Don’t be scared of a few April showers. There are lots of ways to spend some sunny days outside this month!

Dominion Family Easter at Maymont
Saturday, April 4, 2015
10am-3pm
Maymont Carriage House Lawn

Enjoy one of Richmond’s favorite Easter traditions with egg hunts, crafts, games, live entertainment including Power UP!, School of Rock, Jonathan Austin and  Virginia Repertory Theatre.  Kids can enjoy a ziplines, a rock climbing wall, carriage rides, egg hunt and puppet shows and more. FREE to attend although many activities will require tickets.

Legend Brewing Company’s 21st Anniversary Party
Saturday, April 11th
2pm – 9pm
Pub and Brewery -321 W 7th St, Richmond, Virginia 23224
This event is open to the public and is family friendly. Legend will have live music playing all day, a food buffet, activities for children, and of course, a varied selection of Legend beers.Admission for 21 and up is $20 which includes a commemorative anniversary cup, two beer tickets, and live music and entertainment. Ages 12-20 and designated drivers pay $8 and kids under 12 are FREE. Additional beer tickets and a food tickets are available for purchase.

22nd Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 18
at 11:00am – 5:00pm

Great Shiplock Park on Shockoe Bottom’s riverfront on Saturday, April 18 for live music, local fare, children’s activities, and the chance to meet hundreds of earth-friendly artists, farmers, and organizations.

RVA Earth Day
Saturday, April 18
12:00pm – 7:00pm

Style Weekly is proud to bring you the city’s favorite celebration of earth day, were local artists, bands, chefs, food trucks, breweries, environmentalists and vendors gather to celebrate mother earth. Learn about locally available sustainable products and services. Arts, crafts and kids activities.

Gold Festival on Broad 
Sunday, April 19, 2015
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Gold’s Gym Plaza at West Tower between Homeview Drive & West End Drive

The Gold Festival on Broad is a day filled with family fun!  The event will take place inside the Gold’s Gym parking lot between Homeview Drive and West End Drive.  In addition to providing a fun, festive event, the Gold Festival on Broad provides a turnkey fundraising opportunity for local community organizations. Exclusive areas within the festival for specially-themed activities, and vendors, such as the educational classes, fitness expo, and the community corner. FREE.

Woofstock Festival
Saturday, April 25, 2015
10:00am – 2:00pm.

Gates will open at 10:00am for the festival. There will be music all day and plenty of fun for the dogs, including games, agility courses and contests. The whole family will also be able to enjoy the kids games, vendor area, and our dog adoption area, which will include animal rescue groups from across the metro Richmond area.

 Get the mid-week update from Richmondmom by signing up for our newsletter. You’ll get an up-to-date look at kid and family friendly events, free things to do, activities and more in the Richmond, Virginia area.  You’ll also read stories, get school and playgroup information, dinner ideas, shopping, camp information, volunteering and a whole lot more. Sign up for our newsletter here and find us on Facebook.

photo credit: Kevin J Kelley

Sometimes when you live in a city, you forget to be a tourist in your own home town.  This weekend there are no excuses because you’ll be able to check out some of Richmond’s vibrant history for free.

Bring your passport and travel back in time and taking a free tour of 10 historic homes, Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22, 2015.

Get complimentary admission to any of the 10 participating sites.

Haven’t toured these sites before? Here’s what you can expect to do (for free) over the weekend:
-See the beautiful gardens and tour Agecroft Hall which was built in the 1500’s (how is that possible? find out on the tour)
-Civil war buffs can visit General Robert E. Lee’s field headquarters at the Dabbs House Museum.
-Play a round of play a round of quoits at the The John Marshall House.
-Take a grand tour of the “upstairs” and “downstairs” at Maymont for a taste of the guilded age.
-Take a glimpse in to rural life at Meadow Farm Museum just before the civil war.
-Visit Richmond’s oldest residential structure and see the largest collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s personal belongings, manuscripts and letters at The Edgar Allan Poe Museum.
-Virginia House (neighbors to Agecroft Hall) has a stunning collection of English and Spanish antiques, silk draperies, Oriental carpets, and fine silver and china.
-White House of the Confederacy take a guided tour of the home to the President of the Confederate states of America, Jefferson Davis and is now the Museum of the Confederacy.
-At the 1812 John Wickham House you can explore 19th-century Federal architecture see some of the country’s finest examples of interior decorative painting.
-Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and the Marquise de Lafayette all stayed at the Wilton House which overlooks the James River.
Download and print out this Time Travelers Passport to visit any and all of these locations.   Visit them all and you’ll have saved more than $55 per person. (Some restrictions may apply.)

