There is little better than delivering school supplies, creating encouraging messages, packing backpacks full of school supplies and working with a team of energetic and happy strangers. Spending Wednesday (August 25, 2010) evening with a group of volunteers from HandsOn Greater Richmond and the Neighborhood Resource Center was a blast and would never have been possible without the support of Puritan Cleaners, Read Aloud VA and Children R First, the most incredible group of savvy savings bloggers and of course our great Richmondmom.com fans! Thank you Richmond for being an amazing giving community!
Based on the book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson
Written by Karen Zacarías; Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Part of our Hispanic Theatre Project
A hilarious, bilingual family musical about an unusual bull who doesn’t want to fight and butt heads like all the other bulls – he just wants to take care of his beloved flowers. Young Duquito Danilo dreams of being a dancer, while his father plans to make Danilo a great Spanish bullfighter. When the Duque comes looking for the toughest toro for his son’s bullfight in Madrid, he mistakenly picks Ferdinand. Ferdinand the Bull is an exuberant romp about being yourself and refusing to be bullied into acting like someone you’re not. Integrating Spanish, flamenco dancing and original music, kids and adults will love the clever wordplay, comical characters and lively music! APROX. 1 HOUR Suggested for ages 3+
November 26, 2010 - January 9, 2011
at Willow Lawn
by Burgess Clark; Based on the Book by Margery Williams
In this delightful and moving adapation of The Velveteen Rabbit, a beautiful velveteen rabbit is gifted to a young boy on Christmas morning. On his first night in the nursery, the velveteen rabbit meets all the other toys ands learns about becoming real. Soon the velveteen rabbit and the boy are having adventures in Africa and flying through the clouds! When the boy becomes ill, the velveteen rabbit, must help him recover. After the boy is better, Nana declares all his toys must be burned because they are full of germs. But, just before the velveteen rabbit is going to be put on the bonfire, the Nursery Fairy comes and turns him into a real rabbit! APROX. 1 HOUR. Suggested for ages 3+
February 18 - March 6, 2011
at the Empire Theatre
by Roald Dahl, Adapted for the stage by David Wood
Part of the Acts of Faith Festival
Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant (24 feet tall!) and a little orphan named Sophie are brought to life in this fantastical and faithful adaptation. The BFG and Sophie team up to save the children of England, assisted by the Queen of England and the Heads of the Army and Airforce with their helicopters. Kids big and small will delight in this adaptation Dahl’s modern fairy tale in which the orphan Sophie and her newfound friend The BFG demonstrate that heroes come in all sizes. APROX. 90 MINUTES. Suggested for ages 3+
Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe; Music by George Stiles
Theatre IV’s hit production returns! Honk! is the story of Ugly, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors. Separated from the farm and pursued by a hungry Cat, Ugly must find his way home. Along his rollicking and harrowing journey he not only discovers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance in all its forms. In 2000, Honk! won the Olivier Award for Best Musical (beating out The Lion King and Mamma Mia!) APROX. 2 HOURS. Suggested for ages 3+
Broadway’s Patti D’Beck (Guys and Dolls, Thoroughly Modern Millie) is BACK to deck the halls of the historic Empire Theatre with this large scale musical based on the beloved classic film—guaranteeing Richmond an extravagant holiday treat of unforgettable song and dance. APROX 2 HOURS. Suggested for ages 6+
Richmond music lessons: Fall 2010 Registration at Greater Richmond School of Music
Local Richmond mom Colleen Crafton created a company last year (The Piano Academy of VA) which has blossomed into a full-blown service for Richmond families: The Greater Richmond School of Music.
We’re not at all surprised that Colleen’s dream of owning her own music business has taken off, and Richmond families agree: if you’re looking for music lessons, music classes, and even early childhood music, Greater Richmond School of Music can deliver with perfection!
What makes the difference is the quality of instructors, four of whom are mothers of small children, so they “get it” when it comes to patience and instruction with caring.
Below is a list of complete programs offered at the Greater Richmond School of Music.
Romp n’ Roll now offering more varied & flexible membership options
We are happy to announce that Romp n’ Roll is now offering more varied and flexible membership options!
Whether you want to register for just one class at a time, unlimited classes thought the year (or anything in between), we now have a plan for you, all with the convenience of split payments.
Registration is now open for all classes beginning September 13 and beyond.
1. Select one of our award-winning classes: Gym, Art, Music, Adventure
2. Choose the age-range: We offer age-specific classes from 3 months to 6 years.
3. Decide how long you would like to enroll: Choose from 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, or 12 months (longer enrollment = lower tuition + bigger perks ...and you can change classes at any time).
4. Pick a start date: Your membership will begin on your calendar, not ours. You can start now, anytime in August, after school starts, etc. (regardless, you just need to reserve your space now).
5. Choose our easy payment plan or pay in full to receive a 5% discount.
6. Get ready for some fuuunnnnn! (Wave hands wildly in the air…)
TIP: If options aren’t really your thing and/or you liked things just the way they were, choose the “3 month, paid in full” option, tell us you want to start the week of September 13, and you’ll be all set!
On Wednesday, September 29, 2010, parents, students from local colleges and universities, community supporters, librarians and teachers from all across Virginia who are passionate about literacy and the importance of reading aloud, will come together at the Renaissance Conference Center, 107 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220, to celebrate and promote family literacy with Mem Fox as she introduces her newest book, Let’s Count Goats, and entertains us while sharing her research and passion for the magic and need to read aloud to young listeners! Mem will speak at 2 - 4 pm and 6 – 8 pm. For Reservations e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Books by Mem Fox will be sold and signed following her performances. Read Aloud Virginia (RAV) is a family literacy 501 c3 non-profit organization.
Mem Fox as she presents her newest book Let’s Count Goats!
Read Aloud Virginia hosts MEM FOX
Renaissance Conference Center
107 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
2 - 4 pm and 6 – 8 pm
For Reservations e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Henricus Historical Park Commemorates 400th Anniversary with Year-Long Celebration
Henricus Historical Park announced it will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Citie of Henricus with a year-long series of events kicking off in September 2010. Founded in 1611 by Sir Thomas Dale, Henricus became the second successful English settlement in the “New World” and was established to replace the unhealthy environment of Jamestown. Leaders of Henricus developed the first English hospital, chartered the first college in North America, established tobacco as the first cash crop in Virginia, and created a place where Pocahontas lived and met John Rolfe. From September 2010 to September 2011, “The Year of Henricus” commemorative events will celebrate the founding of the Citie and historic milestones which took place at Henricus.
“Henricus Historical Park is an essential cultural landmark in the heritage and founding of the United States of America,” said Charles Lewis Grant, acting executive director. “As a living history museum with period-dressed interpreters who offer ‘hands on’ demonstrations among recreated colonial structures, we are uniquely designed to honor this important milestone in history.”
“The Year of Henricus” events include:
Publick Days: September 18-19, 2010
This event honors the founding of Henricus and includes living history reenactments, military drills and musket firings, craftsmen and blacksmiths, 17th-century medicinal demonstrations, Virginia Indian activities, historical children’s games and crafts, storytelling and more.
Pocahontas, Rocke Hall and the Powhatan People: November 6-7, 2010
Learn about Pocahontas and her life under the guidance of Reverend Alexander Whitaker at his Rocke Hall home. Historical interactions will concentrate on the life of Virginia Indians during the European first contact period and will explore the historic events and cultural overviews of two groups with very different ways of life who lived in close proximity.
Henricus Colledge – First UniversityChartered in North America: March 26-27, 2011
This event covers the beginnings of the American education tradition. Topics will be primarily presented through lectures, discussions and exhibits. Highlights will include discussions regarding Sir Thomas Dale and the religious and political questions of the day. The Indian Attack of 1622 will be discussed, as it postponed the construction of a college until 1693 in Williamsburg.
Mount Malady – America’s First Hospital: May 7-8, 2011
This event details the science and technology of 17th-century medical care. Medical procedures and practices will be discussed and demonstrated. Topics will include the influx of a new workforce in Virginia, the challenges these workers faced in their new environment and the science behind the medical treatment of their maladies.
Tobacco – First Successful Commercial Export: July 23-24, 2011
Learn about early colonial tobacco in the area and John Rolfe, who introduced Spanish tobacco to mainland America. Explore the lives of indentured servants and the arrival of Africans in the “New World” who worked the tobacco fields. Discover how agriculture and trade affected the economics, politics and everyday lives of 17th-century Virginians.
Publick Days and the Godspeed: September 17-18, 2011
This special event will feature 100 living history interpreters from around the country portraying both English colonists and native inhabitants of circa 1611 Virginia. Interpreters will occupy the English city, the Indian village Arrohateck, and the Godspeed from Jamestown Settlement, and will demonstrate the commercial, mechanical, agricultural, domestic, and military skills of both cultures as would have been observed between the years 1611 and 1622.
Henricus Historical Park is located on 32 acres along the scenic and historic James River in Chester, Virginia, only 20 minutes from Richmond. Open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., general admission is free for members and $8 for adults and $6 for children aged 3-12. Indoor and outdoor facilities are available for rental. Henricus also features diverse multi-curricular education programs based on the State of Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) Guidelines for grades Pre-K–12. In addition, the park is surrounded by the 810-acre Dutch Gap Conservation Area consisting of diverse wildlife, woods and wetlands, including land and lagoon trails, a Blue Heron rookery in the marsh and a boat landing on the James River.
Challenge Discovery - Fearless Fridays
Fearless Fridays Challenge Discovery offers fun, challenging team building activities each and every Friday at their ropes course at the University of Richmond. No group necessary, just sign up by the Wednesday before.
University of Richmond’s Odyssey Ropes Course
28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA, 23173
Anyone ages 12 and up
Every Friday (all year long) 7 pm to 10 pm rain or shine
Cost is only $15 per person
Sign up by Wednesday for Friday participation
Want to encourage your children to continue reading over summer vacation? Look no further than (free) summer reading programs sponsored by Richmond-area bookstores and public libraries:
Borders Double Dog Dare - For kids 12 and under. Read any ten books, print and fill out the form, and take it to Borders by August 26 to receive a FREE book from the list.
Summer Reading programs at local public libraries - Many offer free kick-off and/or finale events, rewards for signing up and reading, and prize drawings!
Contributed by Alison Brown, Richmond Bargains
Your Source for the Best Deals in the Metro Area
10 Things Teens Should Know About Money by Call Federal Credit Union by
10 Things Teens Should Know About Money: Important Life Lessons To Teach Your Kids Brought to You By Your friends at Call Federal Credit Union
When it comes to preparing our teens for the real world, sometimes we parents fail to make the grade. Here are 10 things teens should know before they leave the nest:
1. Not All Checking Accounts Are Created Equal. Shop around. Find the one that costs the least for the services you need.
2. Free doesn’t always mean free. Free usually comes with strings attached so be wary of the stipulations of the word “free.”
3. Your PIN number is sacred. Remember whoever has your PIN has access to your money. In other words, don’t give it to your girlfriend because one day she may no longer be your girlfriend.
4. Pay Yourself First: Treat your savings account as one of your expenses and pay yourself just as you would any other bill.
5. Compounding is Your Friend. The earlier you start saving on a regular basis the better chance you have at financial freedom and true wealth.
6. Credit is Your financial reputation: If you manage your credit poorly it can not only prevent you from getting a loan, but a job or even an apartment.
7. Don’t spend more than you make. It might seem easy to put it on a credit card, but you will pay for it later. If you continue this habit consider that you may pay twice what the item is worth.
8. Introductory Rates Don’t Last: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. You’ll find proof in the fine print.
9. Uncle Sam Gets His Cut: Remember that taxes will come out of your wages so keep that in mind when you make plans for that first job.
10. Don’t make the minimum payment: It might feel like a deal to only pay $25 instead of the entire balance, but you’ll pay more interest each time you delay paying all that you owe. Call Federal Credit Union
@Call_FCU | Facebook.com/idudeluvsric
We are offering 10% off our camps for Richmondmom.com viewers. To receive this exclusive offer be sure to join our mailing list on our home page and mention that you found us through Richmondmom.com. By joining our Facebook page at ArtHaus Visual Arts Studio, you will be the first to hear of our discounts and special offers.
The middle school classes will be listed by the weekend and will be offered in the afternoons, Monday – Friday from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Your child will have an opportunity to experience photography, cartooning, drawing, clay and more! These listings will be up by the weekend of May 22nd!
“I put my heart and soul into ArtHaus Studio of Richmond, and my goal is for my students to fully express themselves and have FUN while exploring art!” says Meg.
Our Visual Arts Instructors hail from Chesterfield County Public Schools, VCU, and other well-respected professional art institutions. Your child is sure to experience museum quality art instruction close to home!
This is fun for Richmond kids: Chick-fil-A Family Night
Every Tuesday: Family Night at Chick-fil-A Tuckernuck Plaza, 9100 W. Broad Street, Henrico, VA 23294 every Tuesday night from 5-7 pm when children 10 and under receive a FREE 4 count nugget Kid’s Meal with purchase of an adult meal.
Lessons in Ballroom at John Rolfe Parkway
Lessons in Ballroom opened January ‘07 in the West End area of Richmond, Virginia. Our 54’ x 64’ main dance floor is the largest of any ballroom/Latin facility in central Virginia, and 2-4 times that of any other local studio. If you love or want to learn Waltz, Samba, Foxtrot or Tango but dislike small, cramped dancing venues, then Lessons should be your 1st choice! The studio is safely located, spacious and elegant, (without peer), yet still casual.
Youth classes have returned to Lessons! Sam Atkinson and Miki Suga teach ages 7-12 on Wednesdays at 6pm, and ages 10-18 on Thursdays at 7pm. The fee per student is $10 per class. Call the studio for more information.
Telephone (804) 377.6947
E-mail (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Studio location ... Lessons in Ballroom
2312 John Rolfe Parkway
John Rolfe Commons Plaza
Richmond, VA 23233
What could be more fun for kids that seeing the author of a book about their hometown, Richmond, VA, sign THEIR name in a book? We can’t think of much.
Join us for a host of Richmond Rocks Book signings coming up in cool spots all over Richmond. Can’t make it? You can always purchase one online and bring it to a future book signing. Keep checking the site for updated details on Richmond Rocks book information!
Storytime - Infant to PreK at Richmond Barnes & Noble, Libbie Place
Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:00 am
Year-round. 282-0781. FREE.
Need Fun Events?
Check out Completely Kids, too! Great Richmond VA site for families.
Kids Night Out at Core: Fun for the little people & some down time for parents!
You need a night out. Your kids need to get their energy out in a positive way (what, beating up one’s siblings does not constitute positive?) Check out CORE Kids Academy’s Parents Night Out. WELL worth the $30 per kid ($25 for members) for 3 hours of fantastic fun for the kids + breathing room for you=aaaah.
Colleen Crafton is now sharing her passion for piano with Richmond kids! For Richmond piano lessons, The Piano Academy is a great option for children ages two through adults.
REGISTRATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED! FREE registration for any Piano Academy Richmond classes when you mention Richmondmom.com ($25 value).
To register for classes, call or visit
804.427.7747 ♫ pianoacademyva.com
9109 Dickey Dr. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Conveniently located near the 295/301 interchange!
Let’s Dance
Anne Catherine Cross School of Dance (Mechanicsville) 730-1740
Know a cool, Richmond Virginia kid-related business who should be listed here? (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Where Hip Moms (and Dads!) Go for Kids’ Activities.
Know a cool, Richmond Virginia kid-related business who should be listed here? (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Where Hip Moms (and Dads!) Go for Kids’ Activities.
Colleen Crafton is now sharing her passion for piano with Richmond kids! For Richmond piano lessons, The Piano Academy is a great option for children ages two through adults.
REGISTRATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED! FREE registration for any Piano Academy Richmond classes when you mention Richmondmom.com ($25 value).
To register for classes, call or visit
804.427.7747 ♫ pianoacademyva.com
9109 Dickey Dr. Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Conveniently located near the 295/301 interchange!
Let’s Dance
Anne Catherine Cross School of Dance (Mechanicsville) 730-1740
We are happy to announce that 
Here’s a great listing at 
Colleen Crafton is now sharing her passion for piano with Richmond kids! For Richmond piano lessons, The Piano Academy is a great option for children ages two through adults.
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