L’Opossom Review In Style

Style magazine recently published a review of L’Opossum restaurant:

Character seems to work for Oregon Hill, and the kitschy-baroque décor includes — but isn’t limited to — deep-red walls lined with “Star Wars”-themed decorative plates and a gallery of thrift-store art, shaggy latch-hook pillows, bejeweled pendant lighting and a clown bathroom you must experience for yourself. There’s tension between all this stuff, and while it seems that it shouldn’t work together, it kind of does.

Part of the menu works this mishmash theme, and you can tell that chef David Shannon had a grand old time coming up with his eclectic spread, plates and spirits. You’ll need help figuring out what some of the long-winded items are, such as the Chapel Creek oysters rock in a green fairy fog of absinthe mist ($10). This isn’t a ding. Let it be known that I love all wordplay, and it was a blast to read and decipher the menu — with assistance from the staff. It’s a wonderful bunch, pros who swoop in greeting, welcoming, directing and guiding.

There’s a lot to love about L’Opossom: It’s creative, it’s fun, and it’s a welcome respite from newer, design-oriented restaurants that often feel too precious. It has a strong, bold base from which to work. And if the French-style adage of less is more were applied here and there, it could achieve that magical balance of tastiness and consistency. It could be a contender as the other Oregon Hill destination.

Byrd House RENEGADE Market

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The Byrd House
RENEGADE MARKET
IS ON!

Tuesdays 3 to 6 PM
November – April
The RENEGADE Market
has begun!
Our renegaders include…
Agriberry
Bill’s Produce
Origins Farm
Mugsy’s Dogtown Lounge
Faith Farm Foods
The Byrd Farm / Rural Va Market
Tomten Farm
Deer Run Farm
Epic Gardens
ArcAngel Creations

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Visit byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
for directions and more.

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Friends of the Library Book Sale This Weekend

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From the RPL website:

Book lovers- you’ll find thousands of hardbacks, paperbacks, CDs, DVDs, children’s books and more, at great prices at the Main Library!
Friday, November 7, 2014
Friends members only: 10:00 AM-12 Noon
Open to the public: 12 Noon-5:00 PM & 7-9:00 PM
Saturday, November 8, 2014
10:00 AM-4:00 PM
All proceeds from the Friends Book Sale benefit Richmond Public Library programs. So… support the library and shop, shop, shop:
Hardbacks: $2
DVDs & CDs: $1 per disc- maximum of $5 per set
Paperbacks: $.50
Children’s books: $.50
Casettes: $.25 per cassette- up to a maximum of $2 per set
Sheet music: $.25
Great prices on special collection books! (closed Friday evening)
If you’re not a member of the Friends, and would like to shop the Friends preview sale hours, you can join at the door Friday morning.

Reminder – – VOTE

Reminder – – VOTE on TUESDAY, November 4th
Polling location: Clarke Springs Elementary School
1101 DANCE STREET
RICHMOND, VA 23220-6112
6:00am – 7:00pm
MUST bring photo identification

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Candidate Details:

Office Jurisdiction Ballot Name Party Web Site
United States Senate Statewide Ed W. Gillespie Republican http://www.edforsenate.com
United States Senate Statewide Mark R. Warner Democrat http://www.markwarnerva.com
United States Senate Statewide Robert C. Sarvis Libertarian http://www.robertsarvis.com
Member House of Representatives – 03 03 Robert C. “Bobby” Scott Democrat http://www.bobbyscottforcongress.com
Clerk of Court RICHMOND CITY Edward F. Jewett Democrat http://www.jewettforclerk.com
Clerk of Court RICHMOND CITY Emmett J. Jafari Independent Facebook: Emmett Jay For Clerk

Constitutional Amendment:

Explanation of Proposed Constitutional Amendment
The proposed amendment would authorize the General Assembly to exempt from taxation the real property of any surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who was killed in action, as determined by the US Department of Defense. The exemption would apply to the spouse’s principal place of residence even if the surviving spouse moves to a new principal address within the Commonwealth. The amendment does not require the surviving spouse to have been residing in the Commonwealth at the time the veteran was killed in action. The exemption would end if the spouse remarries.

A “yes” vote will make effective legislation exempting from real property taxation (real estate tax) the principal residence of the surviving spouse of any member of the US armed forces who was killed in action.

A “no” vote will leave the Constitution unchanged.

Yes – For the Measure Proponents say: 1. The exemption assists families of armed forces members who gave their lives for their country. 2. As a constitutional amendment this exemption is permanent.

No – Against the Measure Opponents say: 1. As an open-ended, unfunded mandate on localities, the governmental unit that regulates, imposes and collects the real property tax, it will reduce localities’ revenue with no compensating revenues to locally fund services. 2. A constitutional amendment does not allow any flexibilities if the Commonwealth’s financial circumstances change in the future.

All Souls’ Labyrinth Walk On Sunday

From email announcement:

On Sunday evening, November 2, St. Andrew’s will host an All Souls’ Labyrinth Walk in Pleasants Park. Please feel free to stop by any time between 5 pm and 7 pm. It is an invitation to walk in quiet remembrance of and thanksgiving for the ancestors who have gone before us to light the way.

Walking a labyrinth is one of the oldest contemplative practices for prayer and pilgrimage found in faith traditions around the world. Labyrinths may have been in existence as early as 3,500 to 4,500 BCE.

In the Christian tradition, the practice arose when Christians could no longer make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and so began to transform the physical journey to a spiritual one. On November 2, the Episcopal Church celebrates the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed, also called All Souls’ Day. It is a day for particular remembrance of ancestors, family members and friends who have walked before us.

The labyrinth will be set up from 5 to 7 for those who would like to walk it. The choir will sing contemplative chants from several traditions, and we will have hot chocolate and cookies for those who join us.

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Architectural Post On Meat Market Mentions Gym

The Shockoe Examiner blog has a recent, interesting post on the long gone 1886 Marshall Street Meat Market that compares other buildings, including the VCU Cary Street Gym (the 1892 Clay Ward Market, old City Auditorium), and D.C.’s National Building Museum (the 1887 Pension Building).
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(Original architectural drawing of Cutshaw’s design for the Marshall Street Meat Market, from the collection of the Library of Virginia.)
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(Postcard image of what was then called the City Auditorium, ca. 1910. Now VCU Cary St. Student Recreational Gym)