑ lection, an extensive menu boasting organic ingre‑ dients and locally grown produce, free wireless, as well as classes and activities designed solely to benefit its customers.

The location, unoﬃcially known as the “Cor‑ ner of Consciousness” by its fans, has quickly be‑ come a gathering place for Greater Richmond, and an excellent spot to watch the expansion of its companion grocery store (complete with a new Ed Trask mural) across the parking lot. Itʼs within this shop alone that businessmen hold meetings, stu‑ dents study, local freelancers work on projects, mothers break for lunch, and the local artist re‑ ceives exposure. Ellwoodʼs has attracted cus‑ tomers from within and outside the city limits,

bringing together the bikers, soccer moms, ﬁnan‑ cial planners, hair stylists, esteemed professors, en‑ trepreneurs, and many more. Ellwoodʼs Coﬀee truly replicates a modern day town square wrapped into just four (beautiful) walls. Walls that inspire its customers to assemble, connect, and create for the betterment of the community. Rebekah Closs is a contractor working in market research, graphic design and copywriting. She will soon be moving into Richmondʼs Fan District.

The Trask at Hand Ed Traskʼs bio reads like an alterna‑ tive primer to Richmondʼs vibrant indie arts scene. Drummer for the legendary indie rock band Kepone in the ʼ90s, the musician transi‑ tioned to the much‑lauded punk band Avail. As a ﬁne artist, Trask has shown paintings at Eric Schindler Gallery, 1708, Artspace and Corpo‑ rate & Museum Frame. His artwork is in permanent collections that in‑ clude Capital One, NBC12, GAP, Old Navy, Heinze Collection, Ducati and St. Laurent Inc.

Rebekah Closs

Ed Trask

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Gathering Places

Certified Organic and Fair Trade coffee. Local pro‑ duce. The Clover coffee brewer. Eco‑friendly furni‑ ture. Special events. Compostable “To Go” containers. Reclaimed pine. Spirits. Recycled shelves. Local art. Live music. Wait a second, where am I? One might think the above combination could only be found off Californiaʼs coastline, in a coffee dive filled with customers wearing rectan‑ gular‑rimmed eyewear. Is a place with state‑of‑ the‑art coffee equipment, an environmentally built space, and a welcoming social scene for all vari‑ eties really in Richmond? Absolutely. All of the above̶and more̶can be found at Ellwood Thompsonʼs new coffeehouse, called Ellwoodʼs Coffee, located at the top of Carytown (10 S. Thompson Street). Before entering into Ell‑

LOFT LIFE

Living Easy with a Touch of Panache HOMEOWNERS COLLEEN HALL AND CAROL DAMONʼS FABULOUS CONDOMINIUM WITH A STUNNING RIVER VIEW PROVES THAT SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE DOESN ʼ T MEAN YOU HAVE TO FORGO COMFORT OR STYLE . Built in 2007, Vistas on the James has sold out all of its 160 units̶starting below $300,000 to just over $1 million. Owing much to its success are the facil‑ ityʼs luxurious amenities combined with a premium location. In the heart of the River District, the complex is situated on the banks of the James River and

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along the historic Canal Walk in Down‑ town Richmond. Hall, a site acquisition and leasing specialist for wireless telecommunica‑ tions, and Damon, a retired UPS execu‑ tive, have both been residents of Richmond for 12 years. After living in the Fan District and looking for something

new, they were immediately attracted to the Vistas for a variety of reasons, both practical and aesthetic. “We had talked about downsizing and when we saw the Vistas we loved it,” says Hall. “[We] decided it would be per‑ fect for us.” What really drew Hall and Damon to

LIVE Creative Spaces

The units include open‑design ﬂoor plans, ﬂoor to ceiling windows, granite countertops, and a large private balcony.

What really drew Hall [right] and Damon to the Vistas were the quality of the building and the layout of the units.

the Vistas were the quality of the build‑ ing and the layout of the units, which in‑ clude open‑design floor plans, floor to ceiling windows, granite countertops, and a large private balcony, creating a contemporary ambiance that differed greatly from their previous residence. “We moved to the Vistas from a Vic‑ torian 2,600 square foot house in the Fan,” says Hall. “Our Fan house was very traditional with many antiques. At the Vistas our space is a 1,400 square foot

Colleen Hall

Carol Damon

contemporary condo and our furnishings follow contemporary lines.” In addition to the updated look and feel of their condo, the newly constructed building has 24‑hour security, covered parking, a ﬁtness center, and downtown convenience. While the Vistasʼ modern design and convenient amenities are enough to at‑ tract almost anyone, it was the idea of having Richmondʼs greatest natural re‑ source right outside their window that

made Hall and Damon fall in love with their complex. “We love the views!” says Hall. “We are also within walking distance to great restaurants, Brownʼs Island, the Canal Walk, and much more.” Vistas on the James oﬀers a fresh de‑ sign, amazing views, and easy access to all things Richmond, right in the pulsat‑ ing heart of Downtown. What more could anyone want in a home? BY LAUREN RINKER

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DESIGN FORWARD

Engineering Aesthetics

Tektonics Design Group concieved and fabri‑ cated Richmond Downtown Marriottʼs ﬂoat‑ ing water wall that cycles 250 gallons of water.

BY ANIKA IMAJO

The ﬁrm is also creating towering light ﬁxtures for the Marriott.

The multimedia design and fabrica‑ tion ﬁrm, Tektonics Design Group (403 Stockton St., Manchester) em‑ ploys a wide array of materials and in‑ novative techniques in their projects, Theyʼve created an amazing wa‑ terwall for the new Richmond Down‑ town Marriott that cycles 250 gallons of water with no visible de‑ livery system. Using environmentally‑sound materials, bamboo plywood and re‑ cycled content sheet gauge, the firm created sleek shelving units for the Design Forumʼs offices in the Em‑ rick building. Tektonics work extends into ar‑ chitecture. Recently, they designed a redwood and copper addition to a

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home in the Fan District that is mod‑ ern yet visually integrates with the Victorian neighborhood. Their studio and warehouse, tucked behind Plant Zero, buzzes with the high energy of design, inno‑ vation, and creativity. Industrial designers Christo‑ pher Hildebrand and Hinmaton Hisler founded the company in De‑ cember of 2002 in New Haven, CT. Attracted to Richmond as a fertile environment in which to develop their firm, they relocated in August of 2003. Designer Damon Pearson, who joined the company three years ago, states, “Itʼs critical for us to be down‑ town for both our clients and the

businesses we use.” Pointing out the importance of the firm being a part of the community it serves, Pearson says, “Most of our clients are urban residents, urban businesses.” The introduction of Pearson into the partnership is one of many indicators of the companyʼs growth. As Hildebrand and Hisler began to see the value of incorporating the various phases pertinent to their projects into a single entity, they de‑ cided to expand the firm beyond its original focus of industrial design to include architectural design. “Tektonics Design Group has been evolving to service a broader focus, encompassing prototyping, product development, graphic design and architectural design. The inte‑ gration of these fields into our firm's toolbox has allowed us to provide a design and fabrication service to our clientele that takes the broader con‑ text into consideration during the de‑ sign of each individual element we produce,” says Hildebrand. What distinguishes these de‑ signers in their field is that, at heart, they are fabricators. They not only envision the concept but also con‑ ceive of the means of production and then produce the product. Typ‑ ically industrial designers arenʼt in the manufacturing business. Often times, Tektonics will have to design the tools just to execute their inno‑ vative products. Accompanying the firmʼs growth was its relocation three‑and‑a‑half years ago to its current 11,000‑ square‑foot warehouse space, which Pearson designed and which includes an impressive machine shop. Tektonics employs ten workers, including interns from the Univer‑ sity of Virginia and Virginia Poly‑ technic Institute. Expertise in a variety of materi‑ als̶including metal, wood, glass and synthetics̶along with its in‑ volvement in all aspects of conceiv‑ ing and fabricating projects has earned Tektonics a solid reputation of pairing visionary ideas with cut‑ ting‑edge methods of production. Anika Imajo has a background in publishing and enjoys freelance writing.

Tektonics Design Group

Anika Imajo

LIVE Green Spaces

Waterway Innovations CREATING AN ECONOMIC ENGINE ALONG THE RIVERFRONT The Canal Walk is beautiful, canal boats are full, but has it really been an eco‑ nomic success? In the 1990ʼs, the business commu‑ nity and the city worked together to cre‑ ate a master plan for 32 acres of downtown riverfront property. The Canal Walk opened in 1999 and has been a cat‑ alyst for more than $390 million in pri‑ vate sector investment in the Riverfront Development area. The private sector de‑ velopment projects along the Canal Walk/ Riverfront include: The Turning Basin Building, Dominionʼs Energy Clear‑ inghouse, Lady Bird Hat Factory, River‑

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side on the James, Vistas on the James, and Foundry Park ‑ Phase 1 (MWV Head‑ quarters, Afton Chemical Expansion). These private sector development projects have created over 986,000 s.f (or nearly 1 million) of new commercial space (office, restaurant, retail), 1,880 parking spaces and 290 condos. The projects have attracted three restaurants; Mortonʼs Steakhouse, Southern Railroad Deli and Black Finn Restaurant. In addi‑ tion, two tourist attractions, The National Park Serviceʼs Civil War Visitors Center and The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar have opened along the western end of the Canal Walk; repre‑ senting a combined investment of $16.5 million and attracting more than 600,000 visitors since opening. Two adjacent buildings, Canal Cross‑ ing ($15 million) and the Watkins Cot‑ trell Building ($11 million) have also been renovated, representing an addi‑ tional $26 million of private sector in‑ vestment. These buildings are home to a number of companies as well as major retailer La Difference and national restaurant chains Stool Pigeons and Buf‑ falo Wild Wings. The original economic impact of the Canal Walk area was projected at $450 million over 10‑15 years. Weʼve already hit the $446 million mark in the first 10 years, and the redevelopment of the 6.6 acre Reynolds site will greatly magnify those numbers,” said Venture Rich‑ mondʼs Executive Director, Jack Berry. These numbers donʼt include the eco‑ nomic impact of the residents, restau‑ rants, workers, companies, nor the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to Downtownʼs Historic Riverfront

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District for festivals, outdoor activities, canal boat rides, history and even bird watching. No wonder the total assessed value of the Riverfront development area has tripled; increasing from $242 million in 1998 to $757 million in 2009. Venture Richmond leases the Canal Walk and Brownʼs Island from the city and is responsible for managing the property, including cleaning, landscap‑ ing, canal boat operations, and event co‑

ordination on Brownʼs Island. The private organization markets the downtown area and produces festivals and events, in‑ cluding the Richmond Folk Festival, the 2nd Street Festival, and Friday Cheers. There are exciting opportunities for more development along the Canal Walk. In summer of 2008, Reynolds Pack‑ aging Group announced plans to consol‑ idate its foil manufacturing activities in Louisville, Kentucky. “We hate to see the closing of their Richmond manufacturing sites, both on the canal and in Manches‑

ter, and we are saddened by the loss of good paying local jobs. But there may be a silver lining here if we are able to seize the real estate opportunity,” says C.T. Hill, Venture Richmondʼs Chairman. The North Plant sits on 6.009 acres of prime canal‑front property. Bordered by Riverfront Plaza on the west, River‑ side on the James on the south, and Vistas on the James condominiums on the east, this site is the last sizable re‑ development site in the core of the Cen‑ tral Business District, and it represents a great opportunity for development of office, retail, residential and restaurant space immediately adjacent to the canal walk. While there are no specific details as to what type of commercial or residential spaces will be developed there, the prop‑ erty offers a great opportunity for in‑ vestors and designers to develop a Class A, mixed use property. “Richmond has been waiting a long time for the property to become available for redevelopment,” says Trib Sutton, Senior Vice President of CB Richard Ellisʼ Richmond office, who is marketing the sale of the property. “This site is truly the ʻlynchpinʼ to completing the vision city leaders and the private sector have for this stretch of the riverfront community,” Sutton said. “This site offers the opportunity to connect Brownʼs Island to the Turning Basin, connecting the two canal walk‑ ways with restaurant, retail and residen‑ tial uses,” says Berry. “This is our only opportunity to create a short stretch of the canal with a San Antonio type feel.” Many residents of Richmond find pleasure in exploring the Canal Walk for

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RENDERINGS BY BASKERVILL

its historical landmarks, natural beauty, and relaxing atmosphere. While most people enjoy the water‑ way by walking along it, River District Canal Cruises offers tours that provide a different perspective of the historic area. “Our canal boat tours are setting new records, which reflects the growing at‑ tractiveness of Downtown Richmond to tourists, visitors, and area residents,” says Berry. All five canal boats have been fully restored, with new engines and equip‑ ment, to meet the growing demand for charters and historic tours. It is amazing how many people in the region still havenʼt experienced the history of Rich‑ mond from the water.” Brent Halsey, former Venture Rich‑ mond Committee Chairman and Mark Merhige, current Committee Chairman, personally enjoy the 40‑minute historical journey through the canal. “I love the canal boats,” says Halsey. “[They have] good operators who give good lectures about the his‑ tory of the canal.” “We did a family reunion and used the canal boats to burn some time be‑ fore we all strangled each other,” jokes Merhige. So with everything it has to offer, will the Canal Walk lose its appeal when redevelopment continues? Merhige thinks not. “I think it fits into what Richmond is fast becoming̶a city whose quality of life is getting recognized,” he says. “Liv‑ ing and working along the linear park is quality living at its finest.” Echoes Halsey, “Itʼs still growing and itʼs got a big future ahead of it.”

Jack Berry

Mark R. Merhige

These renderings show the vision for the property as outlined in the master development plan. It is consistent with the architectural covenants that are managed through Venture Richmond.

Fernando Luna Vera, a native of Co‑ lumbia and a Chemistry graduate stu‑ dent at Virginia Commonwealth University, ﬁrst discovered his love of the Canal Walk at a festive time. “Last Halloween night during my typical walk through the streets of Downtown Richmond, I found a very curious congregation of demons and nurses at 14th and Canal Street,” says Vera. “These costumed people were there because a haunted cruise through the canal was about to start. I was not surprised; after all, what bet‑ ter place to have fun on Halloween than the Canal Walk?” After that night, Vera continued to visit the Canal Walk as often as his school schedule al‑ lowed, as he discovered that there was more to the Canal Walk than just a haunted cruise. “There is not a better place to find that characteristic blend of past and modernity of

Fernando Luna Vera

Richmond than the Canal Walk, where luxury apartment build‑ ings, restaurants, and bars live to‑ gether with the memories of merchants trading goods and confederation partisans trying to escape from the city,” Vera says. “I really enjoy walking that mile and watching people run, taking their pets for a little trip, [and] couples that find the place romantic, and I especially like to stop for a while and read a book, because even though the place is transited [it] is never noisy.” “The Canal Walk is a fun way to access sev‑ eral of the places along its line,” Vera says. “At night [it] is even better. You can see buildings il‑ luminated with green and red lights and go nuts taking pictures in the short tunnels that resem‑ ble some sort of medieval castle.” BY LAUREN RINKER

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Green Spaces

These canal‑level renderings show how the new buildings would relate to the waterway, with retail and restau‑ rant uses on the canal level, and residential and/or oﬃce options above.

