Historic Richmond Inns

Yes, Plein Air art makes its debut in Richmond this week with its first annual “Plein Air Richmond.” Events like this attract artists from all around the region and, even,  nationally to participate and to compete for prizes. The event is being presented and hosted by Brazier Gallery to benefit the Richmond Symphony.

To see works in progress this week, visit:

On Monday, June 18, you’ll find artists at Pony Pasture and Belle Isle.

On Tuesday, June 19, the artists will be setting up in Lewis Ginter or along West Avenue.

On Wednesday, June 20, you’ll find the artists and their easels spread out at Rockett’s Landing, Libby Hill Terrace, and Church Hill.

Thursday, June 21, the artists will be setting up in Shockoe Bottom, Shockoe Slip, and the 17th Street Farmer’s Market

Monument Avenue between Strawberry and Lombardy will be featured on Saturday, June 23 for “Fast and Fresh” – a sort of quick draw event open to juried and non-juried artists. Details!

There are several special events, including a preview and gala on Friday evening. Advance tickets required.  For more information, please check their website! The artists!

This information has been submitted on behalf of Historic Richmond Inns by  Pat Daniels and Mike Rohde, Innkeepers, The William Miller House Bed and Breakfast, Home of the Hearty Gourmet Breakfast, located in Richmond’s Historic Fan District.

 

Food Festivals are synonymous with Richmond and this week, we’re excited that one of our favorites is not only returning, but celebrating their five year anniversary!

Broad Appetit, set for Sunday June 3 from 11am-6p, will be bringing over 60 local restaurants to Broad Street for an afternoon of culinary delights. With $3 dishes offered at each booth, you’ll have the opportunity to try and try again! Better yet? This great event also benefits the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

If you’re in the mood to make it a weekend affair, then you may want to also consider purchasing tickets to OFF Broad Appetit, the kick off celebration on Saturday evening at Pasture on Grace.  Six famed chefs from up and down the Eastern seaboard will be on hand, with Virginia wine and cuisine featured.

Remember to bring cash with you although an ATM will be at the event for your convenience as well. Ample street parking will be made available, along with Honor Lots ranging from $2-$4. For more information about Broad Appetit, as well as to check out the latest list of participants, click HERE.

On June 2, 2012, Virginia will celebrate a time-honored equestrian tradition: The 80^th running of the Strawberry Hills Races. The event is highly anticipated, even in the year when the formerly associated State Fair of Virginia closed its door in March. Colonial Downs has adopted the race as its own, ensuring the continuation of the beloved steeplechase races. Strawberry Hills also marks the beginning of Colonial Downs’ thoroughbred racing season.

Spectators at the Strawberry Hills Races traditionally enjoy a day of festive revelry in the form of a railside tailgating party. Visitors should reserve space in advance to enjoy early admission at 10:00 AM – plenty of time to secure your spot with friends, and start preparations for the party of the year. General admission begins at 11, and the first steeplechase race begins at 12:55 PM.

This year’s theme is “Celebrate the 80^th Running with the 80’s”. Valley girls, MC Hammer Pants, leg warmers and shoulder pads are, like, totally welcome. Guests are encouraged to deck their tailgates out with strobe lights and blast 80’s music. Channel one of our favorite decades of excess and turn out in your very best punk gear, and party like it is 1980 – single sequined white glove and rubber red jacket optional.

Tickets for this year’s race can be purchased directly from Colonial Downs. Reservations at the Historic Richmond Inns go quickly on major event weekends, so always secure yours as far in advance as possible. Enjoy premium accommodations, luxury properties and gourmet breakfasts daily during your visit. Don’t forget to ask your innkeeper for his or her best pre- and post-race entertainment recommendations as well. Don’t wait – plan a day at the races today!

Historic Richmond Inns

Planning to spend Mother’s Day in the RVA? Here are some best bets for making Mom smile!

Mother’s Day Tea at Maymont

Popular Maymont Mansion will feature a special Mother’s Day Tea this year during its commemoration of the 100^th Anniversary of its Japanese Gardens. At 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 12, guests will enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony on the lawn. Special guest, Toko Yomura will explain the traditions of the tea, and how both the Victorian and Japanese cultures celebrate important occasions with the ritual of taking tea. The $25 fee for non-members, or $20 fee for members includes an afternoon tour of the Mansion.

Mother’s Day Concert at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Lucky moms can spend May 13th at the beautiful Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Enjoy the morning touring the gardens and Garden shop, and plan to have lunch at Bloemendaal House or the Garden Café. A free jazz concert by Glenroy and Company will start at 1:00 PM. Visitors are welcome to and encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs (but no baskets or coolers).

Museum District Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour

From 1 – 6 PM on May 13, enjoy the biggest event of the year in the Museum District: the Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event. 8 lovely properties are participating in the popular annual tour.

