Historic Richmond Inns

A favorite of many of the Historic Richmond Inns proprietors, Pescados China Street bistro has enjoyed a meteoric rise to popularity since its opening in June 2010. In fact, the innkeepers at the William Miller House B&B were surprised when they first heard about the restaurant from one of their North Carolina guests (it’s supposed to be the other way around!). The “seafood-oriented blend of Caribbean and Latin flavors” is that good and already that legendary throughout the region.

A contemporary menu complements the restaurant’s historic location on Oregon Hill. The entire area was once part of the Belvidere Plantation, which was built by William Byrd, III, son of William Byrd, II, or the man considered to be the father of Richmond. The building that houses Pescados China Street was built in the early 1900s.

The menu features fresh ingredients, interesting flavors and lots of flair. The Valentine’s 2012 prix fixe menu, for example, includes Blood Orange Scallop and Calaloo Walu, a Yuca-crusted Hawaiian Walu with calaloo panna cotta, grilled mango, pickled purple cauliflower, curry paint and yuca chip. The S’more Bomb and Cherry dessert is ignited tableside for real “wow factor”.  Nothing at Pescados China Street lacks personality. The “Amuse Bousche” of the V-day menu bears no description except the single enticing word: “Foreplay”. The $49 menu is preordered to ensure sufficient supply.

If you’re planning a stay at your favorite Historic Richmond Inn for Valentine’s Day, do your palette a favor and pre-order your prix fixe menu. At least stop in for a meal during some part of your visit, as the food simply cannot be missed. Visit the Pescados website for more information on regular menus and hours of operation. The restaurant has an active Facebook Page if you prefer up-to-the-minute updates. Let us know what you enjoyed most at Pescados China Street, and bon appétit!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Francophiles and film buffs: your day is coming very soon. The 20^th Annual French Film Festival will kick off on March 24, 2012. The Festival promotes “French language cinema and culture in the U.S. and encourages the study of French by university and high school students”, in addition to placing Richmond on the international map with a world-class event celebrating French culture.

In honor of the festival’s 20^th anniversary, the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University are teaming up to offer a free 3-day symposium from March 26 – 29 on French Film: Arts, Science & Technology at Work for Humanity in the new Ukrops Auditorium on the UR Campus. The symposium complements the 12 feature films and 12 short films screened during the festival. Directors and actors from each film attend and participate in discussions of their works. The French Ambassador to the United States generally attends and presents his delegation annually, which is celebrated with a special ticketed cocktail reception.

Tickets to the festival, master class and special reception can be obtained online and are available at special VIP rates to instructors and students. Screenings are held at the historic Byrd Theatre located on W. Cary Street. A reservation at many of the Historic Richmond Inns will put you practically within walking distance of the theater, and close enough to enjoy your gourmet breakfast before the first screening each morning. The festival draws thousands of visitors from all over the eastern United States and around the world, so don’t wait too long to make your travel plans and secure your premium bed and breakfast accommodations.

The Historic Richmond Inns

It’s a classic love story: boy meets girl, girl turns into swan, boy betrays girl and both boy and girl throw themselves into a lake. What it lacks in happy endings, it makes up for in legendary status.

Of course, the story is Tchaicovsky’s Swan Lake, the ballet that has captivated audiences since its debut by the Bolshoi Ballet on March 4, 1877.

The timeless heroic tale of a cursed maiden, her true love and the twisted villain who kept them apart is synonymous to most people with the very word ballet. The sets are vibrant and memorable; the costumes elegant. Best of all, it’s coming to Richmond!

On March 11, 2012, at 7:30 PM, the Moscow Festival Ballet will bring Swan Lake to the Alice Jepson Theatre at the Modlin Center for the Arts. The story of Odette and Siegfried will once again mesmerize and break the hearts of true lovers of dance.

The Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond started its life as a 1992 plan to expand the university’s art center and repurpose several buildings. The result was 165,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities that house performance space, classrooms, administrative offices, a music library and the departments of art and art history, music, theater and dance. The Modlin is the perfect venue for Swan Lake.

Tickets for the Moscow Festival Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake can be purchased online. When you order, make plans to stay at one of the Historic Richmond Inns and partake of luxury amenities, star treatment and gourmet breakfasts. Shop, dine, relax and enjoy!

