I hope I do not ruin any surprises (or grades) by posting this picture of a student engineering project from this past Saturday. S. Laurel Street in action, folks.

I hope I do not ruin any surprises (or grades) by posting this picture of a student engineering project from this past Saturday. S. Laurel Street in action, folks.


looking west toward S. Laurel Street intersection
Silver Persinger took this picture of a tree on the 300 block of S. Pine Street. Notice the unique “trimming”.

This past week, Bryant “Bus” Neisz, a young man with roots and friends in the neighborhood, died. The funeral was yesterday and yesterday evening and this past weekend, there were wakes and gatherings in the neighborhood in recognition.
From Richmond Food Collective blog post:
Ana sent out an e-mail listing all of the vendors that will be at the Byrd House Market this Tuesday April 20th. It looks good enough for a full season listing! Hope you can make it out.
Amy’s Garden: Asparagus, Salad, Asparagus, Chard and Eggs
Bread for the People: Baguettes, Foccacia (feta, herbs, olives…), Brioche, Wheat loaves, Rolls and other good breads -breadman@netscape.net
Deer Run Farm: Tender Young Greens, Sweet Potatoes, Eggs and more
Empress Farms: Whole Turkey, Ground Turkey Turkey cutlets, Turkey eggs, Rabbit, canned apple goods (Apple-Maple Jam, Spicy Pickled Tomatoes…) rabbits.for.you@gmail..com and sometimes
Faith Farm Food: Grass Fed Beef, Pastured Poultry & Pork, Amish Roll Butter, Farm Fresh Eggs, Noodles, Jams, Honey, Amhurst Mill 3-grain Pancake Mix, Grits, Buckwheat, Self-rising cornmeal; Organic raw meat Dog food and treats – faithfarmfoods.blogspot.com
Perennial Pleasures Plant Pharm: Blossoming branches and cut flowers – See examples at perennialpleasures.blogspot.com
Rural Virginia: Asparagus, Mushrooms, Herbed Butters, Spinach and Preserves … ruralvirginiamarket.com
Thistledowne Farm: Beautiful sacs of early spring salad greens and kale, flats of lettuce and pansies plants, Jams (Peach-Rosemary, Blueberry-Basil…), Pizelles, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie and handmade Soaps … thistledownefarm.gmail.com
Sub Rosa Bread: Offers exclusive monthly subscriptions to a naturally leavened, rustic, wood fired bread every week for the period of that month – subrosabread.blogspot.comI am not sure why the phrase “and sometimes” is left hanging above Faith Farm. If you are planning on going just for them you may want to check in with them or with Ana at the Byrd House.
Meant to post this earlier…free history this Saturday!
From the website:
Come see your history in action! More than 15 museums and historical sites in partnership with The Future of Richmond’s Past will offer a full day of free activities for the public at Civil War & Emancipation Day: the 150th Anniversaries. With the dual 150th commemorations of the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 and the end of slavery in 1865, 2011-2015 will remind residents and visitors that these pivotal historic events continue to have a lasting impact on our lives today.
Don’t miss this remarkable opportunity to experience the history that Richmond has to offer.
(go to website link above for the following links)
Schedule of Activities
Other Free Attractions
Parking and Shuttle Service
Press ReleaseExhibitors Include:
2nd Rhode Island Infantry, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Virginia Union University, Dabbs House Historic Site, Museum of the Confederacy, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, Violet Bank, Virginia Commonwealth University Department of History, Virginia Aviation Museum, and Museum on Civil War Medicine, Virginia Historical Society, The College of William & Mary Sharpe Community Scholars, Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, Valentine Richmond History Center, University of Virginia Department of History of Art and Architecture, James River Squadron, University of Richmond’s Digital Scholarship Lab …….and more!
Participating Institutions:
University of Richmond, Virginia Union University, Virginia Commonwealth University, American Civil War Center, Library of Virginia, Valentine Richmond History Center, The Museum of the Confederacy, Black History Museum and Cultural Center, National Park Service/Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Elegba Folklore Society, Slave Trail Commission, Sacred Ground Reclamation Project, Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Venture Richmond, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Sponsors:
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Venture Richmond, Verizon Foundation, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, NXL, Shockoe Company, Old Dominion Electrical Supply, and Odell
Supporters:
Johnson Marketing
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Commons Plaza
From webpage:
Ride your bike to campus on April 14 for a tune-up and registration, and talk shop with other VCU riders. All bike riders – serious, silly and sensible, alike – are welcome.
This program is for the every-day, casual bike rider. Competitive and serious cyclists are welcome but will likely have knowledge and assistance beyond what the Great Bike Round-Up offers. VCU Police will be here to help get students’ bikes registered. Mechanics from local bike shops will be here giving free tune-ups and are here to answer any questions you may have about your bike. Food will be provided while supplies last!
Celebrate Earth Day early by getting your bike set up and ready to ride! We thank you for choosing alternative transportation!
With the federal tax credit winding down, there seems to be a lot more houses coming up for sale in the neighborhood.
Don’t forget Affordable Housing Awareness Week.
Speaking of affordable housing, the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council is excited to be building three new modular houses on the 600 block of South Laurel St. The lots have been vacant for more than a decade. These houses will be in the Italianate/Victorian style, complementing the style of the neighborhood, and two of the three will be the first “affordable” modular homes in the Richmond area.
These will be 2-3 bedroom homes in the $165’s and up, only a block and a half from the river. These historically sensitive houses are being developed by Alan Townsend, an Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods 2007 Golden Hammer award winner.
If interested, please contact Todd Woodson at 804-783-8829 or candylandmusic at earthlink.net.
A longtime Oregon Hill resident reports:
12:30AM April 10, 2010
8 RPD patrol cars (2 were unmarked) were in the rear and
front of the houses on 200 block S Cherry where an out of control VCU
party was taking place. I would estimate that between the people
outdoors in the back yards and the people spilling into the street
out front there were 300-400 students or more that dont live in the
neighborhood. The noise was amazing with the screaming sounding like
a huge sporting event and music through some kind of PA. One kid had
a bullhorn he was screaming through. Most of the kids looked
underage and carried cases or 12 packs of beer or open containers-
many 40 oz bottles.
As I sat on my porch, a student came within 10 feet of me and
started urinating in my yard until I screamed for him to get the h*ll
out of there.
It took the officers well over an hour to disperse the crowd
and they circled the block for another hour or so as hangers on tried
to start the party back up at other houses on the 200 block. This
was a huge endeavor and use of resources for the City Police who have
their hands full elsewhere.
Oddly enough, a VCU student escort bus delivered 6 or so
party goers to the location that disembarked before they realized the
cops were shutting down the party. They sure looked bewildered. I,
for one, dont appreciate VCU using this shuttle to transport party
goers into Oregon Hill after midnight. It compounds the problem and
it has happened before.
These houses are owned by Hugh Edmunds (some by he and his
brother) and are the site of chronic out of control VCU parties. His
only interest seems to be keeping them full of VCU students.
This Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth University holds its 2010 Intercultural Festival in Monroe Park from 1pm to 6pm. Don’t forget about the parade at noon.
The website has details: