RAISING AWARENESS IN RICHMOND

Saturday, October 19th, 2013

7:30pm to 12:30am

Greater Richmond Convention Center Ballroom

The seventh annual dance to raise funds for Breast Cancer awareness,
grant programs, education, and research, in our community.

Be sure and join us at our Richmondmom.com Wine Down event at The Wine Loft on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. All funds raised will benefit the Pink Tie Gala! Enjoy discounted wines, free appetizers, and loads of fun!

  Enjoy a night of great food, dancing to live music,  Silent Auctions, The Celebration of Life Dance Team, and even more dancing!!

Tickets are only $85.00
with 100% of the net proceeds going to the Central Va. Affiliate of 

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Space is limited, so order early – click here.
(Advanced tickets only.  No tickets will be sold at the door. )

Previous years have sold out

The September Richmondmom.com Monthly Wine Down event is scheduled at The Wine Loft on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30pm. Note that this is one week later than normal since many moms and dads are settling back in with school the first week of September! 

The September wine Down will benefit the awesome Pink Tie Gala – the seventh annual dance to raise funds for Breast Cancer awareness, grant programs, education, and research, in our community. What better reason to celebrate with Richmondmom.com!

And you will enjoy FREE appetizers (and we mean DELICIOUS!), discounted wines, and unbelievable door prizes!

Mark the upcoming Wine Down event on your calendars now and RSVP here!

• Wednesday, September 11, 2013
• 6:30-9:00 pm
• The Wine Loft in Short Pump
• Entry Fee: $10
• Anyone who wants to have fun and help a great cause is invited!

Invite Others and Join Us!

Invite all of your friends to come too – everyone is welcome.

Need More Reasons to Join?

If you need more reasons to join us, check out all that we have in store:

• 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 gift certificates 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 and $1,000 in July!
• 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.

Mark your calendars now for this event – we’ll see you on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 6:30pm. Come prepared for fun! Be sure to RSVP and bring your friends (if plans change at the last minute, everyone is welcome even if you didn’t RSVP!).

My first “official” property of Richmondmom.com, where it all started.

Today, I’ll share with you another difficult message–I am handing over the reigns of Richmondmom.com to new owners effective immediately, with thirty days built in for me to help ensure a successful transition.

1.5 Million page views, nearly half a million unique visitors and five years later, I feel really positive about handing over my “fourth baby” to proud new blog parents Brian Roome and Christa Donohue, owners of Carytown maternity store Hip to Be Round. They’re in the perfect spot to introduce this blog to brand-new Richmond parents and expand our readership even more.

Many folks don’t realize that I have a full-time job and juggling the two and spending time with my family have been a struggle, mainly because I try to act perky when I’m dropping balls all over the place. So this is a good thing for all of us.

You’re not rid of me yet, though. I love what this blog has become–the connections that are made, the people that have met because of it, the amazing clients who have trusted us to partner with their brands to bring our readers the very best in Richmond.

I can’t let go completely, so I’ll be staying on as a writer as long as I’m welcome.

This decision hasn’t come lightly. As I sit typing this at the very laptop pictured here–keys missing, a substance that I’m pretty sure is laffy taffy from the kids on the screen–I’m struggling to express exactly how much the WordPress world we’ve created here has brought to me.

Here are just a few treasured memories:

Going to great heights for Special Olympics

-I got to jump off buildings- 24 stories, that is.

-Forced, I had to spend an entire night with hunky men three years in a row for the Pink Tie Gala, auctioning them off for charity. It was a tough job, but . . .

-Circumcision became the center of my life for three full days while the blog was swarmed with hundreds

wheeee!

of readers weighing in on all things penis-related, and inspired the satirical post Haters Gonna Hate (Bloggers like Me.)

-Riding at full speed in a Nascar pace car. And I thought I had a lead foot.

-Writing and reading about countless Richmond women who inspire and amaze me–I love our Rockstars.

-My middle child affectionately developed his own hashtag in the Richmond Twitter community as #Devilboy.

-The Richmond Comedy Coalition asked me to do Improv with them as part of their “Richmond Famous” series–tons of LOL’s.

You’ve likely seen a lot of these little faces–they are my favorite “job”

-I was lucky enough to share my dad with you, even though he died when I was fifteen, he still kind of lives on through the blogosphere–something he never could have imagined. I’ve written tons about my kiddos and about my mom, too–super-proud of her.

-Two books! Richmond Rocks and the Spooky Sequel. I’ll be able to focus a bit more on those now, doing readings at local schools & raising funds for PTA’s and non-profits.

-Business owners started coming to me for advice on building something great–really, me? So I started another blog to share some of what I’ve learned.

-Heated conversations, lol’s and watching our readers jump in to help each other daily in our Richmondmom.com Junkies Facebook Group.

Our team at the Chevy SXSW Welcome Party, tired but accomplished!

-Getting to do a little cameo in a fun I Love RVA video.

The blogging powerhouse!

-Chevy let a few pals and I drive from Richmond to Texas on the ultimate girls’ road trip to SXSW  and blog about it (super-fun video by my friend Trevor Dickerson detailing our shenanigans below).