It’s getting chilly outside and All Fired Up has some great ways to get creative inside!
Check out these terrific events and activities happening at All Fired Up this month. Don’t forget, Savvy Savers always get 10% off walk-in projects, so let your creativity loose this month!

Tiny Prints: “I’m Your #1 Fan” Keepsake Plate
Come in anytime in November for a special rate on our “I’m Your #1 Fan” keepsake plate design! Our friendly staff will help you get the perfect foot prints from your infant or toddler on a large rimmed dinner plate, and turn it into a football with your favorite teams colors on the rim! All-inclusive cost is only $30.  Interested in another design?  Check out our new Tiny Prints Catalog and choose from tons of great designs our staff can help you create!

Kids Fun Night
Drop off the kids with us on November 7th from 6-8pm as we create a cornucopia from wet clay, paint a thanksgiving plate, AND enjoy a pizza dinner! The cost is $25 per child and is for ages 6 and up. Reservations are required and space is limited, so call and sign up today!

Set Special: On Tuesday, November 11th, buy three of any of the same item and get the 4th for FREE!

Technique Workshops


Learn a variety of special techniques that make beautiful designs incredibly simple. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful designs you create! Reservations are required, so invite your friends and reserve your spot today.

Name Place Card Set : Thursday, November 6th,  6-8pm: Create a set of autumnal place cards for your upcoming gatherings of family and friends. Names can be erased and rewritten. Each set of four is $40, or only $56 for six!

Gobble ’Til You Wobble Platter : Thursday, November 13th,  6-8pm: Paint your very own turkey platter that will make all your guests chuckle. All inclusive cost is $58 for this fun and functional class!

Plan your own Technique Workshop! We’ve got DOZENS of great techniques in our archives, so pick your favorite design and gather your friends for a paint-your-own-pottery party! Our friendly staff will help you create your own work of art! A minimum of 5 painters required. Friday and Saturday night slots available, 6-8pm. Call for details.

Kids Classes

“Trim the Tree” Kids Class
On Friday, November 21st, kids ages 6-14 can spend the evening with us as we get in the holiday spirit by creating a wet clay, fused glass, AND ceramic ornament in one night! Snacks provided. From 6-8pm. Only $35 per child.

Preschool Pottery

Parents, come in with your preschool aged kids for a shared painting experience, as we paint pottery inspired by our favorite childrens’  books, songs, and movies!  These classes are geared toward kids 5 and under. Each class is $35.
Classic Turkey Handprint Plate : Friday, November 14th, 10:30-11:30am
“Give A Mouse A Cookie” Cookie Platter : Saturday, November 22nd, 10:30-11:30pm


Ladies Night Out

Come join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6pm-9pm for our Ladies Night Out!  We are closing down the studio to the public to give you a relaxing night off! You’ll receive 10% off, and snacks are provided. Reservations are required, so please call ahead to sign up your group.

Ornament Special: When you buy any ornaments from November 28th-30th, you’ll get the fourth 
(of equal or lesser value) for free!

All Fired Up has three convenient locations. Find the one that’s right for you here.

All Fired Up is a sponsor of Richmondmom

America’s Got Talent is a true celebration of the American spirit, featuring a colorful array of hopeful stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on stage hoping to win America’s hearts — and the $1 million prize. Now they’re on the search for some incredible talent to appear on season 10!

Whoever you are, and whatever you got, they are looking for any age and any talent — nothing is off limits!
Show off an act you do professionally, or its something you have never done in public before in your life.
Maybe you are an amazing singer, or you can do something really weird with your body, demonstrate whatever amazing thing you can do in 90 seconds.

America’s Got Talent has helped launch the careers of  Mat Franco, Forte, comedians Taylor Williamson and Tom Cotter and more.

America’s Got Talent Auditions
Thursday November 6, 2014; doors open at 12pm
 Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 N. 3^rd Street, Richmond, VA 23219

MUST PRE-REGISTER HERE

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nothing goes better with BBQ than a delicious cold local craft beer… and summer isn’t really summer without a barbecue (and beer) which kinda makes the RVA Brew-B-Q the ultimate celebration of summer (and beer).

All 11 Richmond area breweries are going to there to compliment almost any type of barbecue you can imagine from some of central Virginia’s most loved BBQ experts. There will also be live music and an expanded produce & crafts marketplace.

From the Enrichmond website:
RVA Brew B Q features some of the region’s most loved barbeque producers, from the well-known, to the whole-in-the-wall weekend barbeque warriors, you’ll be able to taste it all. After enjoying choices pulled, minced, smoked, saucy, vinegar-based, sweet, sandwiches, plates and more, wash down your favorite bites with cold suds from more than 15 local craft breweries, including Legend, Hardywood, Center of the Universe and more!

