We were here for my husband’s medical residency at VCU. We quickly learned that it was called residency for a reason, and while my husband pulled 80 – 90 hour work weeks my son and I were left to our own devices. Our neighbor came over with a loaf of delicious zucchini bread and welcomed us to the neighborhood. They would become good friends and truly the best neighbors ever.

Being the social creature that I am, and determined to make this new city our home, I took my son to the city’s “must sees,” to Carytown and Maymont and Lewis Ginter. We took in the view of the city line from the James River and walked along the banks of Pony Pasture. We explored the streets of our neighborhood and slowly made our house a home (with multiple trips to Target.)

I looked up book babies at the Richmond Public Library and in two different but equally fateful meetings met the two women who would become my best friends in Richmond. Our boys were the same age and we would spend the next four years talking through their milestones and sharing parenting stories and learning from each other as only first time Mommies can.

I would be pleasantly surprised to find Cartwheels and Coffee and learn that I could breastfeed in public without shame; a complete contrast to the judgmental stares I had received in the small conservative Southern town we had moved from. I would be in awe of the South of the James Farmer’s Market and the constant rotation of festivals offered every weekend in Richmond.

I would watch and learn that this was how families spent their time here, in a laid back fashion that incorporated the city as much as it incorporated each other. I would never let the fact that my husband couldn’t join us be a deterrent and I exposed my infant son to all of the things Richmond had to offer; whether he could embrace them or not. It would never cease to amaze me that our route to the Children’s Museum was composed of historic statues in a scenic drive down Monument Avenue.

Lost in a haze of loneliness and breast milk and new mommy sleep deprivation, I slowly began to discover the places and people in Richmond that would become home.

The fragility and beauty of my new motherhood intertwined with the history and activity of Richmond, and I found my footing in a city that brought me new life and identity. If it’s possible to have a love affair with a city, I had one with Richmond. I discovered myself as a Mommy and a person and as I unlocked the secrets of our new city I also unlocked new pieces of myself.

After a couple of years, my son would become established in a preschool where he would thrive and I would plug in as a room mom and parent council chair. I would find a church home and start performing (something I used to do with often) first in Broadway style productions at church and later with a local opera company.

I would be incredibly honored and lucky to join the writing team on Richmondmom.com. I had discovered this website and the Facebook group during the first months we moved to Richmond and had so often used it as a resource for events and parenting inspiration. It was a dream come true to have my writing published on this website I so dearly loved.

Four years of residency would pass by quickly, and despite an extensive job search and my hopes to stay in Richmond, my husband’s new job would take us away.

I made a Richmond Bucket List and my son and I have spent the past few weeks slowly crossing off all of our favorites. “This will be our last time at Maymont,” I would tell my sweet now four-and-a-half-year-old. “Our last time at the Farmer’s Market,” a standing date with my son and I every Saturday.  “We can play at the Children’s Museum one more time.”

Slowly, we collected our lasts, as though stepping foot in each place just one more time would allow us to savor the memories and leave our own lasting impressions on the city. Our last time at the places that have shaped our time here. Our last taste of exclusive-to-Richmond food. Our last time to collect fireflies in our back yard. Our last hugs with friends. A collection of lasts wrapped up in our memories and carefully preserved to remember this stop in our journey.

Today, I look around our home that is slowly being packed into boxes and disassembled. I have given going away presents and written mushy emails. I have endlessly scoured the internet for lists of “things to do in Richmond” and realized that I have done all of them.  I have cried all of the tears I can possibly cry, and realized that we have truly lived and loved and experienced everything we could during our time in this city.

Sunday, we will leave Richmond, driving away from the only house we have ever owned, the cherished friendships we have made, and the city that, for me, will forever be intimately intertwined with the magic of my son’s first four years of childhood and my experience as a new mommy.

“Home” has become synonymous with the way the sunlight streams through my son’s window in the morning in this house where my little boy took his first steps and said his first words. Richmond has carved its name into our hearts and despite a move that will bring us closer to family, I wonder if I will ever again be in love with a city or feel at home in this way.

Last weekend, we collected one more last as we walked away from my husband’s residency graduation. Paused at a cross walk late at night, surrounded by the buildings of downtown Richmond that gave us our very first glimpse of the city four years ago, we looked at each other with trepidation and said, “We did it! What now?”