BIZ SAVVY

Richmond Rates in Top Cities for the ‘Next’ Generation Next Generation Consulting (NGC), a company that has been studying the city and work‑ place preferences of the next generation since 1998, has cited Richmond as among its ʻMighty Micros–Next Cities with Population of 100,000‑200,000.ʼ And quality of life plays a large factor in the selection of locations. “The cheapest place to live, or the city with the most jobs is not a

High-Speed Rail

UPDATE Virginia filed a preliminary application July 10th for more than $1.5 billion in federal stimulus money to develop high‑speed rail cor‑ ridors in both directions from Richmond to Washington and the Northeast, and to North Carolina and the Southeast. Richmond region stands to beneﬁt greatly from the sec‑

ond round of applications due Ocober 2, for developing high‑speed rail. “The high‑ speed rail opportunity is the best [and] most important op‑ portunity that this region will see in many, many years,” said William J. Pantele, who is vice president and general counsel of the high‑speed rail advocacy group.

Governor Kaine Announces New Amtrak Richmond & Washington D.C. Service Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced on June 3 that Amtrak and the Common‑ wealth of Virginia have signed an agreement to oper‑ ate an additional train be‑ tween Richmond and Washington, D.C. during com‑ muter hours. This new train, along with previously an‑ nounced daily service be‑ tween Lynchburg and Washington, D.C., provides more passenger and freight rail transportation options, and are the ﬁrst state‑sup‑ ported intercity passenger rail services in Virginia. “We cannot engage the future without a strong com‑ mitment to passenger rail in these vital corridors, provid‑ ing more transportation

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choices for all Virginians while helping grow our econ‑ omy,” Governor Kaine said. “I appreciate the commitment of Amtrak, CSX and Norfolk Southern to make these new services a reality. This is a first step toward a national vision of rail and ensures Virginiaʼs place in that larger network.” The new routes represent the ﬁrst phase of planned pas‑ senger rail improvements in Virginia's I‑81/Route 29 and I‑95/I‑64 corridors. At full im‑ plementation, these services are estimated to remove 1.4 million cars from highways, save more than 8.3 million gallons of fuel and eliminate 66,000 tons of carbon emis‑ sions each year.

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“QUALIT Y OF LIF E PLAYS A LARGE F ACTOR IN THE S ELECTIO N OF LOCATIO NS.”

long‑term workforce strategy,” according to NGCs founder, Rebecca Ryan. Although jobs are important, Ryan says, “The next generation is very savvy about choosing where theyʼll live. They look carefully at quality of life factors like how much time theyʼre going to spend in traﬃc commuting, if they can live near a park or hike‑and‑bike trail, and whether a cityʼs downtown stays awake after ﬁve.”

TOUCHDOWN! Indoor Football League Complex Slated for Chesterfield June 24th SportsQuest, a multi level sports organiza‑ tion announced that it signed a letter of intent with the In‑ door Football League (IFL) to bring the leagueʼs 21st fran‑ chise to the city. SportsQuest is in the process of building a 250 acre multi‑purpose, multi‑ sport campus in Chester‑ field county. The campus is designed to host athletics of all skill levels, from recre‑

ational to Olympic training. Among their plans is the cre‑ ation of a 5,000 seat arena that will house hockey, bas‑ ketball, and indoor football. The arena will be up and run‑ ning by 2011, "We intend to play in 2010," stated Sports‑ Quest President Phil Evans. “We just need to ﬁnalize our facility lease deal. We expect to make a deﬁnitive an‑ nouncement about our 2010 plans in the very near future.”

$2.3 Million for Richmond Buses and Bus Facilities Senator Jim Webb announced on July 14th that the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) will receive a $2.3 million grant from the Department of Transportation toward the con‑ struction of a new bus administrative and maintenance facility in Richmond, which will improve the efficiency and effective‑ ness of transit services. The new facility will be approximately 412,000 square feet and will be designed to the national stan‑ dards for optimum on‑site circulation, space planning, and building systems in support of operations for a modern bus fleet. This grant also includes funds to purchase two 40 ft. buses to replace vehicles that have outlived their useful service life.

COMING

SOON:

Richmond Hilton Conference Center & Spa Set to Open This Fall

VCU’s W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. Building Opens Commonwealth Architects has completed the design and construction administration of a $20 million addition to the VCU School of Dentistry. The new building, named in honor of alumnus W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. was dedicated on June 17, 2009. The 56,000 square‑foot, four‑story facility will expand the clinical, teaching and re‑ search facilities of Virginiaʼs only dental school.

New laboratory space will enable faculty mem‑ bers to further develop their research. The class‑ rooms and clinics will allow the school to increase its enrollment in dental and dental hygiene education to provide better access to dental care in Virginia.

Robert M. Schmidt BusinessWeek Cites Appointed Interim Dean Richmond as a of UR Robins School of Business ‘Top City’ for New Beginnings

University of Richmond has appointed Robert M. Schmidt, chair of the eco‑ nomics department and a 28‑ year professor at the Robins School of Business, as interim dean of the Robins School. Schmidt took over July 1 for Jorge Haddock, who is stepping down to become dean of the George Mason University School of Manage‑ ment. He will serve while the search for Haddockʼs succes‑ sor continues. Schmidt joined the Robins School as an assistant professor of economics in 1981, after earning his bach‑ elorʼs degree from the Uni‑ versity of Wisconsin and masterʼs and doctoral de‑ grees from Duke University. During his tenure, he has published dozens of scholarly articles, mono‑ graphs, technical papers, reports and presented pa‑ pers. He has received nu‑ merous research grants, contracts and awards from organizations ranging from state and national government agencies to

the World Bank. In 2008, he won the Robins Schoolʼs Distin‑ guished Educator Award. Schmidt holds mem‑ berships in Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma business honor soci‑ ety and Phi Kappa Pi honor society. He is a fellow of Duke Universityʼs Center for De‑ mographic Studies and a member of the American, Southern and Western economic associations and the Population Association of America.

According to the June 9th ar‑ ticle, “Richmond has a diverse economy, which includes chemical, food, and tobacco manufacturing, biotech, high‑ tech ﬁbers, and semiconduc‑ tors. For those who want to start over with a job in the arts, it has a symphony, ballet, art galleries, and theater companies.” BusinessWeek looked at the Top 20 markets and ranked Richmond the number 6 best region “where jobs are available and real es‑ tate is aﬀordable.”

South University Expands in Richmond South Universityʼs Richmond campus, with its ﬁrst day of class slated for October 5, 2009, will occupy approxi‑ mately 30,000 square feet at 2151 Old Brick Road in Glen Allen, Va., in the West Broad Village development. “The programs oﬀered at the new campus in Richmond will be designed to lead to‑

ward professions that are in demand in the Richmond area, despite our challenged economy,” says John T. South III, chancellor of South Uni‑ versity. “South University has a long and distinguished his‑ tory of putting our students ﬁrst, and we are looking for‑ ward to adding Richmond to our story.”

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Regional Business

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Set to open this autumn, the Richmond Hilton Conference Center & Spa at Short Pump (191 Town Center West Boulevard) will oﬀer 255 guest rooms and suites on 8 levels. The Shamin Hotelsʼ facility will pro‑ vide 12,916 s.f. of event space. Its Capital Ballroom will be the largest ballroom in Rich‑ mond at 10,332 s.f. The state‑of‑the‑art hotel complex will also have a business cen‑ ter, sun deck and outdoor terrace.

AMAZING TALES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

LISA RITCHIE “I love cold calling.” This was how one of my initial meetings with Lisa Ritchie began. Now, in my opinion, this was one for the record books̶cold calling? No one loves cold calling. But this spunky, out‑ going mother of two was serious. At the time, Lisa Ritchie was a branch manager for a local person‑ nel service. I knew that she was very good at networking as that was how Iʼd met her in the first place. She told me that she loved developing strong relationships with people and that she was good at it. She was just tired of doing it for someone elseʼs (her employerʼs) benefit. Ritchie also felt like she wanted personal growth; she knew that she had the skills and the am‑ bition to do more than she could in her current career. As the mother of two small boys, she also wanted to have more flexible hours and more con‑ trol over those hours and over her future. In her words, she wanted more possibilities. Ritchie evaluated several dif‑

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MOMENTUM

Legal Brief

Open for Business

BY ROBIN SMITH

ferent business models and she found that there were certain ele‑ ments that appealed most strongly to her: business to business sales seemed to fit both her lifestyle goals as well as her skill set and a home‑based business gave her the flexibility she was looking for. SuperCoups, a direct mail ad‑ vertising business, fit her goals, needs and skills. Ritchie started in March of 2006 and was the 2007 Super‑ Coups Rookie of the year. “After one year in business, I couldnʼt be happier with my decision. I am building a solid client base and having fun every step of the way. I love having the chance to help other businesses grow. Personally, being my own boss has allowed me the flexibility to be around for more my children. That flexibility is payment in itself.” In the last year, Ritchie along with two business partners, took the knowledge and experience she had gained from SuperCoups to launch another business, The Busi‑ ness Networker. This monthly pub‑ lication is targeted to small business owners and decision mak‑ ers. It provides information on net‑ working how‑toʼs, upcoming networking meetings and other helpful business tips. “Next to motherhood, building my own business has been both the greatest and toughest endeavor of my life. I believe the possibilities are endless, love what I do, and would happily make the same choice today that I did 3 years ago.” Robin Smith is the owner of The Entre‑ preneur's Source. www.e‑ sourceva.com.

Cubicle Swansong

Randy Alberson, co‑owner of Smarter Interiors in Richmond along with other design specialists discuss todayʼs changing workplace.

Nontraditional hours, mobile technology and even generational demographics impact your days (and nights) at the oﬃce.

RichmondGrid.com 20

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AGGREGATE OR AGGRAVATE? the original creator. On the whole (in the aggregate) loss of traﬃc also leads to loss of advertising revenue. For wire services such as the Asso‑ ciated Press, aggregation can also seem like an end‑run around the or‑ ganizationʼs membership require‑ ments and payment structure. Several publishers have de‑ cided that the referral traffic they get from readers clicking through to their sites is less than the read‑ ership they lose as a result of their stories being excerpted else‑ where. Several lawsuits have charged content aggregators with copyright infringement. As‑ suming that the excerpts are taken without permission, the an‑ swer to the infringement ques‑ tion depends upon whether the copying use was “fair use” under copyright law. Agence France‑Presse sued Google a few years ago for pulling AFPʼs articles into the Google News service. The parties settled that matter, with Google buying a li‑ cense from AFP for its news stories

You donʼt need a lawyer to tell you that more news is available in more places as a result of news sites, blogs, email newsletters, and search engines linking to and displaying snippets of each otherʼs articles. Common practices include cutting and pasting excerpts of news articles, either to relay that same news content or to add com‑ mentary to it. News aggregation sites or email alert services often re‑ run an articleʼs headline and its first few sentences, providing a link to the whole article where it was orig‑ inally published. Examples of news aggregation sites are Google News, the Drudge Report, the Huffington Post, and the Wall Street Journalʼs AllThingsD.com. Of course, when one outlet re‑ publishes another siteʼs headline, a few sentences of the story, or both, many readers do not click through to read the rest of the story by the original publisher. The aggregating site can end up with free, copied content without a real benefit to

Marketing Maverick ENGAGING THE INEVITABLE Blog, tweet, friend, link. These are the action verbs of social media. They are also the words that strike fear in the hearts of many C‑level corporate leaders, their lawyers and their marketers. Blogging, tweeting, friending and linking by their very nature in‑ vite a two‑way conversation. These actions are the ﬁrst step towards creating an online community. In some cases this community, like any other community, produces comments that are negative in na‑ ture. Heaven forbid. The corporate leaders are more comfortable in their decision not to engage in social media in the ﬁrst place. If we donʼt engage, then “they” wonʼt post negative com‑ ments or tweet bad things about us. The truth is, as with any other conversation, it is happening whether you choose to take part or not. That brings us to the most im‑ portant action verb of social media, listening. There are many tools available to help those engaging in social media to listen to the conver‑ sations about themselves, their

Lisa Ritchie

BY JON NEWMAN

companies, their brands. At its best social media is not about pushing out the message or brand like traditional public rela‑ tions, it is about listening and en‑ gaging in the conversation about the message or brand. A client recently told us social media is powerful because the in‑ formation he acquires through lis‑ tening helps his organization constantly evaluate itself to “do better.” He can then decide how best to engage in the conversation and make potentially positive changes in his organization. So the next time you en‑ counter an organization or com‑ pany, perhaps your own, and its leadership is waﬄing on whether or not to engage in social media be‑ cause it is afraid of confronting the two‑way conversation and the neg‑ ative comments it can generate, you might want to ask them nicely, are you afraid or are you afraid of “doing better?” Jon Newman is a partner in The Hodges Partnership PR ﬁrm. jonnewman12.wordpress.com

Robin Smith

Chris Gatewood

BY CHRIS GATEWOOD

scraped from “Wicked Local” news sites that Gatehouse Media operated for many towns in Massachusetts. Gate‑ house cried foul, suing for copyright infringement late last year. The parties settled the case in about a month, and agreed that the Boston Globe would not run news headlines and snippets from Gatehouse sites. The “Your Town” sites re‑ main free to simply link to Gate‑ houseʼs stories. So far, the court cases have been settled by agree‑ ment, so courts have not yet provided helpful precedent. When they do, you will surely read about it on your favorite news aggregator site, be it Google News, the Drudge Report, the Huffing‑ ton Post, AllThingsD, or hun‑ dreds of others.