The RVA Brew-B-Q is free to attend. Food and beverages available for purchase. Beer samples $2.00 each, full pours are $6.00.

Find the band line up on the Facebook Event Page

3rd RVA Brew-B-Q
Sunday,  August 17 12-5pm
17th Street Farmers’ Market
100 N 17th St, Richmond, Virginia 23219

All proceeds benefit the Enrichmond Foundation

Alright, we tried to work with the star-spangled banner theme but it’s not as easy as it looks.

Pack a picnic basket and head over to Rocketts Landing for a fireworks show over the James River on Sunday, May 25th!

Several food trucks will be on-site, including Mosaic, Goatocado, Slideways, Casa del Barco, the Hungry Turtle, Halligan Bar and Grill, Kona Ice, King of Pops and Zzaam.

Rocketts Red Glare begins at 5:30 p.m., with a performance by local musician Colin Healy. Virginia party band Kings of Swing will take the stage at 6:30 and play throughout the fireworks show, which begins around 9.

A portion of the proceeds from craft beers, wine and concessions will benefit Connor’s Heroes which is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through direct assistance, awareness and research.

Rocketts Red Glare is a family friendly event, free for all ages and will take place along the banks of the James River at Rocketts Landing. For more information, please visit our Facebook page or go to www.rockettsvillage.com and click “Upcoming Events.”

Which is why I really love how HandsOn Greater Richmond is providing volunteer opportunities for both me and my kids that fit perfectly into my chaotic life.

Each month HandsOn has a DIY project you can do any time, any place (or you can even plan on doing it one day, but then really do it a couple days later).  Find out more about HandsOn Greater Richmond’s DIY Volunteering initiative here.

We’ve partnered up with HandsOn and will post the DIY for the month here on Richmondmom.com, but you want to get out and about you can find more volunteering opportunities for you or the whole family on their website.

The May DIY is for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Check out the cause and supply list below.  Once you express interest in participating, you’ll be given instructions on how to do that month’s DIY project.

This month’s DIY is in honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month and volunteers will be making “thank you” and “thinking of you” cards and stress balls for the families and caregivers of those living with mental illness. (Read more about NAMI here)

 

Supply List*:
• Balloons
• Rice
• Plastic sandwich bags
• Scissors
• Construction paper, scrapbook paper
• Markers, stamps, glitter, stickers, paint, etc.
• Glue

*DIY Volunteers are responsible for purchasing any of the materials needed for DIY volunteer opportunities.

How To:
1. Express Interest here in the project to HandsOn. We’ll send you all the instructions needed to complete the project.
2. Every person who plans to volunteer (including youth) must express interest. You can create a volunteer team to sign up your group or family members. Read about how to create and manage teams.
3. Once you’ve expressed interest, complete instructions will be sent to you. We ask that you create at least 5 stress balls, 5 “thank you” cards and 5 “thinking of you” cards. There is no maximum. Expect the total project to be done in about 3 hours depending on the number of items made and the number of people you have volunteering with you.

Confirmed participants will receive 3 hours for submitting materials prior to 4pm, Friday, June 13, 2014.

How do you teach your children to give back to the community?

Come and Wine Down with us on May 7th at 6:30 pm at The Wine Loft in Short Pump to benefit this wonderful cause.

Each month we give away great prizes, soak up a relaxed atmosphere, chow down on delicious free appetizers and have a really great time.  (Over the last three years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars for great Richmond non-profits… who knew philanthropy could be this fun?!)
$10 at the door goes directly to CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation.

Invite your friends on Facebook!

Anyone is invited to join us, whether or not you have a close connection with CJTUF, so call up a friend you’ve been meaning to get together with and make a date for May 7th.

About CJSTUF

The CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation (CJSTUF) was founded in little Charlotte Jennie’s (CJ) name by her parents, Rachel and Roger Reynolds, as a mechanism to “pay it forward” for all of the help and support they received during CJ’s battle with cancer – and to help others in need. Read more about CJ’s story at this link. CJSTUF helps families who are suffering through the challenges of having a child with cancer – many of them face financial challenges and have other needs as well. CJSTUF relies on donations from people like Richmond moms, dads, grandparents, and singles to continue helping people who need it most.

Need More Reasons to Join?