Mother’s Day Evening Concert at Agecroft Hall

Take Mom to see the Richmond Concert Band at 6:00 PM on May 13 at Agecroft Hall. Bring your lawn chair, blanket and picnic, enjoy the gardens and a lovely evening of free music and fun.

Of course, there is no better way to spend Mother’s Day than as a guest at one of our Historic Richmond Inns. Enjoy luxury accommodations, gourmet breakfasts and legendary Southern Hospitality conveniently located near popular Richmond attractions. Check our website for availability and to make reservations.

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If you have an insatiable appetite and plan to be in the RVA next week, you are in luck. Richmond Restaurant Week 2012 begins April 23 and concludes April 29. For just $25.12 you can enjoy delectable, three-course prix fixe dinner menus from many of Richmond’s favorite culinary hot spots, including:

3 Monkey’s Bar & Grill

Acacia Mid-Town

Amici Ristorante

Amour Wine Bistro

Amuse Restaurant

Avenue 805

Aziza’s on Main

Bacchus

Bistro 27

Bistro Bobette

Bonvenu

Charles City Tavern

Chez Foushee

Cous Cous

deLux

The Dining Room at the Berkeley Hotel

Europa Italian Café & Tapas Bar

The Hard Shell

The Hard Shell at Belgrade

Hanover Tavern

Helen’s

Hill Café

Hondos

Julep’s New Southern Cuisine

La Grotta

Lehja

Lulu’s Restaurant

Made in Asia

Mezzanine

Millie’s Diner

Rowland Fine Dining

Sam Miller’s

Secco Wine Bar

Stronghill Dining Company

Tastebud’s American Bistro

Tarrant’s Café

Tobacco Company

Water Grill

Zeus Gallery Café

 

$2.12 from each special menu sold during Richmond Restaurant Week proceeds benefits the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. Your dining experience not only supports the local economy and small businesses, but helps to eliminate hunger in Richmond. The event occurs twice per year, once in April and again in October. The event was founded by Aline Reitzer, owner of Acacia, and modeled after similar events in large cities. In the past eleven years, Richmond Restaurant Week has raised $130,000 for local food banks, equaling millions of meals for Richmond community members in need.

Pairing a stay at one of our Historic Richmond Inns with Richmond Restaurant Week is the ultimate in vacation experiences for foodies and lovers of outstanding cuisine. Between your three-course dinners, relax in luxury accommodations and enjoy gourmet breakfasts as well as the charm of premier historic properties and the best of pure Southern Hospitality. If you can’t free yourself next week, plan ahead and make your inn reservations now for the October Restaurant Week. You won’t be sorry!

One of the most intriguing eras of world history will take center stage in Richmond this May when “Maharaja: The Splendors of India’s Great Kings” opens at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). The exotic richness of India’s native beauty and kingdoms is set against the juxtaposition of the British Colonial period in over 200 artifacts that have traveled the world with the exhibition.

Visitors will see jewelry, weaponry, artwork, costumes, photographs and more covering the period from the early 18^th century through the 1940s. This period of tumultuous change saw the last days of the Indian Kings, the rise of British rule and finally the independence of India and Pakistan. Some of the key artifacts include:

Two-Piece Turban Ornament: the Indian “sarpech” was traditionally worn only by the ruler and consisted of a vertical feather piece and a horizontal band that supported it. Upon the entrance of British colonials, the ornaments became a traditional gift given to select noblemen to demonstrate reverence. The sarpech in the exhibition is bejeweled and was given as a gift to Admiral Charles Watson by Nawab Mir Jafar who was installed as ruler by the British of the Eastern state of Murshidabad.

Throne of Ranjit Singh: the Mughal-style throne decorated with sheets of gold and symbols of purity and creation, belonged to the most powerful of the Sikh kings. Upon defeat of the Sikh kingdoms by the British, the throne was taken to London to symbolize British supremacy.

Also highlighted are objects depicting royal processions, the animated courts of the kings, and the concessions made to modernity by the maharajas and colonials alike as time progressed.

Don’t miss the grand scale of “Maharajas” beginning May 21, 2012 at VMFA. Admission is $15 or $12 per senior, student with valid ID and groups of 10 or more. Members of VMFA may view the exhibition for free.

The Historic Richmond Inns

The legendary Cirque de Soleil’s traveling show Dralion is coming to the Richmond Coliseum this summer, August 8 – 12, 2012! The presentation fuses the 3,000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the “multidisciplinary approach” of Cirque de Soleil. It debuted in 1999 under the big top. The traveling production now plays arenas worldwide and preserves the concept and impact of the original show.

The name Dralion is derived from the show’s two central characters, the Dragon representing the east and the Lion representing the west. Each of the world’s natural elements is indicated by a color: air is blue, water is green, fire is red and earth is ochre. The production features 50 international acrobats, gymnasts, musicians and singers.