-Getting to work with a team of creative, sassy, fabulous writers led by the amazing Rhonda Day and many clients, many of whom I’m lucky to call friends.

One of my favorite Rumi quotes reads, and I agree:

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for making this blog something I’ll forever be proud of, and for helping me to find my voice.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: http://www.solidgoldnorthland.com/

We have a ton of events this week so mark your calendars now to enjoy as many as possible.

Be sure and visit our Fall Festival and Fun page too – where you’ll find new additions to the calendar throughout the season.

October 21-27 is Read Aloud to a Child Week – Visit our website: www.readtothem.org  for the Challenge, Suggested Titles, Instructions, Pledge Information and Reading Certificate.

If You Love Your City: Prove It October 1-28, 2012

Great Wolf Lodge is offering a FANTASTIC deal! These are exclusive savings for Richmond moms when you book by October 15, 2012. Click here to learn more.

Free movie night at Tom Leonards every Friday in October. Every Friday night in October starting around 7 pm, join Tom Leonards Farmers Market located at 4150 Brookriver Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23060 under the big tent for kids holiday movie night. Will include free movie, popcorn, hot chocolate, apple cider, face painting and hay rides. Bring your chair or sit on hay bales.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Dyslexia Awareness Event at the New Community School.

St. Christopher’s Kindergarten  – Upcoming Prospective Parent Orientation – Parents interested in learning more about St. Christopher’s School and what they have to offer for pre-K and kindergarten can attend their upcoming Kindergarten Prospective Parent Orientation.

8th Annual Richmond History Makers Celebration from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. he reservation deadline is October 12th at 12:00pm. We will gladly accept walk-up guests beginning at 5:00pm on the day of the event.  Learn more about Ric
hmond History Makers. Help us celebrate this year’s winners: John C. Purnell, Jr., Dr. Charles Price, Homeward, Dominic Barrett and Ralph White.

Zombie Makeup Workshops – Teens! Need to work on your zombie look? Now’s your chance. Learn to simulate scars, bullet holes and more with students from the VCU Theater Program. Registration is required so sign up today. Tuesday, October 16, 7-8:30 @ Twin Hickory (sign up today) – Thursday, October 18, 7-8:30 @ Dumbarton (sign up today)

Wednesday, October 17

Lunch Break Science noon – 1 p.m. at Science Museum of Virginia. Nutrition, Inflammation and Disease presented by Family Chiropractic Center of Richmond Chiropractor Dr. Eric R. Carlsen.

Wet Clay Wednesday at 10:00 am. All projects only $10 at All Fired Up!

Nutrition, Inflammation and Disease presented by Family Chiropractic Center of Richmond Chiropractor Dr. Eric R. Carlsen. Science Museum of Virginia (www.smv.org)

This was our practice run. . .I was still not awake yet.

Over the Edge – Kate is jumping off the building again! Special Olympics Virginia invites you to experience Over the Edge in Richmond (Oct. 17-19, 2012). Not for the faint of heart, participants who raise a minimum of $1,000 will find themselves rappelling down the SunTrust Center in downtown Richmond or the Hilton Crystal City in Northern Virginia — all to support Special Olympics Virginia.

Homeschool Day at the Museum of the Confederacy, 1201 E. Clay Street, Richmond, VA. Advance registration required. $5 for adults and children 5 years and up. Contact Hilliary Turner at 649.1861, ext. 122 or email educate@moc.org.

Staying Ahead of Your High Tech Kid with Commonwealth Parenting, 4121 Cox Road, Richmond. Learn to take an active role in your kid’s online life. For parents of children 9-18 years. Pre-registration required. Call 545.1272 or visit the Commonwealth Parenting website.

Thursday, October 18

Over the Edge – Kate is jumping off the building again! Special Olympics Virginia invites you to experience Over the Edge in Richmond (Oct. 17-19, 2012). Not for the faint of heart, participants who raise a minimum of $1,000 will find themselves rappelling down the SunTrust Center in downtown Richmond or the Hilton Crystal City in Northern Virginia — all to support Special Olympics Virginia.

Zombie Makeup Workshops - Teens! Need to work on your zombie look? Now’s your chance. Learn to simulate scars, bullet holes and more with students from the VCU Theater Program. Registration is required so sign up today. Thursday, October 18, 7-8:30 @ Dumbarton (sign up today).

Vineyard Vines at Stony Point will host a JLR shopping event on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Everyone shopping that evening will receive 10% off their purchase and 10% of the proceeds from the event will be donated to JLR! You can also drop off your donations for The Clothes Rack at the event. Come and enjoy food, drinks, and lots of fun!

Raising Responsible Children with Commonwealth Parenting, 4121 Cox Road, Richmond. Learn how to give children skills to become problem solvers and to understand consequences of choices. Get practical advice to get kids to do homework, chores, and show respect. For parents of children 5-11 years. Pre-registration required. Call 545.1272 or visit the Commonwealth Parenting website.