The day we moved to Richmond with a 9 month old, and the day we moved away, with a four year old and one on the way.

Thank you for the amazing adventure, Richmond.

And thank you Richmondmom.com, for letting this post be one of my “lasts.”

Due to an upcoming move (which I am NOT happy about by the way, because Richmond ROCKS and why would I ever want to leave?!) my husband and I just joined the crowd of homes going on the market. We lovingly toiled to get the house “show ready” and I cried when the sign was placed in our front yard, officially marking our cute little house as “for sale.”

And then it went under contract. In three days.

Sure, a lot of it depends on timing, the right real estate agent, and the right buyer. But there is a lot you can do to make your house a show stopper.

If you are considering adding your house to the Richmond real estate market this spring, here are 10 tips to help you get under contract quickly.

1. GET RID OF YOUR STUFF! We rented a POD container and de-cluttered every single room and closet of our house. The POD sat in our driveway for a month and every day we loaded it with boxes of stuff we wanted, but didn’t necessarily need, like my son’s baby clothes or that extra bookcase that simply holds clutter. I also made A LOT of trips to Goodwill. Why did I still have that dress from a million years ago I will never fit in again? Where did all of these toys come from? Doesn’t matter, just get rid of them.

2. DE-PERSONALIZE. That gallery wall you spent hours on after you saw it on Pinterest is adorable, but perspective home buyers need to be able to see themselves in your home, not walk into a room of your memories. Even though it will look strange to you, don’t try to replace personal pictures with neutral decor. Blank walls are fine, and really open up your home, making it look bigger.

3. STAGE THE HOUSE. Each room of your house should have a purpose. You don’t want a buyer to walk into a room and think, “what am I going to do with this space?” Pair down furniture to the essentials and make sure you can walk into each room and know how the space can be utilized. Bedrooms really just need a bed and a dresser or nightstands, and the kitchen counters should be cleared. We have one room that is an office/playroom, and we had to work really hard to make sure you could tell it’s specific purpose without it looking like a junk room.

4. CLEAN! I mean, like really clean. Not the kind of clean you do before last minute company comes over. Real, on your hands and knees scrubbing every surface of your house clean. To be completely honest, I hired a cleaning team to come and clean my house while I was in the midst of packing up and de-cluttering. And then I went behind them and paid attention to every detail of every surface. Our house was truly spotless.

5. PAINT. It may seem like a silly thing, but a fresh coat of paint makes a huge difference. We touched up the paint in every room of the house and it really makes the house feel like new.

6. PAINT THE TRIM. No one is going to walk into your house and notice that your baseboards have been freshly painted, but fresh, white glossy baseboards and stairs give an attention to detail that really makes the house pop. It also shows off all that cleaning you did. It’s a small (time consuming) task, but glossy white trim makes the whole house shine.

7. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS. Now that you got rid of all of your stuff, and cleaned and painted, pay attention to the details. Hang fresh towels in the bath rooms. Make sure that bathroom rug is freshly laundered. Place fresh flowers in the hallway. The little things will add up, letting buyers know that your house is well loved and cared for.

8. CURB APPEAL. Your potential buyer’s first impression of your home is going to be determined as they walk up to the door. Make sure your yard is freshly mowed and mulched, and the walkway and porch have been cleaned and freshly painted. Place a wreath on the front door and plant flowers in your flower boxes. Use hanging plants and colorful flowers to brighten up the outside. We chose the color yellow for all of our flowers to give a uniform and cheery welcome to our home.

9. COLOR MATTERS. Keep your decor neutral with tans and wood. Paint rooms in soothing neutral tones such as tan, grey, blue, or green. Replace colored towels, linens, and shower curtains with fresh white ones for a cleaner and brighter feel. Yellow is a bright and welcoming color that can be associated with happiness (according to Google) so we used yellow flowers for the flower boxes and our hanging plant on in the front, fresh yellow flowers in a vase in the house, and placed a bowl of fresh lemons on the kitchen counter.

10. MAKE IT PERFECT…EVERY TIME. Of course you don’t always live with your house in perfect condition, but for showings you have to. Prior to a showing make sure the house is clean and hide unnecessary personal items. Vacuum, sweep, mop, and wipe down the bathroom before each appointment. You only get one chance to impress each buyer; make sure you make it a knock out!

