VCU/HDL Deal Blowup

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Scott

Excerpts from Richmond BizSense article:

Just after it informed VCU that it must back out of a promise made three years ago, Health Diagnostic Laboratory must also explain what happened to “large sums of money” that may have changed hands in the years leading up to its recent financial troubles.

…

HDL also recently informed VCU that it will not be able to fulfill the $4 million pledge it made to the school’s athletic department three years ago, the school confirmed this week.

HDL, once one of the city’s fastest-growing and most generous corporations, failed to pay its most recent $400,000 annual installment to the school due June 30.

The pledge – the largest in VCU Athletics history – promised equal installments over 10 years to help fund the school’s new $25 million basketball practice facility, along with other capital projects.

In exchange, HDL’s name was plastered on signage around all of VCU’s athletic facilities, including the Siegel Center, Sports Backers Stadium and the Cary Street Gym, declaring them part of the HDL, Inc. Athletic Village.

Jurassic Park in the Park This Friday

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Scott

Community Movie Night
Flashback Friday
July 10 at 8:30 pm
Pleasants Park
Free refreshments

Cleanups This Saturday

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Scott

Two cleanup efforts are happening this Saturday-

First, from Jimmy’s email:

OREGON HILL ALLEY CLEANUP
SATURDAY JULY 11 8-11 am

We will walk thru the alleys to
toss all the discarded furniture into the
trash truck. Come to Pleasants Park (S. Laurel & Albemarle St.) at 8am.

Even if you can only give 30 minutes, we’d love to have you!!

Coming later than 8am?? Call me at 804-335-5808 or simply look in all the alleys til you find us.
If lifting furniture isn’t your thing, we can give you a grabber & bag for you to get the smaller litter.

Seeking anyone who can join the effort. Oregon Hill residents or not. Get some exercise – save on Gym Membership fees!!

If you can join the cleanup THIS SATURDAY, please say so in a reply.

LOTS OF DISCARDED FURNITURE GOT LOST
ON ITS WAY TO THE CITY DUMP!!
YOU CAN HELP US GETTING IT
TO WHERE IT WANTS TO GO!!

thanks, jimmy blackford

Second, from RVA Cleansweep:

Oregon Hill Monthly Cleanup
Saturday, July 11, 2015
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Corner of Cumberland Street & Cherry Street
899 Cumberland Street, Richmond, VA (map)

We will be wearing orange T-shirts on the Corner of Cumberland & Cherry
We will be cleaning along Cumberland Street in Oregon Hill. Please bring your water bottle.

All supplies will be provided. Please wear closed toed shoes.

Please use the MeetUp page to sign up for the RVA Cleansweep effort.
http://www.meetup.com/RVA-Clean-Sweep/events/222805199/

More coordination for future cleanups is something that is being worked on now.

Dinamo Menu

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Scott

Back from their summer break, Dynamo is ready to serve some tasty dishes. From their FaceBook page:

dinamo dinner menu
july 9, 2015
> matzoh ball soup 5.
> chilled potato & leek soup 6.
> fish soup 7.
> crostini w/ chopped liver 8.
> crostini w/ cured salmon 8.*
> crostini w/ whitefish salad 9.
> hearts of palm & chickpea w/ flatbread 10.
> red pizza 10.
> white pizza 11.
> add topping $1: sausage, mushroom, onion, anchovy, olive
> egg in tuna sauce 3.
> squash salad 6.
> mixed green salad 6.
> lentil salad 7.
> swiss chard 10.
> beet & fennel salad 12. w/ feta 13.
> arugula & asparagus salad w/ egg 13.
> caprese 15.
> squid w/ chard 12.
> mussels – white or red 13.
> seafood salad 15.
> soft shell crab 15.
_
> trenette w/ eggplant sauce 16.
> ricotta gnocchi or tagliatelle w/ bolognese 17.
> calamari & shrimp w/ squid ink fettuccine 24.
> broccoletti & provolone sausage w/ polenta & beans 18.
> rockfish w/ mixed greens 23.
> t bone w/ arugula salad 28.
> soft shell crab entree 32.

Sanborn Insurance Map

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Scott

The Sanborn insurance maps are a wonderful resource for researching buildings in Oregon Hill and the City of Richmond. The Sanborn maps were very detailed, showing frame buildings in yellow, brick buildings in red, and stone buildings in blue, with notations of the number of stories and building additions. For example in the detail above we see that the Laurel Street Methodist Church, at the corner of Laurel and Albemarle Streets, was made of brick 28 feet in height to the eaves, had a basement and gas lighting. The Sanborn maps were revised from 1905 through 1925 and the 1905 version is available for free on the Library of Congress web site: http://www.loc.gov/

Photo credit: Library of Congress

The Old Pulley System

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Scott

As St. Andrew’s School goes under extensive renovations, re-discoveries are made. Here is a photo of the original pulley system for the dumb-waiter, courtesy of the St. Andrew’s School FaceBook page:

Wine Enthusiast Magazine Mentions L’opossum

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Scott

Wine Enthusiast Magazine said this about Oregon Hill’s L’opossum restaurant in a page on the Richmond dining scene:

At L’opossum, expect unexpected dishes like cider-braised rabbit with gingersnap spaetzle, as well as eclectic décor (think possum taxidermy and a poodle clock).

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Scott

This Wednesday is a red Wednesday, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night. They do not belong on the sidewalk after tomorrow night.

In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

If you missed Mayor Jones’ announcement of the city-wide rollout of new recycling carts from earlier this month, please click here.

In recycling news, Dominion Virginia Power will pay you $50 to recycle your old refrigerator.