Friday, October 19

HCA Girls Day Out – On Friday, October 19, gather your friends, sisters, mothers and colleagues for a day that is all about you.  Join us for Girls’ Day Out and celebrate your relationships and the women you love.

2012 Good Shepherd Music Festival at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd.  One-hour concerts in the heart of Richmond’s Southside. Performers include the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble, members of No BS! Brass Band, Brian Jones Quartet, Hot Seats Mini Band, and various classical chamber music groups. Located at Forest Hill Avenue & West 43rd Street. October 19 – 21. Visit goodshepherdrichmond.org for event details.

Over the Edge – Kate is jumping off the building again! Special Olympics Virginia invites you to experience Over the Edge in Richmond (Oct. 17-19, 2012). Not for the faint of heart, participants who raise a minimum of $1,000 will find themselves rappelling down the SunTrust Center in downtown Richmond or the Hilton Crystal City in Northern Virginia — all to support Special Olympics Virginia.

LiveSky: Rock Songs from Space! – 6 pm – “Rocket Man”, “Dark Side of the Moon”, and “Walking On The Sun” are just some of the many rock songs that have involved the out-of-this world subject of space! Join us as we explore the science behind these songs! After the show, weather permitting, join members of the Richmond Astronomical Society as they point telescopes up into the vastness of space! $5, free for Museum members.

Special Member Night – Family Guitar Gig- Friday, October 19, 5-8 pm – Bring the whole family for a rocking evening at our special night for members. Come dressed as your favorite performer and enter to win our Rock Star contest. Get amped up by our newest visiting exhibition and other guitar-related activities! Don’t forget to visit the Green Room for a snack before you hit the stage for Guitar Hero. Want to see more stars? Check out LiveSky at 6 pm for Rock Songs from Outer Space. After the show, see nature’s “superstars” through a telescope. Free for members.

LiveSky: Rock Songs from Space! – October 19, 6 pm = “Rocket Man”, “Dark Side of the Moon”, and “Walking On The Sun” are just some of the many rock songs that involve the out-of-this world subject of space! Join us as we explore the science behind these songs! After the show, weather permitting, join members of the Richmond Astronomical Society as they point telescopes up into the vastness of space! $5, free for Museum members.

Target $1 Family Night.  5:30-7pm. Children’s Museum – Central.  Bring the whole family to enjoy the museum’s exhibits and activities for only $1 each thanks to a generous donation from Target! Only at CMoR Central. 

German Fest – St. John’s United Church of Christ  5pm – 8 pm – Richmond’s 1st German Church – annual GERMAN FEST. Oct. 19, Friday evening 5-8 pm and Oct. 20 Saturday 12-2 pm. Music, bratwurst, beer & wine. Brats $5.  Oct. 20, Saturday evening 5:00 & 7:00 reserved dinner featuring sauerbraten, spaetzel, red cabbage and more. $15 for dinner.

Bazaar Extraordinaire III from 3pm – 9 pm at Chamberlayne Heights United Methodist Church. Vendors, crafts, bake sale, silent auction, children’s events, blood drive, rescue and K9 dogs, chicken parmesan dinner Friday night, Brunswick stew Saturday night.

Adult Fun Fridays at Spirited Art from 11 am – 1 pm. Celebrate the start of your weekend early with our Adult Fun Friday painting class.

Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash Charlottesville – a Halloween themed party. This costumed affair typically includes spooky decorations, costume contests, a silent auction and/or live auction and frightfully fun entertainment including music, games, and much more! With the versatile theme, Bone Bashes can range from concerts to sit down dinners – each one will have its own flare!

Free Movie at Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market.  Starts around 7pm.  Free face painting, hayrides, hot chocolate, apple cider and popcorn.  This week – Disney’s ‘ The Adventure of Ichabod & Mr Toad’.

Saturday, October 20

Pink Tie Gala - River City Charities will hold its Annual Pink Tie Gala which will be presented by Bon Secours Cancer Institute on October 20th, 2012 from 7:00 pm to 12:30 am at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. This fundraising event, hosted by Lite98’s own Kat Simons, will feature silent auctions, a Champagne and Diamond table, dinner, dancing, live music and a featured performance by the 2012 Celebration of Life Dancers – 10 breast cancer survivors and their partners from Rigby’s Jig dance studio! Get more info HERE.

Pretty Muddy Women’s Mud Run at Pocahontas State Park at 7:00 a.m.  (Cheer my daughter, Amanda Rose, to victory!) Pretty Muddy is a 5k adventurous obstacle course mud run for any woman who wants to get outside, spend time with friends and have fun. — 5k Course (3.1 miles, run or walk) — Women Only (sorry, guys) — Mud (lots of it!) — Architectural Obstacles (much better than shabby hay bales and shaky plywood) — Pretty Epic Finish Line Party (Entertainment, music, drinks & celebration galore)

German Fest – St. John’s United Church of Christ  5pm – 8 pm – Richmond’s 1st German Church – annual GERMAN FEST. Oct. 19, Friday evening 5-8 pm and Oct. 20 Saturday 12-2 pm. Music, bratwurst, beer & wine. Brats $5.  Oct. 20, Saturday evening 5:00 & 7:00 reserved dinner featuring sauerbraten, spaetzel, red cabbage and more. $15 for dinner.