• The Wine Loft Richmond is a cozy atmosphere that allows for great FREE food, discounted wine, and fun networking during the event – so bring a friend, or two, or three! Or come alone, we’ll introduce you around.
• Win prizes! For every entry fee of $10, you will receive a raffle ticket and you might win a great prize. Additional tickets may be purchased for $1 each (so bring lots of dollars!)  We give away photography gift certificates, Richmond Rocks books,  and lots of cool prizes you will love.
• All funds raised will benefit the non-profit. Contact us if you are unable to attend, but would like to mail a donation.
• As much as $1,000 is raised each month in just a couple hours at each event at the Wine Loft – we raised over $1,200 at our May 2013 event!
• Over the last three years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars for great Richmond non-profits just by having fun.

For businesses owners who would like to donate a raffle prize, we appreciate you! Please contact us: christa@richmondmom.com.

These events may also be sponsored by businesses owners, like the Gundlach sisters, who have a huge charitable heart! If you’re interested in sponsoring a future Wine Down event, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Strolling the Saturday Farmer’s market is a tradition for many Richmond families and if you haven’t yet claimed the market as part of your weekly routine here are ten reasons to check it out this year:

1. It’s a FREE morning out: The farmer’s market experience is for everyone. It doesn’t cost a thing to get in, you can stroll at your leisure in a lively and family-friendly atmosphere, with loads of interesting things to see and talk about with your kids. Fresh air, sunshine, good company. It’s fun for the whole family!

2. It’s an opportunity to learn about and engage with your local food chain: Do you want to know more about where your food comes from and how is it grown or raised? Support your family farms, your community, and protect the environment while you’re at it by buying fresh food from local businesses that value sustainable farming practices. Your family farmer can answer all your questions about their products, and they often have tips and tricks (even recipes!) to share for ways to keep and prepare the food you buy. If you’re looking for pastured, forested, or grass-fed animal products the Farmer’s market will become your one stop shop—I have yet to find a better selection all in one place.

3. Enjoy food tastings and samples: On any given day you and your kids may be be able to sample: yogurt, chocolate milk, pickles, fresh in-season veggies, charcuterie, goat cheese, cookies and other baked goods. It’s nice to be able to try before you buy, plus, you are sure to find something you really like!

4. Check out the food trucks: Grab a hot breakfast, coffee, or a box of sourdough doughnuts from one of many vendors and colorful food trucks. Take it to go or eat as you shop.

5. Bump into your neighbors, make some new friends: The market is a great place to rub elbows with your neighborhood friends and get to know the vendors and their products in a personal way.

6. Get up close and personal with the animals: Speaking of friends, don’t forget the two- and four-legged variety. The farmer’s market is pet-friendly so you will find dogs of all kinds on parade, and most Saturdays you can also see animals from the farm: a sheep, a calf, or a coop of chickens, and last week two baby goats with their mama—my own two kids were smitten.

7. Peruse local artisan and handmade gifts: Browse an incredible selection of goods from local artists and crafters of all kinds. In the market you can find artisan jewelry, candles, pottery, t-shirts, yarn, soaps, paintings, photography, artwork, upcycled goods and more!

To find your nearest market, check out the Richmond Farmer’s Market Guide.

Curious about what’s in Season in Virginia right now? See this Produce Calendar.

Katherine Wright (Ring Girl) and Josh Marin (Chad Deity).
Photo by Andrew Bonniwell.

When you walk in to a theater and see a wrestling ring, you know you’re in for a different kind of night at the theatre. I’m not, at heart, a wrestling fan, but that really didn’t matter. (If you’ve seen a WWE promo, you’ve seen enough to enjoy this show.) The show is part spectacle, part play with, well, elaborate entrances, wrestling moves and showy costumes.

But The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is more than just a gimmick. The 2008 National Latino Playwriting Award Winner, 2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist and 2011 Obie Award Winner for Best New American Play packs a powerful punch combining comedy, drama and power bombs.

Director Kerry McGee serves up a well balanced production, giving equal attention to the inherent campiness of the story, the action, and the drama. Yeah, on the outside, it’s kinda about wrestling… but it’s also about geopolitics, race, and sacrifice. McGee gives just the right amount of attention to each, delivering a powerful message in an easy-to-swallow campy pill.

Axle Burtness is endearing as the underdog protagonist. He embodies the childlike qualities of the character well and kept his energy during long monologues, although I felt his pacing was a little off. Josh Martin is charming as wrestling superstar Chad Deity, adding depth to a seemingly one dimensional character. James Long in Starrene Foster’s costumes delivers perfect humor and physicality to his three roles.

Lighting by Geno Brantley is seamless; Edwin Slipek’s set design is simple but efficient.

For the wrestling fanatic (and not so fanatic), The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is worth a trip out in the snow. It will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter, cheering for the underdog and leave you with much to think about.

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
February 6 – March 8, 2014
Tickets $16 – $35
Ringside seating is $15
Tickets are available online or at the door.

Make this a date night: strong language and themes not suitable for children.

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