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and photographs. Google reached a similar agreement with the Associated Press a few months earlier. (Google cur‑ rently allows any publisher to opt out by using a little bit of software code to block Googleʼs news aggregation.) The aggregation aggrava‑ tion goes both ways. Tradi‑ tional media outlets with online news offerings have cer‑ tainly seen their stories par‑ tially appropriated by upstart bloggers and news aggrega‑ tion sites. At the same time, however, the big players, in‑ cluding the New York Times Co., have been challenged for digital re‑distribution of othersʼ news coverage. The NYT Co.ʼs Boston Globe launched several “Your Town” web sites, to cover local news in several Massachusetts towns. The Globe populated these sites in part by posting headlines and the first few sentences of news items

Chris Gatewood is a Richmond lawyer with the ﬁrm of Hirschler Fleischer, P.C.

Leadership ON A NEED‑TO‑KNOW BASIS Leadership and management are two sides of the same coin, but they each require different skill sets. We manage resources, time, money, materials, and in‑ frastructure, but we lead people. Although leadership means different things to dif‑ ferent people, my preferred definition is “communicating a shared vision and inspiring oth‑ ers to achieve it.” This definition does not require you to occupy a leadership position to exert leadership; it only requires that you are able and willing to rec‑ ognize the importance of infor‑ mation and transmit it to those who need it; to create and sup‑ port consensus on a common understanding of mission, goals, and execution; and to build upon the fundamental human desire to belong to a group that gives us purpose, identity, and meaning. The best way to grow leaders is within a culture of leadership. If your organization believes in the importance of leadership and wants to grow Jon Newman

BY MARK MATTHEWS

leaders, there are several simple steps to achieve this. First, respect the concept of leadership by setting the ex‑ ample in all you do, by training, counseling, and mentoring your junior leaders, and by making your leaders hold their subordi‑ nates accountable. Second, foster communi‑ cation by teaching everyone that with every piece of infor‑ mation they receive, ask two simple questions: Why is this bit of information important? Who else needs to know? Third, cre‑ ate a shared vision by determin‑ ing what is your mission, who are your customers, and how do we serve our customers within that mission? Finally, inspire others by teaching your employees why their eﬀorts are important to your customers, your organiza‑ tion, and their teammates, and by demonstrating the rewards of success and the costs of failure. Attorney Mark Matthews heads up The Matthews Law Group, P.L.L.C. in Richmond. Mark Mathews

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A member of the Retail Merchants Association, Grid is supporting RMA’s Think. Shop. Buy. Local campaign with a Shopping Spree listing for participating RMA businesses. Order your listing online at

RichmondGrid.com. Embarrassed by mistakes on your Web site? THINK YOUR SMALL BUSINESS CAN’T AFFORD THE SERVICES OF A PRO WRITER?

THINK AGAIN!

*High‑quality writing* *Editing of print & Web materials* *Proofreading & fact checking* *Crafting of press releases & light marketing* *Free quotes̶no job too small* *Richmond‑based & woman‑powered*

WWW.WRITINGFORTHEWORLD.NET

Paul Spicer NEVER MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE SEEMS A BIT PASSÉ IN THIS ERA OF 24/7 WORKING HOURS AND INTERMINGLING OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE WITH YOUR CAREER. STAYING CONNECTED VIA THE WEB HAS CREATED A TELECOMMUTING WORKFORCE COM‑ FORTABLE WITH DOING BUSINESS IN A NEAR FACELESS WAY. T HEN ALONG COMES SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH TAGS PEOPLE TO EMAIL ADDRESSES AND BLURS THE BOUNDARIES OF BUSINESS AND PLEASURE .

With the remarkable speed at which emerging media is evolving, it was clear that Grid would need its own editor just to keep up with trends and innovations. Paul Spicer has been tapped to do the job. As a marketing consultant he has lead small, medium, and large‑ sized businesses to prestigious awards and appearances on NPR, CNN, US News & World Report, and Fortune Magazine. In addition to serving as a principal at Compleo, a social media and Web 2.0 public rela‑ tions firm, Spicer leads marketing initiatives at TecAccess, LLC and operates Spicer Marketing. He is a member of the American Market‑ ing Association and Society of Pro‑ fessional Journalists. He is the winner

numerous

media

awards, Publisherʼs Choice award and the coveted VMFA Muse Award for creative business. For the premiere of his de‑ partment, Spicer has begun at the core of Richmondʼs emerging media with an overview of the re‑ gional netizens who have em‑ braced the form, along with some one‑on‑one time with the Social Media

Club

Richmondʼs

co‑

founder and Program Director Nathan Hughes.

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Letʼs face it̶we all like the word “community.” Most folks toss it into conversation these days hap‑ hazardly, but with gusto. When it comes to social media, there seems to be a new online commu‑ nity̶along with self‑appointed social media experts̶lurking around every corner. But hereʼs the rub, social media at its core is much more than just about the web. Only when online‑oﬄine sharing occurs is the concept of MORRIS community even scratched. Social Media Club Richmond knows this. Hosting inter‑ active monthly events, Richmondʼs local SMC chapter (@sm‑ crva), has Richmondʼs netizens abuzz̶both online and off. While platforms such as Facebook and Twitter may be the initial attraction, the club uses these online vehicles to springboard back to real life conversations and networking, all of which play out face‑to‑face in spots like Mortonʼs The Steakhouse, Penny Lane, and Science Museum of Virginia. “My personal philosophy on the online‑offline blending is that social media users need to be reminded sometimes that there is an offline component to the medium,” explains Nathan Hughes, SMCRVA Programming Director. “I donʼt think Iʼm breaking any news here, but the idea is to use on‑ line tools to enhance the overall connection in ways that couldnʼt be imagined before.” Hughes says that the SMCRVA is focused on promoting best practices and helping establish ethical standards in social media.

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Paul Spicer

Over at Ellwoodʼs Coﬀee, Kendall Morris (@kendallmor‑ ris), is spearheading a similar initiative. Blogging about emerging media on a regular basis, Morris hosts “Coﬀee with Kendall” at 9:30 every Thursday for an in‑person new media powwow. “The conver‑ sations really depend upon who shows up to chat,” ex‑ plains Morris. “Last week I had someone who knew very little about emerging media but realized it is an important part of getting the word out about his startup company. He had tons of questions and the rest of the group seemed to like that.” She adds, “I al‑ ways enjoy getting interns or college students to come be‑ cause I like to hear what they are using, how and why.” Taking Twitter to the streets, RVA Tweetups (@rvatweetups) regularly promotes meet‑ups in and around Richmond. Typi‑ cally held in a relaxed venue, RVA Tweetups pro‑ vide the local Twitter com‑ munity a chance to chat face‑to‑face. Such events are increasingly held incon‑ junction with a social cause or common interest. Armed with mobile devices, these shindigs often lead to live tweetcasts and are as open and friendly to newbies as they are to those with well es‑ tablished Twitter handles.

Kendall Morris

Nathan Hughes

A Conversation with Social Media Club Richmond’s Program Director Nathan Hughes tinue facilitating that interaction online, and always open to ideas. Whatʼs the future of SMCRVA? Where do you see it going?

Emerging Media

N. H.: I would love to see it be‑ come a regional resource, reaching further than just the Richmond‑ metro area. I would like to see the SMCRVA community grow as a re‑ sult of programming that draws at‑ tendees from Northern Virginia,

create ethical standards and best practices. N. H.: The overall SMC organiza‑ tion is focused on promoting best practices and to help establish eth‑ ical standards in social media, and of course we agree with that. Im‑ plementation of that goal is a little trickier, but thatʼs why the structure of SMCRVA is so important. Self‑ap‑ pointed “Social Media Experts” are looked down on upon the general community, and for good reason. Things progress so quickly in social media and people use it so diﬀer‑ ently from one another that there canʼt be a “right” way to do it. We want to tap into the social media community to crowd‑source for both the questions and an‑ swers. It is more important to initi‑ ate discussion rather than get in front of a crowd and lay down the law about what is and isnʼt accept‑ able. Who are we to say whatʼs right and wrong in social media? We all have our individual opinions, but it is the opinion of the overall community that is what really mat‑ ters. Iʼm sure that ethics and best practices will be an ongoing dis‑ cussion and Iʼm interested to see where it will take us.

WORK

Itʼs clear that at the heart of So‑ cial Media Club Richmond is its in‑ teractive events. Can you describe your philosophy on this topic? Weʼre intrigued by the online‑of‑ fline communication that occurs, and the blending of various online vehicles that ultimately drive peo‑ ple back to real life interaction. N. H.: My personal philosophy on the online‑offline blending is that social media users need to be re‑ minded sometimes that there is an offline component to the medium. I donʼt think Iʼm breaking any news here, but the idea is to use online tools to enhance the overall con‑ nection in ways that couldnʼt be imagined before. My view of the ideal interaction around a SMCRVA event was realized with the journal‑ ism panel that we held in June. There was discussion online and of‑ fline throughout the community before, during, and after the event. We donʼt want the discussion to start and end at the event itself. We are exploring other tools to con‑

Charlottesville, the Tidewater re‑ gion, etc. There is valuable input that can be gained as a result of reaching outside of our immediate community̶not only from reach‑ ing more people in a geographical area, but also from people that wouldnʼt normally participate in a social‑media gathering. Given our recent partnerships with other organizations, I can see that it is headed in that direction. For example, our July event is a re‑ sult of a partnership with the Jep‑ son School at University of Richmond where SMCRVA pro‑ vided help in securing speakers for their event on July 24th and input on the overall event. There will be approximately 300 nonprofit or‑ ganizations represented at that forum, which is reaching outside of the SMCRVA community that we have already established. The night before, on July 23rd, we are having our official SMCRVA event focusing on a lot of the same issues, but with a slightly different approach since there will be a different audience in attendance. Talk about how SMCRVA is not only a place to network and have a good time, but also as a place to

INNOVATORS

NEAT, LLC Sara Bereika is putting a new twist on the Professional Organizing In‑ dustry. In April 2004, she founded NEAT, LLC, a Professional Organiz‑ ing Service, helping anyone from individuals to small business owners and corporate executives become more efficient and bet‑ ter organized. Early on, she began noticing that most of her clients had Atten‑ tion Deficit Disorder. Realizing the parallel between her personal life, her husband suffers from ADD, and her clientsʼ lives inspired Sara to specialize in assisting people with ADD/ADHD. She was able to see how this disorder was not just af‑ fecting her clients, but their loved ones and co‑workers as well. “The most popular problem I run across is getting my ADD clients to understand their way of doing things is not the wrong way, itʼs just a different way. They assume they need to fit into a mold they have been forced to fill since they were children. Itʼs not only the client that needs assistance, itʼs everyone in the environment,” says Bereika. Her former experience as a project and account manager for marketing agencies and design firms, along with her extensive

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training and hands‑on experience, has aided Bereika in creating the basic model of eﬃcacy that she shares with her clients. Supportive advice about marketing, business practices and even ethical concerns from friends has also contributed to the success of NEAT. “I consider them all my business partners,“ Bereika explains. “I thoroughly enjoy being a small‑business owner. I love coming up with ideas and making them happen and hav‑ ing no one get in my way. I think Richmond is a small business friendly place. I have found a lot of support here.” For Bereika, being an ADD ad‑ vocate for professionals has be‑ come more than a job. Itʼs become her cause. When she speaks pub‑ licly to companies about paper and time management and space plan‑ ning, she also incorporates the ben‑ eﬁts of providing support to those with ADD and other learning dis‑ abilities, as well as those who work with them. “A company and its em‑ ployees can learn their legal rights and how to make their working re‑ lationships work for them in a pos‑ itive way, “ Bereika says. BY TARA HERMAN

Tara Herman is a freelance writer, artist, and teacher.

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Tom McCormick, the President of Top Notch Richmond, is taking the friend and family referral concept to a third‑party standard. Top Notch Richmond screens and certifies professional services companies in Richmond. These companies range from plumbing and electrical specialists to real es‑ tate companies and photogra‑ phers. Customers looking for a company to provide a service can go to topnotchrichmond.com and research which companies are Top Notch certified. You can view the companyʼs services, business hours, company values, and other services information. Not just anyone can get certi‑ fied̶Top Notch Richmond has a rigorous testing process that in‑ cludes an interview with Mc‑ Cormick, interviews with past clients, validation of the companyʼs certification, and research and re‑ views of the companyʼs profes‑ sional reputation with third parties such as the Better Business Bureau. McCormick evaluates the company on five customer service principles: responsiveness, professionalism, expertise, overall customer service and experience, and follow up. Mc‑ Cormick assures that “You canʼt buy your way in, and if you qualify Iʼm going to promote you as a Top

Top Notch Richmond

Notch company.” He knows local Richmond business; McCormick has been in the corporate environment, man‑ aging the semiconductor industry, for the past 20 years, most recently for Qimonda. After he left Qimonda earlier this year, McCormick wanted to help increase customer service around the Richmond area. “In many cases Iʼve seen cus‑ tomer service standards lower and the expectation for customer serv‑ ice drop,” he explains. “I hated see‑ ing people have a bad experience because they didnʼt have the time or availability to check out the com‑ pany in advance̶they didnʼt know any better.” The solution was to create Top Notch Richmond ear‑ lier this year. Why Richmond? “I love the opportunity to work with Richmond businesses and get a chance to talk with best busi‑ nesses in our community, ones with the best level of integrity which are doing the right things and know what a customer is.” BY JARED ROWAN

Jared Rowan is an intern at Palari Publishing and lives in Richmond. He is an English major at Virginia Tech. Tom McCormick

Tom Kerr

Innovators

trying to get name recognition. We are doing several festivals and other shows in order to help with that,” says Tom. Part of the marketing plan even includes Tom donning a pirate outfit to attract customers. “We have started merchan‑ dising T‑shirts with pirate themes and our logo as well.” Growth plans include offering a Fudge of the Month club and next June they plan to exhibit in the Fancy Food Festival in New York where thousands of buyers sample foods and hopefully place orders. The Kerrs are not new to entrepre‑ neurship. Sue currently runs her own business, Continuity First. However, making quality fudge comes with its unique challenges. A key component is judging how much to make. “When we did our first festival, we took over 100 pounds of fudge with us expecting to sell it all,” says Tom. “We came home with about half of it.” Now they use charts and trending to better identify consumer purchasing behavior in order to gauge their production. “Initially we did not even offer plain chocolate fudge,” says Sue. “We thought anyone could make that so we went in with the unusual flavors. We had such a demand for the chocolate we now carry that and it is our biggest seller.”