Fall Festival at St. Luke’s UMC from 10am – 3 pm – 4101 Fordham Road, Richmond, VA. Brunswick stew, concessions, yard & bake sales, arts & crafts, silent auction, moon bounce, NY Life Insurance to ID children

Harvest Festival at Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park from noon-pm. 3400 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA. Hands-on activities and demonstrations depicting typical homemaking and farming tasks. Cider making, candle dipping, cornhusk doll making, corn shelling, blacksmithing, woodworking, and more. Children ages 3-12 can pick a pumpkin from the local pumpkin patch. Stonebrook Moon Shine will perform live. For all ages.

20th Annual Art Affair at Mary Munford Elementary School. 10am – 5pm. Juried Fine Art show featuring regional and national artists, fun events for children and supporting the arts. Rain or shine.

2012 Richmond Heart Walk at SnagAJob.com Pavilion at Innsbrook. 3 mile walk in support of American Heart Association’s lifesaving research and programs.

2012 Good Shepherd Music Festival at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd.  One-hour concerts in the heart of Richmond’s Southside. Performers include the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble, members of No BS! Brass Band, Brian Jones Quartet, Hot Seats Mini Band, and various classical chamber music groups. Located at Forest Hill Avenue & West 43rd Street. October 19 – 21. Visit goodshepherdrichmond.org for event details.

St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School 5K Eagle Challenge and Fall Festival at 8:00 am. St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School hosts its 6th Annual 5K Eagle Challenge, sponsored by Old Dominion Insulation (ODI) and SERVPRO. USATF-certified course through Woodmont Subdivision with movie-themed water stops! 5K on-site registration: 7 a.m.; 5K Race: 8 a.m.; Kids Fun Run/Walk: 9 a.m. Afterwards join us for our annual Fall Festival at the school with food, kids’ games, health fair, and used book sale.

Romp ‘n Roll Kids Night Out at the West End location. Visit link to save $10 on Kids’ Night Out. 5-8 pm.

Kids Night Halloween Bash – CORE Kids Academy –  fun, games, parade, food, and more at Core Kids.

Habitat Day – Habitat Day is a free, family-friendly event celebrating Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity’s partner families and volunteers to promote affordable housing awareness in Richmond. It’s open to anyone interested in learning more about Richmond Habitat! William F. Fox Elementary School from 1-4 pm.

30th annual Midlothian Village Day Festival & Craft Fair is fun for the whole community. Games, inflatables, crafts, local entertainment and more! held Annually the third Saturday in October.

Kindness Walk to support Full Circle Grief Center – MISS Foundation needs your help. It’s an opportunity to remember children gone too soon. Kindness Walk: Remembering Those We Love – Saturday, October 20, 2012.

Celtic Festival and Highland Games – Richmond Raceway Complex.  Highland games competitions, gathering of clans and vendors. The two-day festival, which will be fun for the whole family to enjoy, benefits three non-profits: the Cullather Brain Tumor & Quality of Life Center, Children’s Hospital Foundation and Richmond International Raceway Cares.

Hands On Greater Richmond is gearing up for their annual HandsOn Day. They are celebrating their 5th year on Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash – a Halloween themed party. This costumed affair typically includes spooky decorations, costume contests, a silent auction and/or live auction and frightfully fun entertainment including music, games, and much more! With the versatile theme, Bone Bashes can range from concerts to sit down dinners – each one will have its own flare! Colonial Heights.

Festival of the Grape in Powhatan. Sample wines from 30 Virginia wineries and see exhibits from more than 100 local artists and craftspeople. Live music and plenty of food and fun for all ages. $20 in advance, $25 on day of event with ‘non-tasting’ tickets available for $15. Purchase tickets at Chesterfield Town Center customer service desk or visit the Powhatan Wine Festival website or TicketsToBuy.com.

Riverside School Tread-a-Thon for Dyslexia Awareness at Chesterfield Town Center.  Join Riverside School for a 5K walk to raise awareness of dyslexia, a learning disability that affects 1 in 5 students in the U.S., and the importance of early identification and appropriate intervention to enable children with dyslexia to reach their highest academic potential.

VOLVER – October 26-28 at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen – Based on the real life of the former treasurer of the US. Anna Cabral. A dance theatre work that reflects “Chicano” identity and its culture. October 26-28: Fri. 10:30 AM & 7:30 PM – Sat. 7:30 PM – Sun. 3 PM.

No Slump Fee to mold your glass project into a plate, bowl, or votive. Visit All Fired Up Website.

Book Signing at Barnes and Noble Short Pump. Richmond Author Pamela Kinney signs “Haunted Richmond II.

Gerry Laverty Performs at Science Museum – Gerry Laverty is the 11 am performer on stage in the exhibition Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World at the Science Museum of Virginia. Join us on designated Saturdays, for live guitar acoustic performances by Richmond area musicians, Each performance is about 1 hour long and is included with Museum admission.