We listed our home with The Jennie Barrett Shaw Group.  

All pictures are courtesy of Persistence Vision Real Estate Photography. 

Mother’s Day is just around the corner…as in just a few days away! I’m sure you are well prepared with flowers, cards, or reservations somewhere, but we’re here in case you need some help.

Check out the Richmondmom.com calendar for exciting events all over the city, and treat mom to a full weekend of fun with these Richmond events happening just for her.

This entire month at All Fired Up, create a masterpiece Mom is sure to cherish with a “Mommies Sweeties” Keepsake Plate.

Get Mother’s Day weekend started on Thursday:

Celebrate Mom and make a craft at special library story times at Westover Hills Library and the Main Library.

Dads, set aside time to prepare that special gift for Mom with the Dad’s Night Event for Mother’s Day at Romp n’ Roll.

On Friday, enjoy a Mother’s Day craft at Main Library. Or treat Mom to a special evening at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with Friday Art and Wine or Friday Family Art Night.

Looking for ways to make Saturday special? Treat Mom to some of Mrs. Yoder’s donuts at the South of the James Farmer’s Market (they are so delicious!) or take her on a lovely stroll through the Lewis Botanical Gardens to see A Million Blooms and get up close with a butterfly with Butterflies Live! Lewis Ginter will have special events going on throughout the garden on Saturday and Sunday.

Head over to Barnes and Noble Short Pump for a special Mother’s Day story time or check out the Strawberry Street Festival  for an afternoon of family fun.

For an elegant afternoon, take Mom to Maymont for Elegant Entertaining and enjoy a performance by the River City Trio at Maymont Mansion. For an extra special treat, take Mom to the Mother’s Day Tea at Maymont (reservations required.)

Spirited Art is also offering a special Mother’s Day Create Date.

In the mood for music? Take Mom to Regency Square Mall for a Promotion and Concert, or head to Trinity Lutheran Church for the Richmond Concert Chorale’s “Love Songs on Mother’s Day.” Also, not Mother’s Day specific but just as enjoyable, treat Mom to a night at the Opera as Capital Opera Richmond presents “The Tenderland” at Henrico Theatre.

On Sunday, continue your Mother’s Day celebration with the special Mother’s Day events at Lewis Ginter, or enjoy Elegant Entertaining at Maymont.

Barnes and Noble Chesterfield will offer a special Mother’s Day story time or you could take advantage of a Mother’s Day Family Class at Spirited Art.

Enjoy more concerts with a Mother’s Day Concert at Stony Point Fashion Park and a FREE concert by the Richmond Symphony at Pocohontas State Park.

The popular Mother’s Day Brunch at the Jefferson Hotel is sold out, but many restaurants around Richmond are offering special menus and prices for Mother’s Day. Be sure to call ahead for reservations!

How will you choose to celebrate Mother’s Day this year?

Snow (again) in Richmond.

It’s a (sometimes) rare chance to grab that sled and hit the “slopes”  We’ve made a list of some great places to sled around town when school is out (because it will be).

Please note that parks close at dark and it’s prohibited to sled on something weird like a sheet of metal- use a proper sled.  And, of course, please stay safe.

Have something you’d like to add to this list or want to make a note of something?  Comment below or send an email to Sarah@Richmondmom.com and we’ll get added (or a note made) nice and quick.

Forest Hill Park  This one is a Richmond Favorite.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that Forest Hill should be re-named “Sledding Hill” or “oh my gosh it snowed in Richmond Hill” or “At Least They’ll Sleep Tonight Hill” or “Hi, Mom, I’m on TV Hill” since it’s usually in the local news.

But wait there is more!! You can also go sledding at these places in the Richmond area:

Bryan Park 4308 Hermitage Rd., Richmond, VA

The entrance to the park is located near the I-95 interchange in the 4300 block of Hermitage Road

Byrd Middle School  9400 Quioccasin Rd, VA 23238

Chimborazo Park 3200 E. Broad St. , Richmond, VA

Enon Elementary School 2001 E Hundred Rd, Bermuda, VA 23836

Gambles Hill Park Please watch out for the street.

