Author Archives: Scott

Renegade Market News

Posted on by
Reply

From email announcement:

>>You’re a Renegade Shopper, right? So Shop the Renegade Market, William Byrd Community House’s market with a mission to bring you fresh, delicious, locally grown and produced foodstuffs year-round: Faith Farm, Byrd Farm, Bonnyclabber Farm, Epic Gardens, so much good food in one afternoon – Tuesday, 3pm til Sunset. Weather will be windy and mild… come on over…

>>Chicken 101 Kick-Off Lecture, Thurs., Jan. 19, 7-9pm; details at http://chiknegg.eventbrite.com/ get your certificate in urban chicken farm raising…eh!

>>Polish Cuisine for Cooking as a 2nd Language – this Sat., Jan. 21 9:30-Noon, register at eatgoodgrowgreat.blogspot.com, $10/person, Make Pierogis and Rejoice!

>>Roots to Roots – Monthly Genealogy Program: Food Roots with Evrim Dogu – family food traditions reveal clues to family histories – take a different approach to your genealogy, Sat. Jan. 21, 1-3pm in the Library. RSVP to byrdhousemarket@gmail.com OR leave message at 643.2717 ext 306.

People’s Assembly Today, Gates and Protesters at Landmark Tonight

Posted on by
Reply

Under the slogan “Jobs, Peace, Justice”, the 4th Annual Virginia People Assembly gets under way this morning in Church Hill.

This evening it will include a 1.5 miles march from East Broad Street to the State Capitol, then to Kanawha Plaza.

And then later, participants are encouraged to join
a protest against former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates, who will be speaking at the Landmark Theater, next to Monroe Park as part of the Richmond Forum series.
The slogan: “We need Jobs and Justice, not War!”

Dog Found And Found Cat

Posted on by
1

From Craigslist ad:

A young, male (intact) beagle was found earlier this evening in the Overlook area. He was wearing just a flea collar. He’s about 35 pounds.

Also, from a neighbor:

A very sweet grey & white cat has been hanging around our place for the last few days – seems desperate to get in the house, and definitely does not seem like the usual Oregon Hill outdoorsy cat.

Fine Food Reviewed

Posted on by
Reply

No, I already mentioned Mamma Zu’s magazine recognition. This post is about local blog One Way Richmond’s review of local convenience stores that includes Fine Food on Idlewood.

Fine Food (Oregon Hill) – 700 Idlewood Ave. – (804) 780-1869

Fine Food in Oregon Hill just might be the most famous convenience store in Richmond. The store may look a little bleak on the outside, but inside is a very well kept store where the expiration dates coincide with the current calendar. Their domestic and imported beer selection is marvelous, and they have a great bulletin board to keep you abreast of every good music show going on in Richmond. I also would like to add, I’ve seen a ton of local videos/photos shot at this location. Who needs Hollywood when you got Fine Food? I believe they close at 10 p.m., so plan accordingly punks, metal heads, hippies, hipsters, scenesters, mods, anarchists, liberals, students, blue collars, homelesss, conservatives, rich, poor, old codgers, rednecks, artists, hip-hoppers, frat boys, etc. You get the point.

Also:

Cary Street Mini Market – 1317 W. Cary St. – (804) 447-8781

This year-old, maybe two, convenience store is just that, convenient. They have two ATMs, no beer yet and plenty of snacks and cigarettes. This store which is in the old Chop Suey Books location is a perfect bridge of VCU students and Randolph residents. Phone cards for everyone! I think it’s only been robbed twice, which is good because this location back in the day would have warranted more heists. Good news everybody, they have the lottery.

Cary Street Mini Market II – 817 W. Cary St.

Same crew that runs the Cary Street Mini Market at 1317 W. Cary. Description above applies here. Also I just want to add, it gives VCU students and Oregon Hill residents another option on where to play the lottery. With the cost of tuition rapidly increasing, I think it’s safe to say more students are playing the lottery. It’s also right next to 821 Café and yes, yet another tattoo parlor. Guess these neighbors alone can support all cigarette sales at this tucked in establishment.

Elsie Mae Moore MITCHELL

Posted on by
Reply

Elsie Mae Moore MITCHELL lived on the 400 block of S. Laurel St.