Miracles in Motion at Chick-fil-A Spirit Night in Chesterfield Plaza.

Sunday, October 21

Patterson Avenue Baptist Fall Festival, 4301 Patterson Ave Fall Festival, 2-5 p.m. Moon bounce,  Games,  Prizes,  Face Painting,  Pumpkin Decorating, Costume Contest,  Pumpkin Patch,  Cake Walk,  BBQ & Hot Dogs,  Photos, Petting Zoo & Pony Rides,  Music, Lots of Candy,  Trunk or Treat, Crafts,  Corn Hole Tournament, Local Fire Department,  Live Music, Storytelling!

Howl-O-Fest – 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Stony Point Fashion Park. Magic show, pumpkin painting, balloon creations, children’s crafts, Radio Disney, and lots of prizes. Bring your dog for the pet costume contest and cutest dog costume.

2012 Good Shepherd Music Festival at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd.  One-hour concerts in the heart of Richmond’s Southside. Performers include the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble, members of No BS! Brass Band, Brian Jones Quartet, Hot Seats Mini Band, and various classical chamber music groups. Located at Forest Hill Avenue & West 43rd Street. October 19 – 21. Visit goodshepherdrichmond.org for event details.

Celtic Festival and Highland Games – Richmond Raceway Complex.  Highland games competitions, gathering of clans and vendors. The two-day festival, which will be fun for the whole family to enjoy, benefits three non-profits: the Cullather Brain Tumor & Quality of Life Center, Children’s Hospital Foundation and Richmond International Raceway Cares.

Ghostbusters at Byrd Theatre at 1:30pm.  A benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsored by Mustang Don’s Garage. Advance tickets can be purchased at these Carytown merchants:  Play N Trade, For the Love of Chocolate, World of Mirth, Murphies, Chop Suey Books, Yapple (Carytown and Willow Lawn) – $6.00 donation in advance/ $8.00 at the door.

Music in the Park is a free, family-friendly Sunday night concert series at Forest Hill Park. Bring a picnic, chairs and the whole family for a great (free!) night in the park. Broad Street Ramblers (Hawaiian Island String Favorites) – 5-7 pm.

Corn Husk Doll Making at Meadow Farm Museum, 3400 Mountain Road, Glen Allen. Ages 5+. Free.

Plan Ahead

Choose the right kindergarten for your child at upcoming open houses October 16 and 26.

HCA Girl’s Day Out is coming up October 19 – plan a fun day with a girlfriend, daughter, mother, or just go by yourself and meet other women. It’s a fantastic day of learning, socializing, shopping, and fun!

Pink Tie Gala is October 20 – mark your calendar!

October is:

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Family History Month
• Virginia Wine month
• Read Aloud to a Child Week is October 21-27
• And we would be remiss if we did not report that October is National Dessert Month too – enjoy! (National Dessert DAY is October 14).

In addition to our Festivals and Family Fun, and our newest After-school Activities listing, we’ve included other ongoing activities below. Be sure and check out all of our great resources for family-friendly fun in Richmond (and even a few adult-only events!).

Be sure to book by October 15 to get great discounts at Great Wolf Lodge to be used through December! Use our special code just for Richmondmoms.

Ongoing Activities

Young Tom Jefferson at Virginia Rep’s Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn – through October 27. Check our website for special deals on tickets too!

If You Love Your City: Prove It October 1-28, 2012 – make a difference in our city.

Free movie night at Tom Leonards every Friday in October. IT’S BACK!!!!! Every Friday night in October starting around 7pm, please join Tom Leonards Farmers Market located at 4150 Brookriver Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23060 under the big tent for kids holiday movie night. Will include free movie, popcorn, hot chocolate, apple cider, face painting and hay rides. Bring your chair or sit on hay bales.

Monday, October 8

All Fired up – Your Youngster & You: Halloween Prints – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  On Monday, October 8th, choose from several Halloween-themed handprint and footprint designs and let our helpful staff take care of the rest! We’ll help you get the perfect print from your infant or toddler, paint a festive border, and write a simple inscription of your choice. We strongly recommend reserving a half-hour appointment between 10am-1pm. Cost is only $25 per print project on a large rimmed dinner plate.

Inlight Lantern-Making at The Children’s Museum from 9:30 am – 5 pm – Please join 1708 Gallery for lantern-making workshops throughout the month of October at The Children’s Museum to participate in InLight Richmond! InLight Richmond 2012 is 1708 Gallery’s 5th annual, public exhibition of light-based art and performances. Free to all, InLight will kick off with a Community Lantern Parade on Friday, November 2, 2012 in the new Arts & Culture District of Downtown W. Broad Street. For more information about InLight Richmond please visit www.1708gallery.org/inlight.

Tuesday, October 9

GrowRVA Food Truck Court at Science Museum of Virginia 5pm – 8pm – Bring your friends and family to the Science Museum to find your favorite food trucks with a variety of gourmet, ethnic and specialty foods. They’ll be at the Museum the second Tuesday and third Friday of each month through the end of the year. For more information visit  the website.