WORK

Pirates Sweet Booty

Itʼs said that duplication is the sincerest form of flattery, and in Tom Kerrʼs case, it means great‑tasting fudge too. In an attempt to recreate his late motherʼs peanut butter fudge recipe, Tom first did some market research̶tasting. “He would get peanut butter fudge from other places and it just wasn't as good,” says Sue, Kerrʼs wife and co‑business owner. “While we had the recipe, we just couldn't duplicate it. He tried for years to get it right. Finally, last year he got the right flavor and consistency. He then continued to make it to be sure he could duplicate the process.” After implementing some basic market research, the Kerrs created Pi‑ rates Sweet Booty in March of 2009. “We used focus groups to taste the flavors and let us know if they liked the taste and consistency,” says Tom. Their fudge choices now consist of Dreamsycle, Key Lime, Pina Colada, Chocolate Orange, Chocolate Raspberry and others. Sue adds, “Our plan is to change the flavors by the season. I'm excited about the Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge we will come out with over Christmas.” While currently operating from their home (which required a passing in‑ spection by the Department of Agricul‑ ture), future plans include increased distribution points and eventually a storefront location. “Right now we are

BUSINESS FIRST With all the economic gloom and doom̶it might be easy to forget a program like Business First‑Greater Richmond, an on‑going effort to re‑ tain and grow busi‑ nesses in the Richmond region. But rest assured, the Greater Richmond Partnership and the team remain focused on a results‑oriented outreach approach to help Richmond area business sur‑ vive and thrive during these challenging economic times and want to remind you thereʼs a dedicated team to support you. Established in 2006, Busi‑ ness First‑Greater Richmond is a successful business assis‑ tance program. It uses face‑to‑ face interviews with top leaders of existing businesses to gather feedback on doing business in Richmond. This feedback helps the program partners connect businesses with the resources they need to stay and grow in the region and build an even better busi‑ ness climate. The Business First‑Greater Richmond pro‑ gram provides free assistance to participating businesses in areas such as international trade, business planning and strategy, financing, site selec‑ tion and workforce develop‑ ment. Strong commitments from the City of Richmond, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties ensure businesses get the support they need from their local economic development de‑ partments. The 2009 program year came to a close on June 30th and preparations are under‑

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way for regional and local re‑ ports. 600 companies were in‑ terviewed over the past twelve months, representing 40,000 jobs in the region. “Itʼs an ex‑ citing time for the region and the Business First program,” said VP of Existing Business Services, Sara Dunnigan. “We continue to see positive signs for the local economy. The fact that we have identiﬁed 110 companies planning to expand this year really runs counter to the trend. Convert‑ ing these opportunities into wins for our business clients is what weʼre working for. These companies are the eco‑ nomic engines of our econ‑ omy̶providing new jobs, investing in the region, inno‑ vating and making signiﬁcant contributions to the Rich‑ mond landscape.” Sharing that story and the experiences of individ‑ ual companies touched by the program is important and a key part of the Part‑ nershipʼs role as regional program manager and there are some exciting changes happening with the pro‑ gram website and integra‑ tion of some new social media tools to help increase awareness of the program and its partner services.

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In early 2009, the program website underwent some dra‑ matic changes, in‑ cluding the addition of client testimonials. Companies can re‑ quest a visit from a Business First repre‑ sentative or learn more about becom‑ ing a volunteer. The site features an en‑ hanced resource directory of area business support organi‑ zations and coming in the fall will be a blog and the integra‑ tion of social media tools like LinkedIn and Twitter to better connect with a wider audience of Richmond area businesses. “The program is about providing value to the Greater Richmond business commu‑ nity and with these improve‑ ments̶timely articles and commentary, feedback from assisted businesses, proﬁles of Business First visitation vol‑ unteers̶it makes the pro‑ gram that much more accessible to the businesses weʼre here to help.” The program has devel‑ oped a track record. Since 2006, professionals and vol‑ unteers from the business community have interviewed more than 1,500 business representing 85,000 jobs in the region. Participating com‑ panies have shared plans to invest more than $140 mil‑ lion in their local facilities and add more than 4,500 new jobs. For more information on the program and to view the improvements, visit: www.businessﬁrstrichmond.com

Partnership Launches Website Redesign “Industry surveys reveal that 90 percent of research on a region is conducted online prior to a location being placed on a short list,” said Greg Wingfield, president and CEO. “Itʼs clear that our internet presence is a critical component to our marketing communications for Greater Richmond. We have a 24‑7, international audience.” A comprehensive re‑ design of www.grpva.com began in January 2009 after a website assess‑ ment process. Launched July 2009, the new design al‑ lows for easier navigation, provides enhanced function‑ ality, and encourages site vis‑ itors to explore the region for business opportunities through photos, video testi‑ monials from business and community leaders, data, news and publications. Itʼs also a useful tool for relocat‑ ing families and students. The Partnership is inte‑ grating social media compo‑ nents with links to staff LinkedIn, Twitter and Face‑ book profiles and to YouTube videos. Additionally, over the

GRP Celebrates 15 Years of Business Expansion

Board of Directors The Partnership thanks the prior board of directors for their time and services and welcomes the 2009‑2010 board:

Officers Gail Letts, Chair President and CEO, SunTrust

2009-2010

Revised Strategic Plan The Partnershipʼs 90‑day Ac‑ tion Plan was launched in De‑ cember 2008 in response to the dramatic economic changes facing the region. The action plan enhanced and provided adjustments to the Partnershipʼs ongoing work elements. As a result, the 2009‑2014 strategic plan brochure was revised to: • Address the economic changes; • Focus on the Partner‑ shipʼs four core programs (business attraction, business retention, workforce, and small business support and entrepreneurship); • Remove infrastructure as a goal until funds become available; • Reﬂect adjustment to the industry targets; • Incorporate the addi‑ tion of the Richmond Job Net workforce tool and goals. To view the most current version of the strategic plan, visit www.grpva.com/news‑publications.

To help grow the Greater Richmond economy through the attraction of high quality jobs and new capital investment, the retention of existing businesses, and the continued im‑ provement of the regionʼs business climate. Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc.

Goals and Results July 1, 2004 Through June 30, 2009 Achieved 2004-2007

% of Goals Achieved

GRP 10,000 new primary jobs

6,449

64%

New Business Attraction

5,877

Business First $1.5 billion capital investment

$63,292,232

Five-Year Goals

$1,924,504,827

128%

25 new foreign-affiliated companies

96%

125 domestic companies*

66%

50 media messages

164%

Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce 500 existing companies provided with expansion assistance

629

126%

Counsel 2,500 small businesses

2,819

113%

Training for 12,000 business owners

16,393

137%

Information for 33,000 business owners

46,619

141%

Retain 1,500 jobs**

2,210

147%

Create 1,250 jobs**

1,195

96%

Notes: *A company may be counted more than once if it has multiple projects in several localities. New foreign companies are included. **Data collected from semi-annual surveys covering Jan-June and Jul-Dec. GRCC Training and Information goals were increased for the final two years of the period.

Robert Setliﬀ, Vice Chair Member, Board of Supervisors, Hanover County Gregory H. Wingﬁeld, President & CEO Valerie M. Derricott, Corporate Secretary William G. Broaddus, General Counsel Partner, McGuireWoods

Board Members Katherine Busser Executive Vice President, Capital One William A. Casey Senior Vice President, Bank of America James B. Donati Member, Board of Supervisors, Henrico County Dan Gecker Member, Board of Supervisors, Chesterﬁeld County Kathy Graziano President, Richmond City Council Gail Letts Central Va. Region President & CEO, SunTrust Bank Douglas Roth Senior Vice President/Area Executive, BB&T Robert Setliﬀ Member, Board of Supervisors, Hanover County

GRP Assisted Businesses Admiral Americas Altria UST Biocontrol Brazilian Best Granite ept america Perfograph Proseal America, Inc Sabra Dipping Co. Southern Design & Mechanical, Inc. R I C H M O N D

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Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc.

next year, the Partnershipʼs supporting industry and pro‑ gram websites will be re‑ designed to incorporate blogs collaborating with in‑ dustry organizations for con‑ tent contribution.

The launch of the new ﬁscal year this July ushers in a new five‑year funding cycle, a revised strategic plan, a new budget, a new board of directors, and a redesigned website. But, the mission remains the same:

WORK

The Greater Richmond Partnership celebrated its 15th anniversary on July 14, 2009. Since inception, the Partnership has played a key role in the attrac‑ tion of more than $6.8 billion in investment by 382 new and expanding companies. This is a return on investment of $164 for every $1 in funding pro‑ vided by public and private partners since 1994.

IN CONCERT

The 25th Anniversary year for Richmondʼs oldest summer concert series, Friday Cheers, was a blockbuster year for organiz‑ ers Venture Richmond. The Zac Brown Band concert saw the largest crowd (by thousands) ever for a Brownʼs Island event with upwards of 16,000 guests for the free weekly concert series. The band was booked in September 2008, prior to the re‑ lease of its number one hit, “Chicken Fried.” By the time summer 2009 rolled around the group had won several country music awards and Richmonders were ecstatic, ﬂooding nearly every foot of the Island, as well as both sides of the Canal Walk. The weather also cooperated and it became a night to remember for many on Downtown Richmondʼs historic Riverfront.

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Richmond Folk Festival Announces 2009 Acts THE BIG SHOW: A Preview of the First Eight Performers for the Second RFF

Tidewater native and rhythm & blues legend Swamp Dogg returns to the Old Dominion from Los Angeles to serve up a musical “Total Destruction to Your Mind.” Nashville‑based Jerry Douglas is an innovator and a traditionalist and per‑ haps the finest player of the Dobro who has ever lived. Along with his group, The Jerry Dou‑ glas Band, the music of this resophonic guitar wizard tran‑ scends categorization. One of Washington, DCʼs most influen‑ tial go‑go bands, Trouble Funk will rock the Festival dance stage with the percussion‑heavy funk groove that has been driving crowds crazy for three decades. Heir to a family musical legacy, zy‑ deco accordionist Jeffrey Broussard leads Jeffery Brous‑ sard & The Creole Cowboys, one of Southwest Louisianaʼs hottest new dance bands.

REVIEW|PHOTO BY PETIE BOGEN‑GARRETT

Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill have created one of the most memorable musical partnerships of our era. Based in West Hartford, Connecticut and Chicago, Illi‑ nois, this spellbinding Irish ﬁddle and guitar duo weaves music that slowly smolders before exploding with exhilarating energy. Rounding out this ﬁrst group of performers for the 2009 Richmond Folk Festival is a real working cowboy from Dusty, Washington. Yodeler extraordinaire Wylie Gustafson and his group Wylie & The Wild West will delight festival‑goers with their classic country, western swing and cowboy songs. Zac Brown Band on Brownʼ Island. Checkout www.venturerichmond.com for more upcoming downtown events.

BY B.J. KOCEN

songs. I owe it to all the wonderful people that have been playing with me over the years at my Stretchin' at Barksdale se‑ ries, playing with dare I say the local super group The Gobstoppers, and by being embraced by my favorite spot to play, Ash‑ land Coﬀee and Tea. Iʼd kick myself if I didnʼt mention all the folks who passed through Barnabus Jones, a band I fronted for many years. Iʼm inspired by my family and friends mostly. A lot of them end up in my songs. I avoid heartache and even in tunes that may sound a little desperate thereʼs always a nugget of hope in there. I can't wait to release this album. Paul and I are super proud of it. I hope that people are sur‑ prised by it. Itʼs really a coming out party for me and after all these years of being under‑conﬁdent, I fi‑ nally feel like Iʼve arrived.

If you like Woodie Guthrie, Phil Ochs, Tommy Jarrell or Frank Zappa THEN TRY: A group of ﬁve young guys make up a band that is hard to pigeonhole into one genre. The Hot Seats (Aaron Lewis, Ben Belcher, Ed Brogan, Jake Sellers, Josh Bearman) formed back in 2002 and have undergone various name changes and musical ﬁne‑tuning to become the act they are today. What basically started as a good‑time band between new friends, many of whom were ex‑ ploring a genre unknown to them, has morphed into a competition‑winning band that plays gigs nationally and internationally.

Richmond Folk Festival

BJ Kocen

The Hot Seats

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Read The Hot Seatsʼ Q&A online.

KOCEN PHOTO & THE HOT SEATS PHOTO: SCOTT ELMQUIST | BROWNʼS ISLAND PHOTO: COURTESY OF VENTURE RICHMOND.

From New York City, led by the brilliant, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellow, Sue Yeon Park, Sounds of Korea is recognized as the foremost traditional Ko‑ rean dance group in the United States.

Shoptalk: Notes on a First CD I am obsessed about music in a sick way. Ever since I was a kid and took the Beatlesʼ Abby Road in for show‑and‑tell in the first grade. It wasnʼt until high school when I found my mom's guitar in the downstairs closet that I started to make my own music. Iʼm self taught on guitar and started playing gigs probably around ʼ93 or so; wow, the first band was called Treehouse. Yikes! We mightʼve played four gigs and we sucked. Way too many “la‑las!” But that band lead me to long‑last‑ ing relationship with international touring artist Paul Curreri who has inspired me and encouraged me to continue to write and play. This is where it gets interesting. Paul and I are just putting the finishing touches on my first solo record called, the breaks. It has taken me 16 years to finally feel confident enough to release my

Songfest

Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga brings African dance rhythms to this yearʼs line‑up. Now making his home in the U.S., this dynamic singerʼs unique blend of Congolese rumba infused with the ﬂavors of Kenya has made him an undisputed star of East African music.

Venture Richmond

PLAY

Ellis Paul stopped by the listening room Ashland Coﬀee & Tea (100 N Railroad Ave. ) June 26 and gave one of his inspired performances. This guy is always at his best doing his own intelligently written acoustic ballads. Paul is a singer‑songwriter with a national following. His biggest hit so far, “The World Ainʼt Slowing Down” was featured on the soundtrack of Me, Myself and Irene. He built his reputation playing at Club Passim, a folk venue on Har‑ vard Square in Cambridge, MA. More recently, Paul moved to the Charlottesville area to raise a family. Here in Virginia he found new inspiration for a song about the Civil War. Catch him next time at Ash‑ land Coﬀee & Tea when he re‑ turns this fall, with his new CD.

Film Noir For The Net WITH SEVERAL WEB SERIES UNDERWAY, GREG DAYEʼS

Cashmere Jungle Lords: I listened to this self‑de‑ scribed “sur‑ fasalsabilly” band when I was 16 driving my ﬁrst car and last week they tore the house down in Nags Head. They are a real Richmond cultural treasure. Giant Squid: This new band pulls out all the stops, wearing uniforms and pumping the smoke machine, all while playing Journey songs that sound like Megadeth. Poly is a real dynamic group, so‑ phisticated and moody, then able to whip you into straight‑up rock and roll be‑ fore you knew what hit you. The Chiggers wade through the high and lonesome country sound of the ʼ50s and ʼ60s with great vo‑ cals by Wes Edwards and a sea‑ soned band playing with a conﬁdent minimal approach. The Thirds: Billy Creekmore creates and records dense heavy pop songs singlehandedly, then teaches his band how to play them live, unbelievable talent waiting to be discovered.