Excerpt from her obituary:

MITCHELL, Elsie Mae Moore, 89, of Richmond, went peacefully to be with Jesus, January 8, 2012. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Wylie Mitchell; her beloved daughter, Emily “Boo” Glenn, four sisters and two brothers. She is survived by one son, Joseph W. Mitchell (Scarlett); four grandchildren, Karen Jarrell, Kenneth Glenn Jr., David Glenn and Charlotte Miller; seven great-grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren, four nieces, one nephew and a host of family and friends. She attended Pine Street Baptist Church all her life and was an active member for many years. Elsie retired from Famous Foods of Virginia (FFV) after 35 years of service. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sibling and friend who would always be there for her family and friends. She was an excellent cook and prepared Sunday dinner 30 years for her family who enjoyed visiting with her and each other.

GRTC Task Force To Meet Thursday

Posted on by
1

From City Council announcement:

First meeting of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force to be held

First meeting of this important Task Force

WHAT The first meeting of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will be held. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. This first meeting will serve as an organizational and planning session to develop a work plan for the Task Force. The meeting is free and open to the public and all citizens are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Thursday, 12 January 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Police Academy
1202 W. Graham Road, Room 247
Richmond, Virginia 23220 (In Richmond’s Northside)
Free Parking is located in front of the building.

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force

CONTACT For more information, please contact The Honorable Bruce W. Tyler, Councilman, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District,
at 804.357.6007; or bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com.

Background ____________________________________________________________________________

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force
Richmond City Council established the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force on September 27, 2010 by Richmond City Council Ordinance No. 2010-173-166.

The objective of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force is to provide a report to Council within in a year of its first meeting which recommends the following:

1. Any legislation, plans, policies, and programs that promote efficient mass transit in the city;

2. Economic development, economic growth, employment and tourism strategies that include public transportation; and,

3. Public relations and education programs to increase public use of mass transit.
The Task Force shall also work with interested private organizations to improve the service and efficiency of the GRTC.
– E N D –

A few other points of information-

Oregon Hill’s bus route that came down to China Street was eliminated over a year ago, though you may still see bus stop signs in the neighborhood.

According to transportation application Abogo, the transportation cost for an average household in Oregon Hill is $629/month vs. a regional average of $844. While transportation CO2 impact for an average Oregon Hill household is 0.29 metric tons/month vs. a regional average of 0.78 metric tons.

The RVA Green roadmap for Sustainability, updated as of last month, has some recommendations for GRTC on its last few pages.

Historic Canal Area Controversy Continues

Posted on by
3

The Times Dispatch had a report on a recent Planning Commission meeting about the proposed 2nd Street Connector. It did not mention Oregon Hill citizens’ troubles with the project, but it did focus on concerns about what the road might mean for future use of the historic Kanawha Canal.

Excerpt:

The Richmond Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a final design for the estimated $1.3 million Second Street Connector despite concerns that the culvert may be too small to allow boats to pass if water flow could someday be restored to the canal.

“The purpose of the canal is to float boats. If we’re going to float boats on this canal, they’ve got to be able to pass this constriction,” said Jack Pearsall, who is trying to reignite interest in restoring a functional canal system stretching from Great Shiplock Park to Maymont.

Pearsall, who served on a Historic Richmond Foundation committee that studied the idea more than 20 years ago, estimated that the culvert would be about 12 feet high with only about 6 feet of clearance if water flow were restored. That means typical canal boats wouldn’t be able to pass, he said.

Meanwhile, C. Wayne Taylor has compiled some very interesting images of the canal area on his blog. They are well worth checking out. If nothing else, they give some perspective on how important this area has been to Richmond’s identity over the decades.

Which vision will City Council and City government ultimately align with, the citizens’ desire for a working, refurbished canal or another corporate driveway? Who does the City work for?

Mamma ‘Zu in Saveur

Posted on by
6

From the short article:

In this year’s SAVEUR 100, we take stock of our favorite things: recipes, people, places. We consider every last one a new classic.
By The Editors…

We didn’t expect to find honest-to-god Italian food in Richmond, Virginia. But among the low-slung buildings in the Oregon Hill neighborhood, we discovered Mamma ‘Zu. Ed Vasaio’s candlelit restaurant is part trattoria, part neighborhood clubhouse. And the food! Penne all’amatriciana. Garlicky dandelion greens. Bold, bright antipasti like roasted red peppers with anchovies served in huge family-style portions. A hit when it opened in 1993, it’s now a legend.

Also includes a recipe for roasted red pepper and anchovies.