End the Struggle: Understanding a Brain-Based Approach to ADHD, Social, Academic, and Behavior. Join Dr. Mark Smith, executive director of the Brain Balance Achievement Center of Richmond for this informative program for parents of children ages 4 – 17 that are struggling with academic, behavioral, emotional or sensory issues.

The Nature of Boys (Parents of boys birth – 9 years) – A class all about boys. Promises Preschool, Three Chopt Presbyterian Church, 9315 Three Chopt Road, $30 per person. By Commonwealth Parenting.  *Pre-registration required for all classes and support groups. Call 545-1272 or visit the website.

Short Pump Pals Clubhouse Meeting.  11 a.m. at Short Pump Mall Food Court.Have a magical time with Mike Klee Magic! Mike has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve and is sure to bring his bag of tricks. Join us and be mesmerized by magic tricks, and learn a thing or two. 

Wednesday, October 10

Strong Healthy Family Nights at Good Shepherd. Come to Strong Healthy Families Night at Good Shepherd Lutheran Child Development Center and learn meal planning strategies for healthy meals and snacks that your family will RAVE about! Valerie Waters, in-store registered dietician for Martin’s Food Market, will provide moms and dads with practical tips and creative solutions.

Spirited Art – every Wednesday, we will be offering an adult class at 11 a.m.  You’re welcome to bring your own lunch/snacks during this weekday class.  Check out our calendar www.myspiritedart.com.

Mommy & Me at Willow Lawn – Wednesday, October 10, 10-11:30am: Silly Bus. Stop by our Richmondmom.com table and say hello!

First Home School Day at Polegreen Church Foundation -The Historic Polegreen Church Foundation offers Richmonders a unique opportunity to experience some of the history of Richmond and Polegreen. The Foundation is planning its’ first Home School Day on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. The event will take place onsite at 6411 Heatherwood Drive in Mechanicsville, VA 23116.

Live Sky. Science Museum of Virginia.Join us for an out of this world adventure as we explore the stars

Thursday, October 11

I Love You ‘A Latte” Tray at All Fired Up for adults – 6:00 p.m  – 8:00 pm – The second thursdays of the month are now our Adult Technique Class series. This month, on Thursday, October 11th, from 6-8pm, we’ll show you how to paint a swoop server tray with an adorable coffee design (see website for design and details). Tell a friend and reserve your spot today! Cost is only $35!

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. TNCS is hosting an event on October 11 that will help parents and caregivers understand dyslexia. Check it out and register early to attend.

Barnes & Noble Storytime at Short Pump

Friday, October 12

Kugel Ball 2012: Strike A Chord – 6:30 pm – The stage is set for a rocking evening at the Science Museum of Virginia’s Kugel Ball. Dress in your best “Blue Jean Black Tie” and get ready for an evening that’s sure to be electric! Get an all access pass to one of the world’s most iconic instruments in Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World. This interactive exhibit explores the evolution of the guitar, its cultural impact and the science of sound. It will strike a chord with your inner musician! The evening includes a silent auction, dinner and dancing to live music, while raising awareness and support for the Museum’s mission: Inspiring Virginians to enrich their lives through science. For more details and to purchase tickets visit this link.

Toys ‘R Us Grand Opening in Short Pump. Fun for kids and adults.The store will celebrate its grand opening weekend with great savings, giveaways, kid-friendly activities and visits from popular costumed characters beginning on Friday, October 12 through Sunday, October 14.

Unraveling the Mystery of Children’s Mental Health – From Brains to Behavior. 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. at the Library of Virginia.

An Evening with Rosanne Cash at CMoR – 7:00 p.m. – Join us for a very special evening welcoming Rosanne Cash and her husband, John Leventhal, to Richmond. Mingle with Rosanne and John, hear them share a few songs, and learn more about why Rosanne has supported Children Incorporated, a Richmond-based child sponsorship organization, for 25 years.  Tickets are limited, so make your reservations today. The event takes place on Friday evening, October 12 at the Richmond Children’s Museum, 7 until 10pm. Tickets are $75 per person.

Richmond Folk Festival in downtown Richmond historic area.

St. Catherine’s School Kindergarten Open House – 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Call 804.281.7140. Learn about what they have to offer.

After School Enrichment at All Fired Up. Working in wet clay, glass and glaze at Short Pump’s location from 3:30-4:30p.m., Carytown from 4-5 p.m.; Midlothian from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Call to register.

Saturday, October 13

The 6th Annual Step UP for Down Syndrome 5K & Family Festival is Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 8:30AM – Noon. It’s a heart-warming 5K run/walk and family festival. The event celebrates the abilities and accomplishments of individuals with Down syndrome in the Greater Richmond & Tri-Cities areas. Enjoy lots of FREE family activities, live music by The Groove Motive, DS Superstars Ceremony, pumpkin patch, fashion show featuring individuals with Down syndrome and more!  Register to run, walk or volunteer at www.dsagr.com.