Resource:

Wikipedia: Swan Lake

It is no secret that The Historic Richmond Inns love great shopping and delicious food, and even better, enjoying them both during a Real Richmond Food Tour. You can share our passions in the amorous month of February by planning a Valentine’s getaway at one of our six historic inns and surprising your sweetheart with a sweet pair of tickets to the February 11, “UR Here: Eating & Antiquing on the Avenues” tour.

“UR Here” will feature Libbie and Grove Avenues in the city’s West End near the University of Richmond. Pair the perfect romantic favorites: antiquing and dining, and enjoy a variety of stops that may include Cafe Caturra, Gearhart’s Chocolates, The Blue Goat, Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe, J. Emerson Wine, and Palani Drive. Tickets are $42 plus a small ticketing fee and are available online; a pittance considering how enamored she’ll be that you came up with such a unique and desire-inspiring escape for this year’s Valentine’s celebration.

Let our innkeepers assist with the woo-fest: luxury amenities and gourmet breakfasts are certain to impress. Whether you are traveling from afar or just need an RVA stay-cation, you can’t go wrong combining premium accommodations and Gastro-tiquing with Real Richmond Food Tours. Don’t wait too long, though. The inns book early during major holidays and regional festivals. Visit our website today to confirm availability, learn more about the unique personality of each inn and secure the reservations that will make you look like you were inspired by Cupid himself.

Image: © Subbotina Anna – Fotolia.com

Love Virginia wines? Want to go to a premier wine event attended by over 10,000 aficionados just like you? You can’t miss the Virginia Wine Expo, coming to the Greater Richmond Convention Center February 24 – 26, 2012.

Awaiting you at the expo are three days of seminars, luncheons, brunch and walk-around tastings to keep you in a constant state of vineyard bliss. Try the very best Virginia wines from Barboursville, Afton Mountain, Burnley, Chatham, Keswick, New Kent Vineyards and so many more. Be sure to bring your appetite as restaurant participants include Richmond favorites Acacia, Lemaire and The Tobacco Company. Menus are available online for the showcase meals and feature succulent dishes like Homemade Duck Ravioli Pasta, Kobe Beef Carpaccio, and Pan-Seared Lobster Ravioli with Saffron Mascarpone Cream. And of course, the chefs have selected the perfect wine pairings for seriously scrumptious desserts.

The expo emphasizes safety first and encourages all participants to make good choices, including eating meal-sized portions of food throughout the day and arranging safe transportation when necessary.

Tickets are available to all of the functions online and it is highly recommended that you purchase them in advance. Tickets will be available at the door unless the event sells out. For the best Virginia Wine Expo experience, make reservations at your favorite Historic Richmond Inn. Your hosts will be glad to help you locate transportation to and from the convention center each day. Plan a dream wine tasting weekend and make your plans today!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Planning a Valentine trip to Richmond next month? Don’t forget to include an evening at the ballet – The Richmond Ballet, that is. Join fellow dance enthusiasts at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage, February 10 – 12, and enjoy Coppélia. Wonder at Dr. Coppelius, Swanhilde and Franz during the comic presentation of the classic story of mistaken identity, misplaced admiration and one very intriguing, lifelike dancing doll.

The ballet premiered on May 25, 1870 at the Theatre Imperial de l’Opera in Paris, France, and was composed by Leo Delibes. It was popularly received, but interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War, and the untimely death of its lead dancer, 17-year-old Giuseppina Bozzacchi, during the Siege of Paris. Ultimately, the ballet became the most-performed at the Opera Garnier.

Tickets to Coppélia can be purchased online and matinees and evening performances are available. Book your stay at one of the six Historic Richmond Inns today, and plan the perfect romantic Richmond Valentine’s Day getaway for you and your sweetheart.

The Historic Richmond Inns

Sources:

Wikipedia: Coppelia

Richmond Ballet: Coppelia

A new restaurant in the old Museum District neighborhood of Richmond is making waves and enjoying sweet success. One block away from Maury Place at Monument, it is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Innkeeper Jeff Wells recommends the restaurant and says:

“The Franklin Inn is a charming tavern and eatery that was first established in 1930, so it has been part of the Museum District community for over 45 years.  The restaurant has recently been restored to its vintage glory and is recognized as a national historic structure.  It is on the corner of West Franklin Street and North Cleveland Street at 800 North Cleveland.   Their menu features steaks, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and soups and salads.  There are also daily specials.  Phone 804-716-9493.  It is a neighborhood meeting place ‘where everybody knows your name!’”

