Early this morning Cherry and Holly street residents awoke to a clanking and odd spinning sound. A Gravitron carnival ride had somehow been installed in Holly Street Playground. While some citizens were delighted with new entertainment, others were horrified that the park had once again been made unfriendly for toddlers. Rumors quickly flew about where the machine had come from. Some said it was a centerpiece for upcoming Slaughterama festivities, while others said it was procured by Councilperson Marty Jewell’s office as part of a new economic stimulus/tourism/youth package. Others were convinced some weird mix-up had been made with Holly Street Playground in Richmond, British Columbia. Parks and Rec personnel did not know anything about it, but immediately began cost analyzing disposable biodegradable vomit bags. Some brave Open High teenagers and homeless people started the ride up in order to enjoy weightlessness. Laurel Street resident Tommy Birchett quickly discovered and climbed into the ride’s DJ booth so he could play some music for a growing crowd.

Category Archives: Entertainment
Hot Tamales at WBCH!
Learn how to make this famous Latin dish and learn some Spanish at the same time with Honduran native at the William Byrd Community House
Elicet Vonderlippe
Choose from any of these Saturdays
March 28, April 25, or May 23
Classes cost $10 which includes your tamales lunch.
Limited spaces available per class so
RSVP now by emailing librarian@wbch.org or calling (804) 643-2717.
Classes are taught in Spanish but non-Spanish speakers are very welcome!
Another Albemarle Fire Benefit
A benefit show to help our friends who lost their homes in the Oregon Hill fire.
Saturday, March 28 7pm
at Beth Ahabah 1117 W. Franklin Street (Corner of Franklin and Ryland)
$5 donation for those who lost their homes
No BS Brass Band
Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird
Gull
Julie Karr
Lindsey Driscoll
“Musical Free-for-All” at Main Library
Saturday, March 28th
Musical Activities: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Richmond Symphony Concert: 4 p.m.
Richmond Public MAIN Library
101 East Franklin Street (Downtown)
The Richmond Symphony is partnering with the Richmond Public Library to present a free day of youth oriented musical activities, performances and classes culminating in a free Richmond Symphony Community Concert
Free performances also by:
Richmond Symphony’s Youth Orchestra, Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion, the Happy Lucky Combo
Plus great free activities, such as:
• An “Instrument Petting Zoo” for all ages
• Have your head-shot picture taken playing a musical instrument
• Musical demonstrations and youth performances
• Storytelling & Art Activities
• Youth Computer Composition Classes
• Instrument care & tuning sessions
• Suzuki Violin Classes – Violins provided!
For details, visit www.richmondsymphony.com
Day’s activities sponsored in part by Friends of the Richmond Public Library – celebrating its 50th anniversary!
Storyteller Anndrena Belcher at WBCH

Storyteller, singer, songwriter, dancer, and oral history performer
Anndrena Belcher
Discover Your Own Story!
Using folk tales, personal story, songs, poetry, and original writing and movement in a way that reflects both her eastern Kentucky, coalfields roots, and her “multi-ethnic, port of entry, Uptown, Chicago” migration experience, Ms. Belcher reveals how “everybody has a story that counts in the making of history.” Anndrena’s workshops focus on finding the pieces of the story puzzle using traditional games, rhythms, songs, a and most important of all, acknowledging the treasure each and every one of us possess, the “living memory”. Come ready to play. There is no way to make a mistake in this workshop.
Saturday, March 14
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Historian Studs Terkel calls Anndrena Belcher “a national treasure,” so don’t miss this opportunity to meet her in person, see her perform, and learn!
The workshop is free to the public and will fill up fast.
To RSVP your spot, call (804) 643-2717 or email librarian@wbch.org
This workshop is sponsored by
William Byrd Community House, Center for African American Genealogical Research, Inc, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and Chicago’s Uptown People’s Law Center Oral History Project.
WBCH/Barnes & Noble Promotion
Bring this flyer with you when you purchase books from Barnes & Noble on March 14th! A Percentage of all sales WITH the Voucher will go to Support William Byrd! You can use the voucher at any area Barnes & Noble!
February’s Really Really Free Market This Saturday
The February Really Really Free Market will be on Saturday February 28th from noon until sunset-ish.
The Really Really Free Market takes place on the last Saturday of every month in Monroe Park, at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets in Richmond, Virginia.
The RVA Really Really Free Markets provide people with a chance to share the excess that they possess, to prevent the landfills from filling with stuff that will never decompose and is nowhere near the end of its usefulness, and to offer the community a chance to come together for a day of free fun in the sun! (or rain!)
So the last Saturday of every month, bring your music, your skills, your stuff, your food, and your friends and family, and help us prove that there is enough stuff in the world for everybody!
WBCH Spaghetti Benefit
William Byrd Community House
Junior Board
Spaghetti Dinner
at Perly’s Restaurant!
Thursday, February 19th
from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Dinner includes:
pasta with your choice of meat or marinara sauce,
garlic bread, and parmesan cheese.
Tickets are just $12 and are available through any Junior Board member or you can contact our development office via email at doffice@wbch.org or call (804) 643-2717.
Perly’s has generously donated the food for this event and all proceeds will benefit William Byrd Community House.
Perly’s is located at 111 East Grace Street in Richmond, VA
Mamma Zu Chalks Up Another Positive Review
‘Brandon Eats’ praises Pine St.’s Italian restaurant with article in Style. Congratulations, Ed!
Virginia Girls Choir Sings Evensong at St. Andrew’s
The Virginia Girls Choir, a city-wide choir for girls in grades 4-7, will sing Evensong at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Oregon Hill, Sunday, Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. The 20-member choir formed in September 2008 and is a city-wide music ministry of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Choristers audition for the competitive slots and come from a variety of schools and backgrounds. The service will feature the music of contemporary American composer Vernon Williams and a setting of Charles Wood’s carol Mater Ora Filium. Evensong is one of the Free and open.