Musical Morning.  10am-11:15am.  The Richmond Public Library – Main Library Auditorium.  The Board of the Richmond Public Library Foundation invites your family to a musical morning featuring musicians from the Richmond Symphony.  The program is free. You are encouraged to sponsor a book in your child’s name through the Foundation’s Buy-A-Book program.

Toys ‘R Us Grand Opening in Short Pump. Fun for kids and adults.The store will celebrate its grand opening weekend with great savings, giveaways, kid-friendly activities and visits from popular costumed characters beginning on Friday, October 12 through Sunday, October 14.

Make Someone Happy Day – Happy the Artist turns 70 and is throwing a public shindig to elebrate. Starting at 2:00 p.m. at Richmond’s Byrd Theatre – free movie, free popcorn, free cake and plenty of free fun. Happy wears colorful clown-like clothes and a bowler hat while driving mural-painted vehicles. The nationally known artist has traveled the country creating murals, exhibits, and more.

Snag-A-Job Pavilion at Innsbrook 11th Annual Fall Bash – Oysters, BBQ, local wines, and music. Must be 21_ to attend. Call 804.377.3430 for tickets or visit website. Tickets are $70 in advance; $80 at the door.

Musical Morning at the Library with musicians from the Richmond Symphony on Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 10 am to 11:15 am. It’s at the Auditorium of the Main Library, 101 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA and the program is free and open to the public.  The Richmond Public Library Foundation invites you and your family to a musical morning featuring musicians from the Richmond Symphony.  Join us at 10 am on Saturday, October 13, for refreshments, crafts, and an instrument petting zoo, followed by a performance at 10:30 by artists from the Richmond Symphony.

Art Workshop at CMoR – A Positive Perspective from 9:45 am – 10:30 am.

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes 2012.

Paint the Town Green. We will meet up at Monroe Park at 8:30AM on 10/13/12 for a free breakfast. This event will satisfy any community service hours needed as long as you sign in. We will group up and head to the pick up sites at 9AM and should finish at 1PM where we will return to Monroe park for a party.

The Vintage Home Market is a gathering of some of the region’s very best vintage and antiques dealers, and true craftspeople who re-purpose and create with vintage finds. This is an indoor and outdoor fall show which also features gourmet food and beverages from local eateries.

11th House performs at the Science Museum of Virginia – performs live on stage in the exhibition Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World at the Science Museum of Virginia. Join us on designated Saturdays, for live guitar acoustic performances by Richmond area musicians. Each performance is about 1 hour long and is included with Museum admission.

International Mother & Daughter East Coast Pageant – October 13 at 11:00 a.m. at New Life Outreach International Church in Richmond. Compete for the crown – a family friendly event in celebration of mothers and daughters everywhere. Contact Kesha at Internationalecp@gmail.com or visit the website.

Richmond Bonsai Society Exhibit at Maymont – In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Maymont’s Japanese Garden, the Richmond Bonsai Society will display their horticultural masterpieces and discuss the art of Bonsai, training a tree in a low pot. Free admission. Rain date is Sunday, October 14. For information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.

Kids Night Out at Romp n Roll.  5pm-8pm.  Romp n’ Roll Midlothian,  11541 Busy St. Richmond VA 23236.  Every kid deserves a special night out…and so do you! That’s why we created Kids Night Out. Parents get an evening to themselves while the children get to run and play with our energetic instructors and enjoy a Pizza Party dinner at Romp n’ Roll. $30, which includes a pizza dinner for ages 2-5 (potty-training not required). Reservations Required.

11th Annual Comfort Zone Camp Fall Bash – Join us for the 11th Annual Fall Bash. Enjoy all-you-can-eat oysters, barbeque, local wineries, and music from the incredible Right On.

JEFFREY A. REED MEMORIAL FUND 2ND ANNUAL 5K – Join us for the 2nd Annual 5k and One Mile Fun Run to benefit the Jeffrey A. Reed Memorial Fund! The fund, founded in memory of Army Sgt. Jeffrey Reed who was killed in Iraq in 2009, provides funding for college scholarships as well as various programs that help the veterans of our Armed Forces, both on a local and national level.

Sunday, October 14

Black Girls RUN!? Of course we do! We would like to invite you to join BGR! Richmond on Sunday, October 14 for our Monument Avenue run/walk event! The group will meet at First Baptist Church on Monument Avenue at 2:30pm. We will have a 2 mile and 3 mile walk/run. We invite women of all races and fitness levels.

Toys ‘R Us Grand Opening in Short Pump. Fun for kids and adults.The store will celebrate its grand opening weekend with great savings, giveaways, kid-friendly activities and visits from popular costumed characters beginning on Friday, October 12 through Sunday, October 14.

Each year, a TON of work goes into getting this event together–not to mention herding a bunch of hunky bachelors, so we had to give a shout-out to Aine Murphy Norris, who this year headed up the recruitment efforts.

Now, you may think this job is all-glamour, and having met many of these hunky bachelors I can tell you they are wonderful guys, but a lot of detail goes into getting them prepared for this event.