Libby Hill 2801 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23223 better for more experienced sledders (you know, pro sledding)

Maymont  2201 Shields Lake Ct, Richmond, VA 23220

(double check to see if they are open, as they may close if the roads are impassable (804) 358-7166)

Powhatan Park in Fulton Hill

Deep Run Park 9900 Ridgefield Parkway, Henrico, VA 23233

My son playing in the snow. (elatedexhaustion.com)

“No, no, no, no,” I repeated to myself over and over. “Don’t list it. Not again.”

I watched with baited breath as it cycled through. They are always in alphabetical order. His was coming up soon.

And there it was. Henrico County Schools were closed. Again. (And Chesterfield and Richmond in that case.)

“I really don’t have time for this. How can I get my work done when school is cancelled every other day? It’s too cold, then it’s snowing, then it’s parent teacher conferences and the holiday. Really, can’t they just have school? It’s not even supposed to get bad until later in the day!”

I tend to spout off when I’m frustrated. Uh-hem.

“I’m sorry, babe. I know you’ve got a lot going on right now. I can try to come home early so you can get some work done,” my husband countered in an attempt to calm the spiral that I had turned into.

“I just don’t know what to do with him. We are running out of things…” I trailed, trying to come up with ideas.

“Movie day?” my husband asked.

“He’s had so many of those lately,” I quickly dismissed his suggestion.

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” he responded as the TV regained his attention.

And there I was, left pondering how to keep a 4 year old entertained during yet another full day without school.

I googled it. “Have a movie marathon day!” said the internet.

I looked on Pinterest. “Do all of these amazing activities that you do not have the time to prepare or the materials for!” said the website that I love to look at but can never quite achieve the same results as.

I checked Facebook and Twitter and found statuses expressing similar dissatisfaction with the inconvenience of rearranging plans for the next day because the little ones don’t have school.

And then I realized how ridiculous I was being.

I was frustrated because my son being home from school meant I would be missing my plans of working from home on my writing, cleaning, and catching up on laundry.

I was frustrated that my morning TV would now probably include Disney Jr. instead of the TODAY show and that my lunch would no longer be a peaceful moment alone, but would rather include a chatty four year old and a lot of ketchup.

What if, I thought, what if having a snow day meant having an amazing day. 

What if I didn’t get the work done that I’d planned?

What if the bathroom goes one more day without scrubbing?

What if the laundry basket continues to overflow?

What if I used the snow day as a day to spend with my son, and instead of checking off my to-do list I made memories?

So I had a new plan. A plan to spend an amazing day with my son and leave the to-do list unchecked.

Well, except for the laundry. The little one will need clothes to wear when school opens again.

Love it or dread it: how do you feel about snow days? Let us know in the comments below and give us your best snow day activity suggestions!

 Snow Day got you down?
Keep you kids occupied with crafts
From the Archives:
Richmond Snow Days and the negative effects on parents: an unscientific study

Have you considered supporting the St. Jude Give Thanks.Walk right here in Richmond on November 23^rd?

They make it easy to help – and registration is free!

Then fundraise!

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a place close to my heart. I have had the opportunity to visit St. Jude in Memphis, Tennessee in 2001, and again last year, both times to complete the St. Jude Half-Marathon. What I lacked in speed, (I walked it, after all), I made up for in enthusiasm.

So you know where your miles, dollars and words of encouragement are going, here is a glimpse of my amazing experience in Memphis last year to think about as you contemplate making a difference for children…

It was hopeful, humbling, inspirational and empowering.  Although you might expect that the finish of 13.1 miles was the highlight, it wasn’t.  At the starting line, there was all the typical excitement at a race, but the magic occurred around the 3-mile mark, as we wound our way through the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus.  The street was lined with children, parents, caregivers, volunteers, siblings, grandparents and aunts and uncles – all who had familiar ties with patients from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Patients waved pom poms, and held signs that WE were their heroes, thanking US.  People were high fiving me and some actually stopped me and graciously shook my hand tightly with both of their hands, with tears in their eyes saying, “Thank you for helping to save my daughter” or “thank you for helping my grandson”.  It was humbling and empowering all at the same time.  And it fortified me to race on.  I thought of those families and all of my sponsors at some point during the race.