“Spook” 48”x48” epoxy collage on panel by Todd Hale. The downtown artist also runs Art6 Studio Gallery. www.toddshale.com

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PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE GIGS FOR CHANNEL 6 & CW. In 2003, budding filmmaker According to Daye, the Greg Daye came across a film Richmond film community is called Star Wars Revelations. actually bigger than people “It wasn't a typical fan film,” might initially think. And for said Daye. “It was well‑written anyone interested in breaking and [well] shot. The special ef‑ into the local film scene, he fects were great and close to adds that “itʼs a tight‑knit anything I had seen on the big community with some of the screen.” Thatʼs when Daye de‑ most talented and good na‑ cided he could put his own tured people around.” spin on the genre, and Shooting on location in launched his own company the area has also been a good called Urban‑Anime. Started as a web design and an‑ imation company, Urban‑Anime has since evolved into a production com‑ pany and full serv‑ ice visual effects house. UA produces innovative and in‑ teractive online en‑ tertainment with shows like Ad‑ journed, Sam I Am and The Invaded, the first broadcast‑ Dayeʼs Sam I Am is a gritty sci‑fi tale set in the city. quality, high‑defi‑ Samuel Marcus Donovan [played by Daye] dis‑ nition dramatic covers that he is far from an average person̶he has been part of a covert operation dubbed series designed “Blackout” which recruits normal people, wipes specifically for the their memories and alters their DNA̶givng internet and mo‑ them super human abilities. Above scenes show Donovanʼs encounters with the fiesty and engi‑ bile devices. Daye currently matic Melea [Laura Hawkins] . has two local televi‑ sion projects in production, experience. “I don't have one for Channel 6 and the one particular favorite loca‑ other for CW Richmond. Both tion. I shoot all over Rich‑ will air this fall. His online mond; it just depends on projects include the fifth sea‑ the scene or series. Fortu‑ son of Adjourned, the third nately the locations I have season of Sam I Am, and some shot at were accommodat‑ new titles. ing and friendly.”

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On June 29, Pandora In‑ ternet Radio founder Tim Westergren treated Rich‑ monders to a meeting at Virginia Commonwealth Universityʼs Grace Street Theater to discuss the radioʼs future. The meet‑ ing allowed attendees to ask Westergren ques‑ tions about anything Pandora, from the com‑ panyʼs humble begin‑ nings to suggestions on how to improve ease of use on the radio web‑ site. These “town hall” meetings started in Austin, Texas with only six people; now over 200 meetings later from Biloxi, Mississippi to Boston, Pandoraʼs town halls have become so popular that entire rooms and theaters fill up with listeners eager to hear whatʼs in store for Pandora. “For us theyʼve become this re‑ ally invaluable way to just talk di‑ rectly with Pandora listeners,” says Westergren. “I am really interested in hearing your [the listenersʼ] thoughts, questions you have, crit‑ icisms you have, Pandora ideas you have for us.” Pandora was originally launched in January 2000 as a music genome project, the most comprehensive analysis of music ever attempted. “What we do is understand songs musicologically, and then by marrying that with some mathe‑ matics, kind of build this tool that connects songs based on their mu‑ sical content,” explains Westergren of the project. Pandoraʼs team of 50 musician‑ analysts have been listening to music one song at a time, dissecting and analyzing every single detail of each song. “We have this musical taxonomy. Itʼs a list of about 400 mu‑ sical attributes that sort of collec‑ tively describe the songs,” says Westergren. “[What we do is] essen‑ tially dissect melody and harmony and rhythm and vocal performance down to the basic building blocks.” Westergrenʼs original music genome idea failed initially, but that didnʼt stop him from using his proj‑ ect with a different purpose. “When I got out of school I knew I wanted to be involved with music,” reflects Westergren, a Political Science grad‑ uate from Stanford. After working as a “manny”̶a male nanny̶for five years after graduating, Westergren

THE BEAUTY OF PANDORA

Todd Hale’s Top 5 Local Bands

Todd Hale

Greg Daye

Tim Westergren

Alex Germanotta

Germanotta accepts his award.

A Magical Night With AT THE 51ST ANNUAL N ATIONAL C APITAL CHESAPEAKE BAY CHAPTER EMMY AWARDS HELD IN D.C. JUNE 6TH AT THE RITZ‑CARLTON HOTEL, R ICHMONDER ALEX GERMANOTTA WON AN E MMY AS THE PRODUCER OF CHOP SUEY. Letʼs talk about the film. A.G.: Chop Suey is a 30‑minute documentary about the local bookstore of the same name. It was produced by VCU‑TV/HD, which is VCUʼs documentary television program. The studio is helmed by Dan Brazda and Lisa Figueroa and they make cin‑ ema vérité style documentaries about local life and university programs. They submitted three programs to the Capital Emmys this year̶two of which took statues home. How did you come up with the concept for the piece? A.G.: I had been friends with Ward Teft (the owner of Chop Suey Books) for quite a while before working on the docu‑ mentary. When he told me about Books on Wheels and their trip to Philadelphia, I knew there was some sort of documen‑ tary in that. Books on Wheels, if you don't already know, is a non‑profit that Ward Teft “It was crazy and Shelley Briggs founded. seeing Oprah They bought an old school in person. bus, painted it, filled it with When she books and bike parts, and entered the they travel from city to city room every‑ handing out free books and one started fixing broken bicycles in the screaming uncontrol‑ places that most need it. lably. She What are you awarded her friend and fellow broad‑ shooting now? A.G.: Right now Iʼm work‑ caster Richard Sher the Ted Yates Award for his achievements in broad‑ ing on a short film called casting. Afterward, her secret service The Wind Chill Factory members whisked her through a with my good friend Matt mysterious curtain toward the back Lively. Matt is an artist here of the stage and she was gone.” in Richmond who makes some pretty awesome artwork that can be seen regularly in the galleries around town. He came to me with a neat idea about this factory that produces all the cold air in the world called the Wind Chill Factory, and weʼve turned it into a short film about the town surrounding the factory and its inhabitants.

Oprah Winfrey

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Emmy, Alex & Oprah

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song or artist a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” which is what they can do now, listeners would like to say why they gave a certain rating, saying things like “I like the vocal harmony on this song, I donʼt like this singer, I like the melody,” and so on. This idea of providing granu‑ lar feedback is something that Pan‑ dora plans to do in the future for its listeners. There are also new tech‑ nological applications for Pandora in the works, such as car acces‑ sories in conjunction with the iPhone, as well as incorporating Pandora into DVD and Blue Ray players with Bose. “I realized, wow this is what the world is going to be like,” says Westergren about these advance‑ ments. But changes for listeners arenʼt the only goals of Pandora. “Weʼve gotten pretty ambitious with what we think Pandora can do,” Westergren says. “Weʼre intent not just on redefining radio from top to bottom for listeners, but also to really make an impact for musicians.” Westergren has re‑ ceived a lot of feedback from artists who have de‑ buted on Pandora and have become successful from this platform. “Artists will say things like ʻMy iTunes sales have spiked,ʼ and it corre‑ sponds exactly to when they were added to Pan‑ Westergren: “Weʼre intent not just dora,” he says. “Or theyʼre on redefining radio from top at shows and people are to bottom for listeners, but also to saying they heard about really make an impact them on Pandora̶ for musicians.” thatʼs happening a lot. So I think weʼre beginning registered listeners, and its con‑ to see the ripple effect of it. I canʼt stantly growing number of unreg‑ say that this musician attributes his istered listeners. or her success to Pandora, but I Westergren believes that the think weʼre kind of creating a bit of beauty of Pandora and the reason rising tide.” that itʼs successful lies in the Because of this feedback method of catering to its listeners that he has already received, based on musicological proximity Westergren only sees continued and not on popularity. success for musicians in Pan‑ “Itʼs not a popularity contest,” doraʼs future. “Our goal is to cre‑ he says. “Itʼs one of the only systems ate a musicianʼs middle class. I will that, in terms of how it picks songs, be happy if someday Pandora will is blind to popularity. So when you have reached the point where you type in an artist or song, Pandora graduate from college and you say doesnʼt know if that artist [or song] to your mom, ʻMom, I want to be in is famous or not, so it really is a truly a rock band.ʼ And she says ʻThatʼs a level playing field.” great career.ʼ Weʼll have laid the Listeners at the Richmond foundation for a viable profes‑ meeting all expressed the desire sion, which I believe is there. The for more granular feedback when audience is there for it, and cer‑ rating songs picked for them by tainly the talent is there for it.” Pandora. Instead of just giving a BY LAUREN RINKER

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became a working musician, writ‑ ing music and traveling across the country to perform. “I became pretty intimately ac‑ quainted with the challenges of being a working musician,” he says. “Thereʼs one really hard problem for musicians, which is, how do you get exposure? Only a small number of artists get on broadcast radio. And radio really is a key to professional longevity. So we took this huge database we had built, [the] music genome project, and decided to turn it into a radio.” Thus the birth of Pandora Internet Radio in Novem‑ ber of 2005. Pandoraʼs team of musician‑ analysts still dissects songs based on 400 musical attributes as they had when the company was ﬁrst launched. The goal behind this extensive analysis now, however, is to create playlists based on mu‑ sical proximity for its 30 million

FIRST S Y A FRID G ALLERY SURVEY BY T ED R ANDLER

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[Top clockwise] Joe Meiser: [detail] “Encounter with the Being of Light” | Qaisar Iqbal: “Final Approach” | Jason Lanka: “Husk”

t Gallery 5 there is a closing reception Natu‑ ral In Conclusion: Works by Jason Lanka and Joe Meiser. Lankaʼs “Husk” is a large sculpture that is both a sensuous and threatening assemblage of natural forms. Claw‑like branches are bundled into a boat‑shaped container formed from curvilinear slats. Upon closer inspection, the branches are actu‑ ally the handles of pitchforks of which the red prongs are stacked to create the spiky coat similar to that of a porcupine. Tendrils of bright red tethers are ran‑ domly tied to the branch handles. In his artist statement, Lanka cites his fascina‑ tion with cultureʼs impact on natureʼs

boundaries which is evident in his mor‑ phing of the branches into more utilitar‑ ian form of the tool handles. The husk of the boat form is neither completely re‑ fined nor is it falling in the realm of being a found object. The sculpture reads as nautical piece, a decaying canoe on a desolate beach. His effort is to create a balance between natural form and aes‑ thetic artifice. Complementing Lankaʼs intuitive verve is Meiserʼs ironic diorama “Encounter with the Being of Light.” The funny mixed media carries the toy‑sensi‑ bility of Meiserʼs other work, with the tiny man‑doll seeming to have some type of epiphany as it emerged from an isola‑ tion tank in a stark white room with chair. Though generic in execution, there

is a certain nostalgic kitsch to the work, the ﬁgurines seem dated̶toys from the ʼ70s̶and does the idea of an epiphany coming from an isolation tank seems al‑ most quaint. What is truly intriguing for their nos‑ talgic evocation are the works found at ISHQ Galleryʼs show Sporting Art featur‑ ing paintings by Qaisar Iqbal. Golﬁng and horse racing̶the sports of the country club set̶are portrayed in pastel hues acrylic and oils. As in Iqbalʼs “Final Ap‑ proach” the renderings were every bit the illustrative look of 1950s movie set paint‑ ings. The chalkiness of the pigment and straightforward illustration of the sports drama are without irony and yet arenʼt unappealing in the least.

[Left to right] Daniel Davidson: 4 Drawings | Kristen Kindler: “Bail‑Out Sphere” (detail)| Morgan Herrin: “Untitled”

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ADA GALLERY

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single spotlight on the handcrafted globe. Viewers are compelled to circle the object in the conﬁned space to take in Herrinʼs masterful carving and attention to detail of some fallen mythological war‑ riorʼs embedding in the wooden sar‑ cophagus. A weird ambience of quiet contrasts with the front galleryʼs chatter and gives the piece an almost religious air. At Ghostprint Gallery the toy and il‑ lustration theme continues with Jeﬀery Vincentʼs Tillinghast Family Portraits. Vincentʼs charcoal and graphite draw‑ ings are reminiscent of the cartoonist Charles Addamsʼ work with a touch of Grey Gardens gothic sensibility. Coun‑ terpoint to his pensive drawings, Vin‑ centʼs mixed media “Wall of Soft

Sculptures” is a colorful and twisted muppet show of toy creatures after Yves Tanguyʼs surrealist forms. The Gallery @ Corporate & Museum Frame oﬀers Elka Amorimʼs photography and mixed media paean to Frida Kahlo, but with a collage twist. The artist has a proclivity for acid, highly saturated hues. The work reads autobiographic̶self‑ portraiture abounds̶but retains an im‑ personal distance through the ﬂatness and repetition of Amorimʼs branding in the use of decorative elements. The array of imagery is serial in nature (“Venus‑Fly‑ Trap #1” and “#2”); compositions are launched and then retried, some with more success than others. Less restrained mixed media can be

[Left to right] Morgan Herrin: “Untitled” (detail) | Jeﬀery Vincent: “Tillinghast 7” | Jeﬀery Vincent: “Wall of soft sculptures” R I C H M O N D

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There seems to be a strong vein of il‑ lustration‑as‑art evidenced by the work at ADAʼs Stimulus Package (art under 500 bucks). Daniel Davidsonʼs four draw‑ ings are caricatures bordering on Mad Magazine absurdity, yet intricately ren‑ dered with etching exact detail. Topical is Kristen Kindlerʼs “Bail‑Out Sphere” of automobiles pressed in glass circles. The tumbling cars created a slick, snowflake pattern of touching bumpers, tires and fenders̶the irony of such heavy‑metal industry trapped in a precarious, albeit fragile state isnʼt without note. A stand‑ out in the show was Morgan Herrinʼs un‑ titled wooden sculpture. The large orb is presented in the rear gallery and dra‑ matically lit with what appeared to as a

Elka Amorim: [top] “Venus‑Fly‑Trap #1” [bottom] “Venus‑Fly‑Trap #2”

Melody Gullick: [top] “Blister” [bottom] “Melisa #2”

Noah Scalin: [top] “#370 Neon Skull 2” [bottom] “#329 Skull‑Ray”

found at Metro Space Galleryʼs exhibition of Melody Gullickʼs show Buﬀonʼs Nee‑ dle. Gullick likes to draw, you can tell by the scratching and scribbling that create the intense passages in the pieces. Mate‑ rials range in paper, plastic, masking tape, duct tape, pastels, acrylics and wax on wood. Some of the work, like “Blister,” is so built‑up that the pieces become nearly sculptural. There is something very unaﬀected and forthright about Gul‑ lickʼs technique that is refreshing̶ though one wishes there would be similar adventures in her color usage. As for art‑as‑branding, that award goes to Noah Scalin who has taken the ball̶uh, I should say skull̶and run with it right over to Quirk Gallery in his show After Life: A Skull Exhibition. Of the

111 pieces in the exhibit̶yes, thatʼs cor‑ rect, 111̶some are more impressive than others. No media seems left untried. Neon, video, x‑ray, string‑art, photogra‑ phy, pen and ink, car hoods, chairs, carved cork, laser cut steel, tie‑dyed tee shirt, all skulls ad nauseam. After awhile one began to have a sense of “Whereʼs Waldo?” but with skulls, which may be the artistʼs intent. The amassing of the artistʼs work seems key, in that̶because of the generic character of the subject matter and transient nature of the vari‑ ous methods of making an image̶many of the pieces wouldnʼt be remarkable be‑ yond the artistʼs cleverness. At Feed2009: A Juried Biennial 1708 Galleryʼs exhibition Jarod Charzewskiʼs installation of clothing on

loan from Goodwill of South Carolina overwhelms you upon entry. “The Old Way Becomes The New Way” presents a topography of neatly folded used cloth‑ ing̶jeans, tee shirts, dress shirts̶ arranged in similar hues like a calcified lava flow. Not unlike Jason Lankaʼs play between nature and artifice, Charzewskiʼs installation is a crystalliza‑ tion of consumerism in excess and its im‑ pact on the environment. And while that is all well and good, at heart this is a per‑ formance piece of which the mere exe‑ cution of all that folding any GAP shop clerk would surely marvel. Really, as art, the process carries the piece to a place of magic realism, or the absurd aesthetics of creating the spectacular from the mundane of laundry day.