The costumes of Dralion are elaborate and require extensive care. The production tours with its own washers and dryers, and the wardrobe team includes 4 permanent members as well as 3 local staffers in each tour city. Over 300 pairs of shoes are cleaned and painted every week!

Cirque de Soleil was created in 1984 with a band of 20 street performers in Quebec. Its mission is to “invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world. While the company employed 73 people in 1984, it currently has over 5,000 employees worldwide! More than 100 million spectators have seen the company perform since it began, and close to 15 million will see a production in 2012.

It’s your turn to join the ranks of the Cirque de Soleil fans at the August 2012 performances of Dralion at the Richmond Coliseum. There is no better way to catch a world-renowned production in Richmond than to pair it with a stay at one of the Historic Richmond Inns. Enjoy easy access to the Coliseum as well as hundreds of pre- and post-performance dinner options, gourmet breakfasts each morning and premium accommodations with our signature Southern hospitality as a bonus! Don’t wait. Make your reservations today.

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Runners, walkers and visitors to the Ukrops Monument Avenue 10K this weekend will enjoy something unique in addition to the sea of enthusiastic athletes. Art 180 presents “What Do You Stand For” in the median between Mulberry and Allen until Thursday, May 3. The exhibition includes 31 larger than life sculptures, 25 of which 8-foot-tall self-portraits by Richmond middle school children through a summer program held by Art 180 which brings arts education to kids in challenging situations.

The children were asked to paint what they stand for, and the results are both creative and courageous. The exhibition was unveiled in October 2011 and is traveling throughout Richmond promoting the dreams and inspirations of economically and socially disadvantaged students. The portraits tackle issues of identity, self-confidence and even bullying through non-literal images that the children selected themselves.

The giant self-portraits will cheer on the participants of the annual Monument Avenue 10K and will act as ambassadors to the throngs of expected spectators. If you can’t make it to the 10K, plan an April visit and enjoy a walk down Historic Monument Avenue while soaking in the beautiful weather and rich history of one of Richmond’s most culturally significant neighborhoods.

Reservations go quickly this time of year, so make your plans now. Book your premium accommodations at one of the Historic Richmond Inns and enjoy the unrivaled hospitality of our family of innkeepers. Don’t wait – call or search our website today!

The Historic Richmond Inns

 

At 348 miles long, the James River is the 12^th longest river that exists entirely in one state in the United States, and it runs right through Richmond, Virginia. Known as the Powhatan River by the 16^th century Native Americans who populated the area, the English changed the name to James in honor of King James I. Jamestown, the first English settlement in the region, was constructed on the river in 1607. Richmond and the surrounding regions grew up along the river as it aided trade and transport until the introduction of the train travel to the area.

The river with its plantations and wharfs and over 2 million residents in near proximity, is rich with history. It is also home to a wide variety of Commonwealth treasures, in the form of native wildlife.

One of the most prized species on the James is the Bald Eagle, and one of the best ways to view eagles is via a “Discover the James” bald eagle river tour! Take a 2-hour journey complete with narration of the conservation success story that has returned the Bald Eagle to the James River. The tour is intimate and limited to just 6 passengers. They are offered during the first two weekends of the month and on special dates that can be found on the Discover the James website.

One special tour date is May 4 which corresponds with the Eagle Festival in Norfolk, Virginia (May 5 – approximately 2 hours from Richmond) at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. The festival celebrates these venerated birds and is special to Virginians who take particular pride in the efforts to rehabilitate and reintroduce the species back into its wild, native home.

If you’re planning a spring or summer trip to Richmond, make reservations at your favorite Historic Richmond Inn and plan to take a unique bald eagle tour of the James River during your stay!

The Historic Richmond Inns

Resources:

Wikipedia: James River

Discover the James Website

Two legends are coming to Richmond in June, and tickets go on sale in a matter of hours. It’s time to clear your calendar for a morning and choose the best seats, because these performances will sell out quickly.

On June 6, Yanni will play the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage at 7:30 PM. Enjoy his classic instrumental music along with the introduction of hits from his new album “Truth of Touch”. Tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow, June 23, 2012.

Idina Menzel’s highly anticipated evening at the Carpenter Theatre is scheduled for June 29 at 8:00 PM. Menzel has recently guest-starred on the smash hit television series, Glee, and is famous for her role as Elphaba in Wicked. This Tony Award-Winning actress is also introducing a new album, Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony. Tickets are in pre-sale right now and will go on sale to the public on Friday, June 23.

Tickets for both performances can be purchased online from the Carpenter Theatre Box Office.

If you are a fan of Yanni or Idina, do not wait. Get your tickets as soon as they are released, then make reservations at your favorite Historic Richmond Inn, many of which are located in close proximity to the theater, making your trip to the Carpenter short and sweet. Enjoy a gourmet breakfast and premium accommodations at all of the Historic Richmond Inns.

The Historic Richmond Inns

Photo Courtesy of DougFrancis