Category Archives: calendar

Remembering Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom Event Saturday

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From the Remembering Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom Project:

October 12, 2013 – Community Conversation on African and African American Resistance to Slavery in Richmond, VA

On Saturday, October 12 from 10 AM – 12:30 PM at the William Byrd Community House, Ana Edwards will lead a presentation on two revolutionary African Americans, Gabriel and Lucy Goode Brooks. Following the presentation, Dr. Michael Blakey will facilitate an open dialogue and discussion. What are the stories of resistance that you know and would like to share? What modes of resistance or key figures would you like to learn more about? What do these histories mean to you?
Following a break for lunch after the discussion, Omilade Janine Bell of Elegba Folklore Society will lead a guided walk of the Trail of Enslaved Africans, beginning at 2:30 PM and ending at 6 PM.

The flyer for the event is available here. Because of space constraints, we ask attendees to RSVP through Facebook, email (remembering@wm.edu), or phone (757-221-7889).

Hopefully, Robert Pleasants and Samuel Parsons will be mentioned.

Book and Fish Notes

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Two upcoming events at the main branch of the Richmond Public Library–

On Oct. 4:

First Friday@ Main
6:30-9pm
Join us for an opening reception for exhibiting artists. The Richmond Writers Series with Howard Owen THE PHILADELPHIA QUARRY at 7pm. Multi-media poetry with John McLaughlin at 8:15.

Howard Owen is also the author of “Oregon Hill”.

On Oct. 5:

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Gellman Room Concerts- Richard L. Rose
2pm
“Fisher of the James” song cycle for baritone and piano by composer Richard L. Rose.

The People’s Library: Where Your History Becomes Part of the Main Library’s Permanent Collection

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The Main branch of Richmond Public Library continues to reach out to the surrounding community. PLease consider this event on September 20.

From FaceBook event page:

After many months of workshops and endless help and support from the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library (especially the incredible teens!) the People’s Library is opening to the public! What does that mean? It means you can check out one of our homemade books, write your history in it and return it to the library to be included in their permanent collection! It’s all free, all you need is a library card. But come out for the opening for food, friends, and brainstorming sessions on how to allow the project to continually to evolve and expand!

The People’s Library is a highly collaborative, sustainable and interactive public art project. Since February 2013 community members have been working together to design and build a library authored by the community. During a series of workshops participants transformed discarded books into hundreds of blank books for anyone to write their histories in. Every book will be included in the library’s permanent collection at Main.

On September 20th, from 5-7:30 at the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library, the blank books will be available for any community member with a library card to check out and take with them. The books can then be filled with histories, photos, drawings, anything. Once they checked back they’ll become part of the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library’s permanent collection. The books can then be checked out by anyone in the community creating a real and symbolic meeting place for our diverse state.

Bicycle Film Festival Weekend Kickoff

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The new Bicycle Film Festival brings the awesome to RVA for 2013. It’s a whole weekend of bikes, bikes, bikes, and more bikes and it starts right here in Oregon Hill:

Friday, 9/6
BFF Opening Party @ Bunnyhop Bike Shop
349 South Laurel Street
8pm -10pm
FREE. Come by. Say hi. Get stoked.

Saturday, 9/7
BFF Pizza Crawl @ Carytown Bicycle Company
3112 West Cary Street
4pm Registration
5pm Ride
$10 for pizza & crawl
$20 includes t-shirt
https://www.facebook.com/events/484377448325453/

Sunday, 9/8
BFF Film Programs @ The Byrd Theater
2908 West Cary Street
Different film programs @ 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm
$10 per program
$15 for all-day pass

UDC Meeting This Thursday

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There are several items on the agenda pertinent to Oregon Hill for the upcoming City of Richmond Urban Design Committee meeting to be held next Thursday at 10:00am. These include curb extensions for Cumberland Avenue as well as new curb extensions at N. Laurel and W. Main Street as part of the Landmark Theatre renovations. UDC will be reviewing other items for the Landmark Theatre including lamposts, marquee, trees, etc. Perhaps of most interest is that Venture Richmond’s plan for what they call “Tredegar Green” is also on the agenda.

Monroe Park Happenings- Tonight, Bicycle Parade!

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Bicycle Parade info from FaceBook event page:

Come out for the monthly bicycle parade!
Every last Friday of the month!
6pm in Monroe Park

Bring a freaky bike or your everyday rider
Bring your own flags, costumes, music, etc!!
(BBQ Bikes get extra credit)

Riders of all sorts and skill levels welcome
Pace will be casual, set for the slowest rider
Marshals will help communicate and keep the ride safe from car traffic

UPDATE: -The first direction of the parade will be passing by the Federal Courthouse at 7th and Broad, where our friends are holding a rally and march against US military involvement in Syria.
We are changing the normal route and making a pass by the demonstration as a gesture of solidarity with those affected by the struggle in Syria, as well as to support the message against US involvement. So, we encourage folks to bring signs, flags, etc to show support.
The ride will only pass by, and continue on from there, but anyone is welcome to depart and join the demonstration.

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Speaking of Syria, there is a 9 am protest against war at Syria at Monroe Park on Saturday, part of the international morning of protests happening around the world. And , speaking of protests, although it is not happening in Monroe Park , there is the March on Richmond for Jobs and Freedom on Saturday as well:

People from across the Richmond region will march for fairness, social justice, and expanded business and employment opportunities. We will gather at Festival Park behind the Richmond Coliseum by 9:00 a.m. Marchers will depart at 10:00 a.m. and proceed to the Bell Tower on Capitol Square for an 11:00 a.m. rally. The March on Richmond commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

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At the same time, it is worth noting that VCU is still putting up obnoxious signage everywhere. VCU just installed banners on the northern side of Monroe Park on light poles situated on the sidewalk right of way. They even installed one in front of the Prestwould. Have these passed muster with the City’s Department of Public Works? Monroe Park is Richmond’s oldest and most historic municipal PUBLIC park, listed on both the state and the federal registers of historic places. Are these signs a measure foreshadowing a takeover of the park by VCU and the proposed lease with the Monroe Park Foundation?

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Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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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 recycling news, the Sierra Club Falls of the James group announces their second annual Recycling Breakthrough! contest. Last year, George Mason Elementary School won first prize ($1,000). For more information, email recyclingbreakthroughcontest@gmail.com.

Also, there is the first annual RVA Environmental Film Festival Local Documentary Contest-

http://rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival.com/contest/