Bang Geul Han: [installation view] “3 Things that Mom Doesnʼt Have to Know”

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Jarod Charzewski: The Old Wat Becomes The New Way”

METRO SOUND & MUSIC

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VISUAL ARTS STUDIO

Dan Rhett: “ALFA”

and exteriors are ﬂattened with a brushy, generalized detail that meshes the fore‑ ground into the background. Far from Edvard Munchʼs sophisticated structured compositions̶yet there is an aﬃnity in the way both artists seek to balance styl‑ ized, sometimes awkwardly, rendering with the engineering of purely painterly passages̶Rhett evokes naive and child‑ like interpretations of his subject matter. Interestingly, it is in the election of small scale that seems counter‑intuitive to this very type of painting; such that some of the work reads like studies for larger canvases. Rhettʼs work becomes more dynamic when he leaves his palette com‑ fort zone of muted grays, browns and blues and explores the uncharted hues that pop forward and create color com‑ plexities that need to be resolved.

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Bang Geul Hanʼs video triptych “3 Things that Mom Doesnʼt Have to Know” was presented in a low‑lit portion of the gallery that added to the intimate, reve‑ latory feel of imagery. Couples in various combinations of nudity and fully‑clothed partners kiss in outdoor settings of woods, open field or empty road. Com‑ positions are simple formats of figures on ground and̶similarly to Elka Amorimʼs self‑centric efforts̶the artistʼs techniques (videos shot from a distance, repetition of composition) keep the audience in a dispassionate zone through the evident manufacture of ren‑ dered moments. Visual Art Studio has Alfa: New Paintings by Dan Rhett of whose work displays small compositions of café life in muted browns and blues. The interiors

EXHIBITIONS

From Choctaw Ridge to Victoria Fields

BY TED RANDLER

ELDRIDGE BAGLEY: ʻA ROAD TAKENʼ Recorded by Bobbie Gentry in 1967, “Ode to Billie Joe” haunted and titillated the imaginations of pop music fans such that it became a number one hit and earned Gen‑ try three Grammys out of eight nominations. It recounts the unre‑ solved tale of Billie Joe McAllister whose suicide̶jumping oﬀ the Tallahatchie Bridge̶is announced rather matter‑of‑factly at a family dinner table. Southern Gothic, yet with an odd suburban straightforward presentation, the song not only en‑

with his need to create. Schools during his child‑ hood didnʼt offer art lessons, and while he was encouraged by BAGLEY friends and relatives, Bagley didnʼt begin to paint seriously until 1973 when he was 28. His work is neither true land‑ scape nor mannered fiction. It lies somewhere between documenta‑ tion, idyllic design and nostalgic legend. Bagley insists his efforts are to show the good and bad of rural America, not to ru‑ minate over what has been lost, but to “to glean the essence” of the harsh‑ ness of farm life as well as the strong bond in the family and community. So self‑taught, that when critics referred to Roseau and Thomas Hart Benton in their reviews of “Garden Plot” 18”x24” oil on linen 2008 his early exhibits, Bagley capsulates the mysterious death had to research the artists to get of the protagonist, but also docu‑ the comparison. Primarily a land‑ ments the passing of an era, a scape artist, he never paints out‑ family disintegrates within a doors and only occasionally will yearʼs time; the father dies, a son reference a photograph for his moves away and the mother is compositions even though his ef‑ left despondent. forts seemingly strive to achieve a Victoria, Virginia folk artist and type of exacting verisimilitude. writer Eldridge Bagley was among the fans of Gentryʼs song, such that he cited a verse of it in his opening remarks to the enthused audience at his June 27th talk at the glave kocen gallery (1620 West Main St.). For Bagley the powerful “Ode to Billie Joe” is a “well‑told story.” And itʼs that same type of compelling narrative “Homecoming” 18”x24” oil on linen 2009 he seeks to evoke in his paintings. As for the life he celebrates in He says his parents were sto‑ his narrative work: his family farm no rytellers. “Not in the strict sense of longer raises tobacco. The “salt of formal writers but in their dinner‑ the earth” lifestyle is fast slipping table conversations of creating away not unlike in the blink‑of‑an‑ family folklore.” His family raised to‑ eye timeframe of Gentryʼs song. “I bacco and lived a rural life of want my paintings reach young peo‑ wrestling with elements and debt ple as a link to the past,” he says. just to get by. While he appreciated A Road Taken new work by Eldridge the life and close‑knit community Bagley: June 12‑July 18, 2009. of rural Virginia, Bagley struggled

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Full Circle

Andrea Donnelly: (installation view) ”Holding In” BY PETIE BOGEN‑GARRETT

ARTSPACE BIENNIAL BREAKS BOUNDARIES Run by and for artists, media presented. In Artspace̶a twenty‑ short, this art plays year‑old gallery in a well together. five‑year‑old space The largest piece at Plant Zero Art in the show is Rich‑ Center (Zero E. 4th monder Andrea Don‑ St.) in the Manches‑ nellyʼs ”Holding In” a ter arts district̶has ten‑foot by eighteen‑ always shown a fiercely foot monochrome fig‑ independent spirit. ure study, executed in Leading the way with dyed & painted cot‑ its initial location in the ton. This piece di‑ then largely warehouse vides the main gallery district of Shockoe Bot‑ into two rooms and tom, later on Broad Scott Hazard: “Introjection: can be viewed from Street and now off Hull Durham, North Car‑ either side. Street, Artspace contin‑ olina ̶Sealed Door.” At 16”x20,” “In‑ ues to setting new pa‑ trojection: Durham, rameters for artistsʼ interaction in North Carolina̶Sealed Door” the Richmond region. Scott Hazardʼs sulpture‑and‑ Coming full circle with the photography mix explores the ge‑ third rendition of the galleryʼs ography of the subject with a 3‑D Radius 250, the ju‑ carved interior space ried biennial fea‑ that is unexpected in tures artists who a framed photograph. create within a 250‑ Fairfax, Virginia mile radius of Rich‑ artist, Irene Clouthier mond. The juror presents “The Otherʼs with a fine eye for Look” a humorous the eclectic selec‑ and startling multi‑ tion was Marlene media piece com‑ Rothacker, Director Irene Clouthier: (detail) prised of a C‑Print of Exhibitions for In‑ “The Otherʼs Look” mounted on Plexi‑ ternational Arts & glass, with toy wiggle Artists, based in Washington, DC. eyes, beats and acrylic fish bowls, Geographically circumscribed, engages the viewersʼ senses and yet artistically unbounded, this ju‑ invites closer examination. ried show successfully reaches be‑ From fiber art to steel, wood yond metropolitan boundaries, to plastic, with sculptural media encompassing artists on both sides side by side with works on paper of the Mason‑Dixon Line. Redefin‑ and canvas, this show delivers a ing these cultural borders yields a multimedia feast for the eyes. surprisingly cohesive, yet satisfy‑ Radius 250: June 26‑August 23, 2009 ingly diverse exhibition. Petie Bogen‑Garrett is a Richmond‑based There is an obviously sympa‑ curator and photographer with roots in thetic tone shared by these works, New York, leaves in Virginia and a cyber‑ life at ArtsGal.com. despite the wide range of scale and

Petie Bogen‑Garrett

FRONT & CENTER SEATS • Richmond Jazz Society: “Generations of Jazz,” an ensemble of multi‑generational musi‑ cians performing a medley of Jazz classics. • Richmond Shakespeare: Songs and son‑ nets by William Shakespeare on the 400th an‑ niversary year of their ﬁrst publication, with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. • Richmond Symphony: Bernsteinʼs over‑ ture from Candide and Dimitri Shostakovichʼs

Festive Overture, and live accompaniment for ﬁve groups: Richmond Ballet, Virginia Opera, Richmond Shakespeare, Theatre IV ‑ Barksdale and SPARC. • SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community): Excerpts from Les Misérables with SPARC students and alumni performing for the ﬁrst time with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra • Theatre IV – Barksdale: Excerpts from High School Musical, Boleros for the Disen‑ chanted, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Sound of Music. • Virginia Opera: The cast of La Bohème performing selections from the most popular works in the operatic repertory. The acts include more than 200 performers from the nine producing resident companies, with nearly 50 additional crew members.

SEEING THE LIGHT R

ICHMOND HAS ITS SHARE OF PERFORMANCE ARTISTS, STREET FESTIVALS, FASH‑ ION SHOWS AND GALLERY OPENINGS. YET ONLY ONE EVENT COMBINES ALL THESE INTO A WEEKEND OF AWE AND WONDER. 1708 GALLERYʼS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TATJANA BEYLOTTE InLight Richmond 2008 crowd photo by Lindsay Stovall PREVIEWS INLIGHT 2009. fering lantern making workshops!) which will officially kick‑off InLight Richmond. Hundreds of bouncing lights in Downtown Richmond will commence the celebration of light‑ inspired art. The Wearable InLight fashion show promises to be a big hit again this year. Highlights will also include the presentation of the Best in Show, Best in Green and Peopleʼs Choice awards honoring (new location this year) will become participating artists. the canvas for 26 international vi‑ In preparation for the lantern sual and performing artists. Guest parade, 1708 Gallery is organizing juror Adelina Vlas, Assistant Curator and hosting a variety of lantern of Modern and Contemporary Art, making workshops, in which youth at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and adults of all ages have an op‑ selected the video projections, portunity to create beautiful hand‑ sculpture, installations, and multi‑ made lanterns out of a variety of media art works that will be on view. materials. The workshops will be in The artful evening will also in‑ late August and early September clude a lantern procession for the and lead by some of Richmondʼs whole community (we are even of‑ best artists including Matt Lively, Noah Scalin, Paul Teeples as well as Sarah Hand. Another ex‑ citing InLight component is a PSA video com‑ petition. The challenge is to create a 20 second light‑in‑ by Conor McPherson spired film that Sept. 24 – Oct. 17, 2009 represents the Directed By Bo Wilson spirit and mission Featuring Joe Inscoe & Larry Cook of InLight Rich‑ mond. Entries are due August 15. The winner re‑ Box Office | 804.340.0115 ceives a $250 www.henleystreettheatre.org cash prize and

Shining City

Tatjana Beylotte

the opportunity to have the PSA run on the local NBC12 channel. Was there a particular theme or cri‑ teria that Vlas based her selection? T.B.: The selection was based pri‑ marily on the quality of the work and on the creativity demonstrated by the artists in responding to In‑ Lightʼs open call. Inspired by the theme and the sites presented by InLight for this yearʼs edition of the exhibition, some artists submitted proposals that engaged beautifully with speciﬁc locations while others sent in ideas that could be adapted to various sites. Overall, what the selected works have in common is the capacity to engage our imagi‑ nation and to transform the urban environment in which they are in‑ serted, some temporarily and oth‑ ers for the long term. Can you talk about some of the artists whose work will be on display? T.B.: “Show of Hands” is an interac‑ tive video projection by Ed Purver from Brooklyn, NY. His piece, which will be projected on the side of the Verizon Building, explores Ameri‑ can Sign Language as a medium through which to examine the pri‑ vatization of public space and the architecture of free speech. Renee van der Stelt, an artist from Baltimore, MD, is creating site‑ speciﬁc large scale pin‑pricked maps of the Richmond region. The pieces will be lit from the back and exhibited in one of the storefronts on E. Grace Street. Click on RichmondGrid.com to read more of Beylotteʼs interview and view samples of work by the event artists.

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Taking place the weekend of September 25‑27 from dusk until midnight and featuring various events including a series of creative lantern workshops and the some‑ what oﬀ‑the‑wall Wearable InLight contest and fashion show. Forget the question ʻis it art?ʼ is it a party or is it a performance? T.B.: InLight Richmond 2009 is the second annual outdoor celebration of contemporary art inspired by light. The majority of events will take place place Friday evening, September 25, 2009 starting at 7pm. Organized by 1708 Gallery, In‑ Light Richmond transforms a part of our city into an outdoor contem‑ porary art experience and commu‑ nity gathering. Facades, walls, storefronts, alleys and the streets between 5th and 8th Street and East Broad and East Grace Street

PLAY

The Richmond CenterStage Grand Opening will take place September 12‑13, 2009 at the newly renovated and restored Carpenter The‑ atre at 600 E. Grace St. During the Grand Opening festivities, nine performing arts groups from the Rich‑ mond region will take the stage together for the ﬁrst time to celebrate a project eight years in the making. The performance will include: • African American Repertory Theatre: Poetry and readings celebrating the inspira‑ tional works of noted African American writer Langston Hughes. • Elegba Folklore Society: Mandiani, featuring performances of songs, music and dances cele‑ brating the West African Manding rites of passage. • Richmond Ballet: Stoner Winslettʼs Win‑ dows IV, with 38 dancers and an original score by Virginia composer Jonathan Romeo.