Reviewers describe the restaurant as cozy and intimate, the kind of place where you choose your own seat and have a good meal. In addition to the sandwiches, there are daily specials including crab cakes and pork chops, and without fail, everyone loves the hush puppies.

During your next stay at an Historic Richmond Inn, plan to have a leisurely meal at a new neighborhood favorite. Stop in at The Franklin Inn, and let us know how much you love it!

The Historic Richmond Inns

© hvoya - Fotolia.com

The innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument love to share recipes – especially those designed to be easily shared with friends! This recipe is great for any number of people because you only need to prepare the exact quantity that you need. The colorful, tasty orange halves make a great addition to almost any breakfast plate. Bon Appetit!

Mint-Topped Broiled Oranges

1 lg naval orange

2 tsp melted butter

½ tsp chopped fresh mint

1 tbsp orange liqueur (optional)

Cut orange in half crosswise and cut a thin slice off the bottom of each half so it will sit steady on a foil covered baking sheet. Then run a knife around each half to loosen the orange from the peel. Do not remove the peel, however. Stir together melted butter and chopped fresh mint. If desired, you may add the orange liqueur. Spoon the mixture evenly over the cut sides of the orange halves. Place the orange halves, cut side up, on the foil lined baking sheet. Broil five inches from heat for five to eight minutes or until thoroughly heated, then serve.

The Historic Richmond Inns

Richmond’s newest opera, Lyric Opera Virginia, or “The Lyric” strives to “present professional opera and musical theater gems of the classical and contemporary opera and musical theater repertoires in new, fresh and accessible formats appealing to 21^st century audiences”. On January 20, The Lyric will grace the Landmark Theater stage with a new production of Rogers’ and Hammerstein’s The King and I.

The classic story of the governess, Anna, and the King of Siam pits opulence against austerity and love against convention. Broken-hearted Anna, still mourning the death of her husband, takes on responsibility for the king’s huge brood of royal children under challenging circumstances in a land so foreign to her own. She defies convention, demands respect, threatens to leave and is forced to stay, enables independent thought and young love, and finds tenderness in the ruler too late. The story explores every possible emotion: passionate love, soul-shattering loss, fear, intimidation, respect and courage. Themes include emotional and actual servitude, forbidden love, cultural extinction, defiance, rage and acceptance. All of these are presented against an exotic, opulent background with majesty and grace.

The King and I will take the stage at the Landmark Theater for only one performance on January 20, 2012. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the production will begin at 8. Tickets can be purchased online.

A night at the opera is paired best with a luxury stay at an Historic Richmond Inn and a evening out of fine dining.  Several of the Inns are in close proximity to the theater and offer easy access. Enjoy dinner at one of the dozens of wonderful local restaurants, cocktails after the opera at a Richmond hot spot and a gourmet breakfast prepared by your host. Order your tickets for The King and I now, and make your B&B reservations today!

The Historic Richmond Inns

© Sandra Cunningham - Fotolia.com

The Historic Richmond Inns are once again fighting hunger in Richmond by contributing to the Zest Fest 2012 auction event in support of FeedMore, the umbrella organization of the Central Virginia Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Serving Central Virginia, and The Community Kitchen.

The innkeepers, in conjunction with James Limousine Service, Inc., have outdone themselves this year in putting together a dream package for the auction. 8 adult guests will enjoy a 4-course progressive dinner with wine and transportation, followed by an overnight stay in 4 guest rooms, inclusive of a gourmet breakfast. The value of the package is $4800!

At your first stop at one of Richmond’s Premier Bed and Breakfast Inns, you and your guests will whet your appetite with hors d’oeuvres and wine chosen for you by your host innkeeper. While you visit the Inn and learn its history, we’ll take keepsake photographs of each couple.

Luxury transportation, complete with roses for the ladies, will whisk you away to the next Inn, where you’ll be treated to soup and salad along with wine and another historic residence to explore. Your next two stops will feature your entrée, dessert and more stunning architecture.

At the end of dinner, guests will retire to their four rooms, which may be at different inns. In the morning, all will enjoy a delicious gourmet meal – the second “B” in Bed & Breakfast!

After a luxurious night’s rest, your limousine will await to return you to the beginning of It all. You’ll find swag bags with remembrances from all of the Inns. You and your guests are certain to keep this magical experience as a treasured memory for years to come!

Plan now to support FeedMore along with the Historic Richmond Inns, and enjoy and evening out with friends and loved ones that no one is soon to forget!

The Historic Richmond Inns