Along with Susan Groves and team this year a newcomer joined the efforts, Aine Norris Murphy, and we though it essential to say “thank you” for volunteering so many hours to get the bachelors ready to, um, be sold for a good cause.

No, Aine’s not a mom but she sure is a friend of many for having given selfless, countless hours to this event which resulted in over $6,000 raised. Big Kudos to Aine and the entire Pink Tie Gala team as they head toward the big event on October 20, 2012.

Aine, enjoy your one-hour Massage Envy Spa massage (it’s on the way to you!) and the thought that you raised thousands of dollars for Susan G. Komen and breast cancer research. We think you’re pretty awesome.

If you’ve never been, it’s an amazing charity event supporting Susan G. Komen complete with survivors dancing the night away after practicing for months, the band Casper providing great entertainment, and all of our hunky bachelors and their generous dates attending, too. 

There are a ton of great silent auction items, cocktails and amazing dining, not to mention it’s for a great cause.

One of the most fun parts of this event is that Richmonders of all ages, professions, backgrounds and histories–many of them touched by the disease in some way–come together to have fun to beat breast cancer.

Get yourself a pink dress (really any color will do!) and join the fun on Saturday October 20, 2012.

2012 Pink Tie Bachelor Stephen Sowulewski

If you’re a single Richmond gal and haven’t attended the Pink Tie Gala Bachelor Auction, you’re in for a treat!

Trevor Dickerson, one of the handsome bachelors up for auction

For the third year in a row, I’m lucky enough to emcee this fabulous event with some of Richmond’s hottest bachelors on September 21, 2012, 7:30pm at the Hippodrome Theatre.

Scene from last year’s Pink Tie Gala

The fun part about this auction and “Shop for A Cause”  is that the winners receive two tickets to the Pink Tie Gala, so it’s not one of those awkward dates–it’s a big party for a cause, and a chance to make new friends! The Pink Tie Gala is a huge annual fundraiser/dance/party that serves as an amazing fundraiser and a fun date night out for a cause, The Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Pro soccer player Jason Yeisley is up for grabs, too

If you’d like to “preview” the bachelors, visit us at Wine Down at The Wine Loft on 9/5/12 where we’ll be “showcasing the merchandise” before the actual auction.

Bring your pocketbook and get ready for a show–these guys are typically not shy and have a lot of fun with this event. See you there!

You don’t want to miss this fun night out with friends, old and new.  Thanks to Downtownshortpump.com’s Trevor Dickerson for partnering with us each month for these fun events (and he’s one of the bachelors, so you can’t miss this one!) RSVP and share this with your friends on Facebook!

Many thanks to our friends at Gundlach for sponsoring this event.

This isn’t just for moms–It’s an event for Richmond moms, dads, singles, and anyone who wants to attend for a great time & support a great cause.

And if that’s not enough reason to come, then check these additional great reasons to join us:

• -The Wine Loft Richmond is the shizzle. It’s a cozy atmosphere that allows for networking so bring a friend. Or come alone, we’ll introduce you around.
• -There will be incredibly delicious appetizers provided with discounted wines.
• -We give stuff away. That’s right. . .for every entry fee of $10 we give you a raffle ticket; additional tickets may be purchased for $1 (so bring lots of dollars!). We give away photography gift certificates, Richmond Rocks books,  and generally cool prizes you will surely put to use. Midas of Richmond’s Mark Smith often attends and generously donates some Midas giveaways for sure.

All funds raised will benefit Pink Tie Gala; Contact us if you want to mail a donation.

We’ve raised as much as $1,000+ each month in just a couple hours at each event at the Wine Loft. What a great way to relax and help out a valuable Richmond non-profit. Over the last three years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars for great Richmond non-profits just by having fun.

For businesses who would like to donate a raffle prize, we love you, contact us: kate@richmondmom.com. These events may also be sponsored by businesses who have a charitable heart!

Pink Tie Gala is October 22 - don't miss it!

The Pink Tie Gala is almost here and you don’t want to miss it. There will be no tickets sold at the door – so hurry and get your advanced tickets now.

Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 7:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. at the Marriott Richmond Downtown will be a night of delicious food, endless dancing, silent auctions and even more dancing and eating!

Casper will be there with live music. The Celebration of Life Dance Team is a group of incredible women who are not only breast cancer survivors, but are strong powerful women who have chosen to make a difference. Cheer them on as they perform their dance of celebration at the event.

If you haven’t been to this event before, you have to go this year – it’s an incredible time of fun while supporting one of the most important events for women. The Pink Tie Gala is to support the Central Virginia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to them right here in Central Virginia.

It’s so much fun to get dressed up for this special event and enjoy a night out with friends. No tickets are sold at the door so be sure and get advanced tickets. Space is limited and previous year’s have sold out, so get tickets now! Tickets are only $85.00 and remember – it all goes to the local Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

The Pink Tie Gala is presented by the Bon Secours Cancer Institute which specializes in providing education, outreach, awareness, research and treatment of breast cancer within our community.

The Pink Tie Gala countdown is on – see you there!