The Beautiful People

BY LAUREN RINKER

Peek-a-boo Perfect!

RICHMOND‑AREA MODELS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, ACHIEVING THE FUN & FLIRTY MAKEUP ARTISTS, AND HAIRSTYLISTS HAVE THE OP‑ OVER‑THE‑TOP TRENDY ʻFACEʼ OF PORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT AND NET‑ NEO‑BURLESQUE REQUIRES BLUSH, WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS AT MODEL MONDAYS. GLITTER & LIPS THAT SIZZLE! BY AMY GEORGE

MODEL MONDAYS PHOTOS: LAUREN RINKER | VARIETEASE PHOTO: TWILIGHT IMAGES

Funn with Funn Foto model Leanne Nicole.

The event is held every Monday ginia; Washington, D.C.; Maryland; night this summer through August and North Carolina. 17, 7:30pm to 12:00am at Xscape Mosheh Israel, President and nightclub at 814 West Grace Street. CEO of Black Nobility Magazine, a Originally started by Richmond lifestyle and culture magazine photographer Randall Holmes at based in Raleigh, North Carolina, re‑ Rendezvous Café and Lounge and cently attended Model Mondays to currently organized and hosted by recruit new models for the model Carlos Funn of Funn Fotos, the section for future issues. And event allows anyone with an inter‑ Founder and CEO of Catwalk Pro‑ est in modeling and photography ductions Angela Moore, also from to actually participate in real photo Raleigh, scouted the event to re‑ shoots with the cruit models to her goal of making agency. Their pres‑ connections with ence at this event others in their field. shows how popular At the event, Model Mondays has models bring sev‑ become and how suc‑ eral outfits to the cessful it has been in event where hair attracting profession‑ Photographer stylists and make‑ als interested in build‑ Carlton Brightly & Israel up artists prepare ing their networks. them for photo shoots. After speak‑ “Many have had a chance to ing with photographers, models pick up clients [and] set up gigs,” participate in a one‑on‑one photo says Funn. “For me, it has helped shoot to build their portfolios, as with branding Funn Foto and get‑ well as those of the photographer. ting connected with others in the “It is a way for people to break community to let them know what the ice and do test shots to see kind of work I do and to let them about working with each other on know that we are here to not only future dates or events,” explains help with pictures [but] with artistic Funn. “We do let people know that development.” the models are here to work on Funn plans to continue Model their portfolios, yet is an open artis‑ Mondays as a regular event all over tic night for creating cool shoots Richmond throughout the year. and art.” “We are looking to make a Model Mondays is the first moving venue,” he says. “We have event of its kind to occur in Rich‑ some things planned, maybe a ʻhit mond. Never before has a network‑ the runwayʼ type of thing. We are ing event been so cool as to make searching for sponsors and vendors connections and beautiful art in the to help put on the night, and if they same setting. The event has drawn do have an interest they can con‑ interested professionals from Vir‑ tact me at funnfoto@gmail.com.”

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Varieteaseʼs At downtown venues Boo Boo normally showcasing Darlinʼ in full boom‑boom hardcore punk bands and regalia. art shows thereʼs suddenly a whole lot more “sin and skin.” Troupes such as the Rich‑ mond Varietease, Modern Bur‑ lesque Brigade, and Sweet Tease Burlesque have their own interpre‑ tation of the neo‑burlesque genre. These daring, confident locals don (and doff ) corsets and vintage high heels while appreciative audiences take in per‑ formances that explore this art form and recast it in a modern light. Intermediate acts from jugglers, contortionists, fire eaters, and comedians round out the vari‑ ety show atmosphere. Each performer has her own style– some take their cues from the Depression and Vaudeville eras, while others are in‑ spired by World War II era pin‑ups and the “New Look” of the 1950ʼs. Their personal‑ ities all shine through as well. A coy wink, talented tap dancing, a hu‑ morous prop or costume, and choice of music ensure that the entire night is a parade of talented, confident women dancing, singing, joking, (and yes, disrob‑ ing) not to be forgotten. The emphasis is on the “tease” rather than the “strip” and the glittery, sequined, bejeweled cos‑ tumes are (almost) beautiful enough to make you sad to see them tossed aside. Vintage performers like Mae West, Josephine Baker, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Bettie Page provided the original inspiration for the neo‑ burlesque revival. Of todayʼs stars, none is more fa‑ mous than Dita Von Teese. Her iconic makeup look will help you get in character for your next burlesque engagement (even if itʼs only in your dressing room). Start with a matte foundation, a medium matte pink blush on the apples of the cheek, and fill in brows with a matte powder eyeshadow. Create glamorous, bedroom eyes with a soft grey/taupe shadow in the crease of the eyelid and a light, shimmery shadow just under the browbone. Use black liquid liner for the perfect cat‑eye and apply black mascara For the true impact of the pinup/bur‑ lesque look, false lashes make a strong statement. Finish by filling in the lips with a red lipliner, emphasizing the cupidʼs bow. Top with your favorite classic red lipstick. But remember: burlesque is about bending and breaking the rules, so feel free to color outside the lines!

Amy George is a Richmond‑based perfumer and beauty writer. Her perfumes are for sale at www.modernatelier.net, while the latest in local makeup and skincare news can be found atmodernatelier.blogspot.com. Carlos Funn

Amy George

Richmond Varietease

DESIGNERS

STREET VENDORS

STREET CHIC

WHO: Allen Behling BRAND: Intuitively Inspired Designs WHERE: 17th Street Farmersʼ Market MATERIALS: Crystals & precious gems “Many of the pieces I make are pink and or green̶ both colors correspond to the Heart Chakra.” www.iijewelry.com

UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

“I like my accessories or garments to read as primitive glamor̶inspirations come in diﬀerent forms anything from ʼ70s jewelry to National Geographic to Vogue.” http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6090721

West Asian black seed oil, Nubian mango soap, handcrafted trinkets, wooden ﬁgurines, prints, contempo‑ rary posh handbags in tropical colors, all manner of exotica from distant places can be found at Kindred Spirit (106 W. Broad St.). Shelley Madyum‑Burnett and Asya Madyum have created an authentic shopping experience (fragrant with sandalwood incense) that merits several return trips to enjoy all the unique items. Allen Behling

Norah Caldwell

Green framing has come to FRAME NATION in Richmond! Featuring the new Nurre Caxton line, EcoCare. This frame line is made using sustainable timber̶New Zealand pine̶and fin‑ ished with water based stains. FRAME NATION was the first to sell the new EcoCare frame line in the central VA area. Stop by to see our other sustain‑ able mouldings in additional profiles and colors. 11 S 15th St. Richmond, VA 804.64.FRAME or 643.7263 in the river district www.FrameNation.net

West Main Design Co. is an upscale, boutique salon in Charlottesville, Vir‑ ginia for both women and men. Lead by Master Stylist Glenn Gibson, their tal‑ ented team oﬀers a personalized beauty experience in a hip, fun environment. Whether itʼs just a trim or a fabulous new style, let West Main Design Co. help you look your best! Visit us online: www.westmaindesign.com 713 West Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903 9‑6 Wed.‑Fri. 9‑3 Sat. (434) 296‑7560 R I C H M O N D

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Glitz & Glam

WHO: Norah Caldwell BRAND: Rough Around the Edges WHERE: First Fridays Booth on Broad St. MATERIALS: Sheet or scrap metal, rock, bone or leather

“Put it on your calendar! Support your local artisans at The 43rd Street Festi‑ val of the Arts: Saturday, September 19th. You can bring art into your life and home with the great variety of work provided by the 70 juried craftsmen in the show. Come enjoy a full day of art, music, and food at one of Richmond's ﬁnest art venues. The event is free. For more info call (804)233‑1758 or visit www.43rdstgallery.com. [Artwork in photo by Angie Wiggins.]

PLAY

WHO: Margie Chism BRAND: Seashells & Beads WHERE: 17th Street Farmersʼ Market MATERIALS: 14K, .925, leather, pearls, seashells and gemstones “My designs are manufactured personally by me, and are hand‑formed in a large variety.” www.seashellsandbeads.com

SHOPPING SPREE

WHATʼS KYRA WEARING?

Consider The Source

Why is fashion important? Well, it defines you. Not just in how you are perceived, but in how you feel. Ever noticed that when you dress up you feel better? That is be‑ cause you are tak‑ ing the time to look your best. When you look your best, you are your best. Your confi‑ dence is higher and you often perform far better whether in the midst of business or pleasure. But you donʼt have to be a fashion model to be fashionable. And you donʼt have to shop in New York or LA to be fashionable. I always pay attention to new boutiques that crop up in and around town. You would be amazed at whatʼs available right here in Richmond. And what better way to support our community and the betterment of Virginia than to shop here. Carytown has a wealth of op‑ portunity for just the right outfit. I needed a sexy, sort of dressy top to put with a pair of jeans. And before I go any further, I need to tell you about the jeans. You have to get the right jeans! Go designer. Jeans are a crucial part of your wardrobe. My fa‑ vorite are my Seven jeans. If anyone knows how to make your rear end look good in a pair of jeans, it is Seven! Buy them. Buy more than one pair. Need Supply in Carytown has them and many other designer

[top] Madison Marcus top

with white bracelet; [above]

Anthony Tammaro bracelets; [inset] Tracy Wilson yellow cuﬀ bracelet

brands. Have a jeans day and try them on. Buy them tight! They stretch out and nothing is worse than a droopy back side. Ok̶back to the top. I stopped by Pink and found an adorable silk tank by Madison Mar‑ cus. What makes this tank so ap‑ pealing is how it comes in a racer style but with a braided long strap that trails down the middle of your back. The silk lies loosely on your body making it a perfect accent to a tight pair of jeans. My next stop was at Quirk, an art gallery on Broad Street. What is unique about this store is that some of their art is wearable as in jewelry. I found a couple of pieces that set oﬀ the top just perfectly. The Tracy Wilson yellow record cuﬀ bracelet made of record vinyl ($25) is not only a playful compliment to the Madison Marcus top, but is a “green” approach to fashion by reusing old materials. Want something a little more sophisticated? Go for the Anthony Tammaro white plastic bracelet in 3‑D plastic print ($90). Its smooth‑ ness has a delicate feel that creates a desire to touch the bracelet.

Kyra Oliver is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and a runner who is passionate about her environment, from what she is wearing, to where she is wearing it.

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According to the 3/50 project, if just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in inde‑ pendently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. And thatʼs the philosophy of the newly created 3/50 project which has now expanded to the PAXTON Richmond market. It all started as a grass roots effort by a former retailer named Cinda Baxter. After hearing a finan‑ cial expert on the Oprah show give the rather impractical and extreme ad‑ vice to stop spending altogether, Baxter took to the blog‑waves to voice her opinion. Encouraged by the positive feedback of her blog entitled “Save the Economy Three Stores at a Time,” the 3/50 project was born as a campaign to support local businesses in a fun, easy way. In fact, statistics show that on aver‑ age 69 cents out of every dollar spent at a local, independent re‑ tailer says in that community. According to Sarah Paxton at La Difference, getting involved was a logical move. “Tim Gates, a design consultant at LaDiff, had a friend send him a link to the site. He sent it to me. It made sense. We signed up as a participant immediately,” she says. “A week later we were at‑ tending the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) at the Javits Center in NYC. We learned that Cinda would be speaking on the 3/50 Project. We attended her speech, met her in person, and came back ready to spread the word!” And spread the word they did. Cur‑ rently about 31 Rich‑ mond retail stores are listed as partici‑ pants with this proj‑ FENDER ect and both Richmondʼs Retail Merchants Asso‑ ciation and Tidewaterʼs Retail Al‑ liance have signed on as supporters. The numbers show that everyone wins. Educating con‑ sumers to show them the power and effect that their shopping deci‑ sions have is very important. And it doesnʼt mean that you can only shop locally, just consider all of the unique independent Richmond shops first. Itʼs easy, and itʼs a fun exercise to do. Just ask yourself a couple of

Kyra Oliver

questions. What are three locally owned independent retailers that you really like? Would you be sad if they werenʼt around? Then take Paxtonʼs advice, “Sup‑ porting them is good for you and for your community.” Designed to work in conjunc‑ tion with the na‑ tional 3/50 Project, The Retail Mer‑ chants Association is rolling out its “Think. Shop. Buy. Local” program across the region and encour‑ aging its approxi‑ mately 900 members to take part. And the retail group is making it easy for members to participate. Benefits include discounted adver‑ tising, pre‑designed marketing ma‑ terials, and talking points related to the new campaign. The points of the campaign are simple: • THINK: Everyoneʼs choices make a difference. Keeping shop‑ ping dollars local supports our local community. • SHOP: Shoppers can find everything they need in our own community, while building a rela‑ tionship with a local business. • BUY: There is power in pur‑ chasing decisions. On average 45¢ of every $1 spent locally stays local. Thatʼs three times more than when buying non‑locally. Itʼs a campaign that Mary Fender can get behind. Fender owns Frame Nation which has been described by one of her clients “as a custom framing boutique.” Natu‑ rally local shoppers are important to her and her business. “To me it means keeping our communities vi‑ brant and involved. So whenever possi‑ ble, I choose a local hardware, furniture shop, clothes shop what have you. As a friend told me once, we are all in this together.” A key communication tool is the website which can be accessed by shoppers and retailers alike. While retailers can order promo‑ tional items to encourage buying locally, conscientious shoppers can find out which businesses are tak‑ ing part. That may help them in making their shopping decisions to keep dollars in the local economy. Unlike 3/50 Project, the Think.

Sarah Paxton

Mary Fender

MOSAIC

Shop. Buy. Local campaign includes local franchise and chain stores (which also contribute to the local economy by hiring local workers and paying local taxes) as well as inde‑ pendently owned businesses.

