Just a couple of quick pics from around the neighborhood late yesterday after taking part in the cleanup:

A pickup soccer game near Ethyl (Afton Chemical)

An attempt at sculpture or just destruction?

The crowd queues at Mama Zu's.

Nothing like a little sidewalk piano.

And, congratulations to former Oregon Hill resident and WRIR founder Chris Maxwell, as well as other founders, many who are still part of the Oregon Hill community.

WRIR, 97.3 FM, Richmond’s alternative community radio station, celebrated five years of being on the air last night at the Renaissance Center on Broad Street as part of First Friday festivities. Of course the winter storm dampened much of the rest of First Friday, but WRIR leadership bravely went ahead and held their party and were rewarded by a crowd that enjoyed one of the few Richmond events not canceled last night.

Here is local band Amazing Ghost rocking the ballroom:

According to this Facebook page, there is a snowball fight scheduled for Monroe Park this evening. Hopefully there will be some fresh snow for it. NO ROCKS!

I spent part of yesterday evening enjoying the First Friday Art Walk on Broad Street. I got the chance to briefly speak with its main organizer Christina Newton, who was dutifully working the Curated Culture/First Fridays booth and table right there on Broad. I won ‘nada’ from the “zero sum game”/bailout register at the Metro Space Gallery (CannonballPress.com exhibit).

I saw many Oregon Hill neighbors- including just of a few of the neighborhood artists. Mary from China Street was there with some her hats and scarfs. She says she has also had good luck selling her wares at the South of the James Farmer’s Market.

The Schindler Satellite Gallery has a strong Oregon Hill representation. David Rohrer has his oil painting, “Alley 2, Oregon Hill” there:
While Julie Elkins exhibits her porcelain wall sculpture, “Oregon Hill Blue”.

Other artists at the Schindler Satellite include Jennifer Holloway Bopst, Lisa Taranto, R. Sawan White, and Chris Milk. My neighbor British Bob, a big First Fridays fan, told me that Chris Milk used to be one of Skillet’s roommates on China Street.