Weaver atmosphere where a guest could come in and have a cocktail while waiting for their table,” explains Weaver. “We have always been know as a lunch place; we won best chain for lunch in the Best of/Worst of Rich‑ mond. We wanted to start focusing on dinner as well, so we remodeled. We built a whole bar in four days and had to hire a whole staﬀ.” MOSAICʼs new design creates an ambiance that is exciting yet

www.the350project.net www.thinkshopbuylocal.com

Michael Guld

BY LAUREN RINKER

Directions:

THOMAS RMA President/CEO, Nancy Thomas sees a lot of options for evolving the campaign into addi‑ tional support for members and the community. “As the campaign moves for‑ ward we envision retailers sharing promotional ideas through the Think. Shop. Buy. Local website to continue to drive traﬃc into their stores,” Thomas says. “Our hope is that our media partners will con‑ tinue to provide advertising deals for our members utilizing the buy local brand which Retail Merchants has developed.” Thomas explains the eﬀort has begun to show results. “ We already feel a sense of unity from this shop local movement and a real sense of engagement from the community.”

soothing, with light green as the restaurantʼs primary color, ac‑ cented by earthy tones in the gran‑ ite countertops of the bar, the wood of the chairs and barstools, and the multi‑colored starburst light ﬁxtures constructed with 60 to 70 twisted glass tubes and the greatest of care. “Itʼs very hip. I would say chic, modern, and artsy, not eclectic,” comments Weaver. “The look and feel of our restaurant really match the look and feel of our menu: very light, healthy, and fresh. [Itʼs] a fresh look. When you see it now compared to what it was, it is liter‑ ally night and day. Now it has a cool atmosphere.”

Food

Known primarily as a hot lunch spot for Richmonders since 1999, MOSAIC Cafe & Catering (6229A River Road ) has revamped its look and services to create more buzz and attract more clientele. In early June 2009 MOSAIC re‑ opened its doors̶after closing for redecoration around Memo‑ rial Day̶with a fresh look and an entirely new addition: the MOSAIC Bar and Lounge. The bar and lounge areas were created partly in response to customer demand, but it was also something that Jeﬀrey Weaver had wanted to do ever since he was ap‑ pointed General Manager three months ago. “We really wanted to create an

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“The goal is to get people to be aware of their individual economic power or influence,” says Michael Guld, RMA board member and early proponent of the program. Guld sees a “triple win” for all players touched by the program. Consumers benefit in better “hands‑on” services provided by local merchants. “Itʼs not the price you pay,” he explains, “ itʼs the value you receive.” “With the local investment, the business community can expand, creating jobs and providing a stronger local economy.” Finally, Guld sees opportunities for the non‑profit sector with its close ties to business. “Puritan Clean‑ ers, Saxon Shoes, and Midas of Rich‑ mond all have done substantial work with various philanthropic groups or blood drives,” Guld notes.

Heirloom tomatoes from Amyʼs Garden. Salad greens from Manakintowne Specialty Growers.

From the Chef’s Kitchen:

Caprese Salad BY CHEF ELLIE BASCH

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients: 4 ripe tomatoes, preferably from Farmersʼ Market, not previously refrigerated. 2 medium balls of fresh mozzarella cheese A pinch of salt A pinch of freshly ground black pepper 4 to 6 leaves of fresh basil 2 Tbs. Balsamic vinegar 1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

Nancy Thomas

Ellie Basch

MOSAIC

1. Slice the tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese into 1/8‑inch thick rounds. Arrange them alternately on a large platter/tray. 2. Sprinkle salt and pep‑ per over the tomatoes and cheese rounds. 3. Stack and roll up the basil leaves and cut them into ribbons, or just tear them up by hand if you prefer a Chef Ellie Basch SAVOR Cafe rustic look. Sprinkle on 201 W. 7th Street, Manchester) the salad. 4. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the salad. Serve immediately. Crusty bread slices are rec‑ ommended to sop up the delicious tomato juices.

Notes: Great tasting Caprese salad relies on vine‑ripened tomatoes, so it is best to prepare it when local tomatoes are in season, using local (Hanover!) or heirloom tomatoes. I recommend buying the tomatoes from a farm‑ ersʼ market since they are most likely picked ripe and have not been refrigerated. Refrigeration “freezes” the juice and expands the tomato cells. As a result, refrigerated tomatoes have mushy texture and taste‑ less flavor.

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SALAD PHOTO: ELLIE BASCH

GULD

Brownʼs Island steps are the perfect stretching support.

Island Jogging HAVENʼT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOG OR POWER WALK ON BROWNʼS ISLAND OR BELLE ISLE? THEN DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: SCHEDULE IT INTO YOUR TRAINING.

The footbridge ramps must have been designed with runners in mind. The inclines are perfect for easy climbing .

The footbridge is part of the routine for many runners, walkers and even cyclists. Understandably, since the views of the rapids are fantastic.

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Not to worry if you have to drive to get to the area, thereʼs ample parking with two pub‑ lic parking lots adjacent to the paths and bridges. Once there, you have a lot of options. Weekdays the paths around the parks can get pretty populated with fam‑

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ilies, cyclists, tourists or down‑ town businesspeople using their lunch hour for a little workout. Fortunately with the vastness of space̶Belle Isle alone oﬀers 54 acres!̶the trails feel pretty open. But hereʼs where it gets interesting. One minute you

can be the only jogger on Brownʼs Island (except maybe for the gaggle of geese that seem to rule the roost), hear‑ ing the rush of the whitewater rapids as you pace oﬀ the sky‑ lineʼs dramatic backdrop. Min‑ utes later youʼre back in a bustling city, as you run past a busload of school children and droves of tourists headed for the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. Continu‑ ing on, you run by the archi‑ tectural gems like the Mead Westvaco headquarters; the Federal Reserve Bank building and Dominionʼs headquarters. Donʼt be fooled by the en‑ trance for Dominion Clearing‑ house, access to the ramps for the footbridge to Belle Isle is on your right as you approach Dominionʼs parking lot. The footbridge ramps must have been designed with runners in mind. The inclines are perfect for easy climbing and the turns are generous enough for three people to pass through̶making side‑ stepping sightseers simple. The footbridge is part of

SWEAT EQUITY

As an avid ﬁtness enthusiast, it made perfect sense for Evan Settle to open his own personal training studio Sweat (1215 E Cary St.). When it came to de‑ ciding where to locate his business, it didnʼt take long for him to choose a renovated warehouse on Cary Street that was initially built in 1866.

Your Workout

the routine for many runners, walkers and even cyclists. Un‑ derstandably, since the views of the rapids are fantastic. And the breeze from the river is refreshing. You feel yourself start to de‑stress, itʼs a mini‑vacation. Here again, the scale of the fa‑ cility plays in your favor̶plenty of room to maneuver. Though, for those pedaling thereʼs a portal towards the Belle Isle end thatʼs built intentionally narrow to force cyclists to walk their bikes through for safety precautions. Taking the down ramp to Belle Isle brings you to a fab‑ ulous, seemingly wild, green space. Close to the shore, kayaks can be rented and lots of families use the isle for pic‑ nics. But further on as you follow the trail̶that will bring you back around̶thereʼs just you, the tranquil woods and the rushing river that makes the islands one of the best run‑ ning routes in Richmond.

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Weekdays, the paths around the parks can get pretty populated with families, cyclists, tourists or downtown businesspeople using their lunch hour for a little workout. Though, not to worry as there is plenty of room to maneuver on the walks and trails.

Why did you choose this location for Sweat? I fell in love the exposed beams, ex‑ posed brick, and just being in an his‑ torical building. I do think my studio is on the nicest block in Richmond. Starting up a gym seems pretty daunting. Running my own business is one of the best decisions I have ever made, it has been a true learning experi‑ ence. I am living my dream. It also helps that what I am doing is my true passion. How important is the space and location of your business? My goal here is to meet everyoneʼs individual needs and I believe being in such a centralized location helps me serve a greater cross‑section of the Richmond area. What are your future plans for the studio? My future plans include expansion, possibly to a new larger location, so I can serve more of Richmond. If there is one thing I have learned itʼs there is a much larger need in Richmond for a high‑end ﬁtness facility, which is my next project.

RichmondGrid.com Retrace Your Steps You had super fun at the Anthem Stride Through Time or you heard about it and wish youʼd been there. Either way, Grid’s got you covered. Get a tour map & details online.

Evan Settle

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PAGE VIEWS

Webchatter

IF ʻTHE WHEEL OF LUNCHʼ TELLS YOU THAT YOU MUST GO TO CAFE GUTENBURGʼS HAPPY HOUR̶THEN YOU MUST GO...PRONTO!

IʼD LIKE TO BUY AN ʻE,ʼ PLEASE

DEATH BECOMES YOU

Richmond‑based advertising agency The King Agency, has provided a fun, creative way for us to decide which restaurant to visit for our next meal. “The Wheel of Lunch,” complete with Wheel of Fortune theme music, pro‑ vides three selections: the Light Wheel for “delicious options that wonʼt leave you in a food coma afterwards,” the Heavy Wheel, “for those days when youʼre rocking the elastic waistband,” and Happy Hour, “because itʼs 5:00 somewhere!” Once youʼve made a se‑ lection, press the red button to spin the wheel, and whatever restaurant it lands on is the one you have to visit. You might end up at 3 Monkeys, Kitchen 64, or Joeʼs Inn. Itʼs great for a group trying to decide on place everyone will agree on. But remember, no takebacks!

www.thekingagency.com/lunch

CAN I KEEP HIM? Youʼve probably seen commercials about raising alpacas, those oddly adorable animals with a more‑than‑ passing resemblance to llamas. Well, you donʼt have to go far to actually find some locally. We found a small farm in Hanover County that buys and sells all things alpaca related, even the animals themselves. Browse the filmstrip of al‑ pacas for sale and see if something strikes your fancy. We kind of like White Outʼs Blizzard because the name re‑ minds of office supplies and Dairy Queen treats!

www.alpacasoﬀosterknoll.com

The Little Pot by Dawn Stephens (March 2009) The Battered Body: A Supper Club Mystery by J. B. Stanley (March 2009) A Certain Strain of Peculiar by Gigi Amateau (April 2009) First Family by David Baldacci (April 2009) Ghetto Superstar by Nikki Turner (April 2009)

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We know itʼs not Halloween for a few months, but so what? The Haunts of Richmond provides chills all year around. Located at the Poe Museum, Haunts of Richmond leads brave souls on tours of local sites where unfortu‑ nate circumstances have reportedly lead to paranormal activity. Current tours include Shadows of Shockoe and Haunted Capitol Hill walk ghost tours. Visit the website and click on the head‑ stones for more chilling information than you can stand.

www.hauntsofrichmond.com

YOU GO. NO, YOU GO FIRST. We all deal with traﬃc and naturally itʼs the other drivers that are the bad ones! Never us. But if youʼre ever in need of a defensive driving refresher course, motor on over to the Richmond VA Cars website. This blog provides all of us with some gentle reminders about how frequent braking (you could cre‑ ate a chain reaction), slow merging (“If youʼre going too slow, speed up”), and being too nice by allowing everyone to go ﬁrst. We are guilty of that one. Ok, not really. There are also other car‑re‑ lated posts covering everything from exhaust gas recirculation (we donʼt know what it is either) to accidents and auto repairs for the novice. Auto repair info we can use, as for accidents weʼve got that down pat.

www.richmondvacars.com COMPILED BY DAVID SMITHERMAN

Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths, and True Tales by Pamela K. Kinney (May 2009) The Legal Limit: A Novel by Martin Clark (new to paper‑ back June 2009)

The Lie by O. H. Bennett (July 2009) Worth a Thousand Words (Jubilant Soul Series #2) by Stacy Hawkins Adams (July 2009) Four Dukes and a Devil by Cathy Maxwell, Elaine Fox, Jeaniene Frost, Sophia Nash, and Tracy Anne Warren (July 2009)

North of Big Spring by Joe Wayne Brumett (June 2009) Newest regional authorsʼ releases provided by Margaret Oleksa The Big Steal by Emyl Jenkins of Local Talent Books & Music, Inc. (July 2009) www.localtalentbooksmusic.com.

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Whatʼs Hot @ Chop Suey Tuey?

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“Two really popular books at Chop Suey right now are TEFT Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (a re‑write of Austenʼs book with zombies and ninjas added) and the paperback release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the ﬁrst in a trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson).” –Ward Teft

Mulligans by Charlie David Freudian Slip by Erica Orloﬀ Romancing the Stones by Catherine Berlin

Business plan, check. Store concept, check. Location, check. Now whatʼs the strategy to attract those all‑important loyal cus‑ Starting any new business is of tomers? “Our primary goal is, of course a challenge, but one that course, to be a profitable and suc‑ Brenda Seward was ready and will‑ cessful business, but ing to take on. She and more than that, we her oldest have been want to be a comfort‑ tossing around the able and enjoyable idea for over 10 years. place for our cus‑ Her two other daugh‑ tomers to visit.” And ters also began show‑ one of the ways they ing interest, and finally do that is by setting last year things started themselves apart from coming together. “We their competition. “We all share a love of have tried to create a books,” says Stewart. comfortable and ami‑ “We love to discuss able atmosphere where what we read.” In Jan‑ those who patronize uary of 2009, they cre‑ our business feel more ated Simple Pleasures [l to r] April Seward, like friends coming to Books and Gifts, LLC. Brenda Seward, Stacey Cook & Theresa Courtright. visit than customers So a bookstore just making a purchase. Itʼs one of was an obvious selection, even though independent stores of any the reasons we have been reticent kind can be tough to get off the about setting up online ordering, because we want those who visit to ground. But Seward did her home‑ work. “We did quite a bit of research have the complete Simple Pleas‑ ures experience.” with the Small Business Administra‑ Another unique aspect of Sim‑ tion on the nuts and bolts aspect of ple Pleasures is their focus on local opening a business,” she says. “The internet truly is a great research tool writers by offering lots of author signings and events. “Weʼve found when used effectively. We also uti‑ [the writing community] to be a lized the resources of the American very open and friendly group,” Se‑ Booksellers Association on the spe‑ ward adds. “We were a little wor‑ cific aspects of opening and running ried that a small, new store such as a bookstore.” ours would have a hard time book‑ Once this family had a con‑ ing authors for events, but every‑ cept and a plan, their next step was one has been very open and finding the perfect spot for their labor of love. “We looked at several accommodating. James River Writ‑ ers and the Virginia Romance Writ‑ different locations, but we liked the ers have been particularly spot in Northcross [because] I love receptive.” In fact, their author pro‑ the Hanover area. While the shop‑ ping center itself is fairly new, it has grams have been so successful that they have planned well into lots of growth potential and has a the fall months, with no signs of couple of good large anchor stores slowing down. The same can be to draw in customers who would said of Brenda and her thriving also be likely to patronize the family business. smaller businesses, such as ours.”

Turning the Page

Brenda Seward

Chop Suey Tuey

stay grow

here

G r e a t e r R i c h m o n d , Vi r g i n i a , U S A

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