The day before the race, I toured St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  They have made great strides over the years since my last visit 10 years ago, both in architectural change and in terms of cancer research.   And all of that research is passed on around the country to local hospitals, so that children in Richmond can receive a protocol developed at St. Jude, right here in RVA.  Some children who are at St. Jude receive services at the hospital for up to 3 years.  Everything is very child centered, and family centered.  Children are transported in wagons instead of wheelchairs.  Children’s art is woven throughout the hospital.  The cafeteria at first glance looks like most hospital cafeterias – except that families receive meal tickets so they are not burdened with the cost of food and can focus on recovery.  Danny Thomas, the founder had a clear vision that the hospital be family focused, and to that end, doctors, nurses, other staff, patients and families all “break bread together” in the same cafeteria. What a fantastic example of support, that goes far beyond the clinical aspects of support.

Thank you for considering helping this important organization.  So how can you help a child today?  Please consider registering, forming a team, and fundraise!  It’s all very easy:

1.       Register for free at http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Walk/Walk?pg=entry&fr_id=8249

2.       Register as a Team Captain and get your friends, family, and coworkers involved by registering them on your team.

3.       Fundraise! There are prizes for every incentive level you hit, and all of the proceeds directly benefit the kids at St. Jude.

Learn more and RSVP on Facebook. 

Virginia Blood Services (VBS) wants to thank Richmond for the life supporting donations our community has made over the last 40 years! Richmond donors have shown their loyalty to Richmond and VBS by providing the needed blood supply for our community.

RVA is the Giving Type!

Virginia Blood Services is the local, nonprofit provider of blood and blood products to hospitals in Richmond and throughout the state, including four Level I trauma centers; one of which is VCU Medical Center. In order to support patients in these hospitals they are required to collect approximately 400 blood donations every day.

Richmond has been exemplary at providing area patients the Strength, Hope and Courage to battle in their recovery. There isn’t a substitute for blood when it is needed. To learn more about how your gift supports life, please go to BeTheGivingType.org.

As we continue to support life together, VBS wants to demonstrate their thanks to Richmond and the many donors. In order to help meet the need for blood, show appreciation for loyal donations, and encourage you to display your pride in supporting life through blood donation, they are excited to offer RVA VBS pride decals! These are complimentary to the public and they encourage you, your friends and family to stop by any donor center in the Richmond area to pick up a decal while supplies last, as a way to show your support and loyalty to VBS.*

On behalf of the hospitals and patients served, thank you for being the giving type.

*For full rules and regulations or for more information visit www.vablood.org

In a tone I’d never heard him use before (and haven’t heard him use since), a blend of tender concern and clear urgency, he yelled, “Honey, are you watching the news?” I quickly (well, as quickly as one can when maneuvering newborn twins with minimal body control) turned the television to Today on channel 12. Shots of a blazing World Trade Center North Tower filled the screen.In true Elizabeth Kubler-Rossian mode, my embarrassing, sleep-deprived first thought was that surely, the poor pilot must have been killed — entirely in denial that the hub of American business was undoubtedly populated with unsuspecting workers already seated at their desks for the morning.

The commentators were reporting the damage was likely caused by a small plane…perhaps a privately owned Cessna. Never, never did I think for a solitary second the inferno we were all beholding was an intentional impact. An intentional impact. Before that day, unimaginable.Minutes later, as we watched, the second plane, looking nothing like a Cessna, plowed headlong into the South Tower. From upstairs I screamed, “Honey! Someone needs to call the air traffic controllers in NYC! Somehow they’re misdirecting planes into the buildings…another one just hit! Another one just hit!”

Unaffected by the tag team of horror and twin-delivery intensified hormones, and nowhere near as naive as I, my husband knew to come upstairs and explain what was by then terrifyingly obvious to his — and most other Americans’ — eyes.

An attack, here in America.

Chaos and conflicting stories prevailed that morning. Tales of upwards of 50 planes unaccounted for and potentially in enemy hands. White powder delivered to government offices. Estimates of potentially 10,000 dead. Military planes being scrambled. The President was in Florida. The White House and Capitol were being evacuated. A third plane, and the Pentagon — less than 10 miles away from my childhood home — was in flames. The hijacked Flight 93 went down in Pennsylvania…charred earth the only remnant.

Within hours, New Yorkers rapidly produced flyers with photos of smiling dads, moms, sons and daughters that were hung all over the city. They were held aloft for the television cameras so that someone, anyone, might recognize the person pictured and provide the reassuring news so prayerfully sought. News that with each passing minute was increasingly unlikely to be heard. Hope-fueled optimism reigned – and slowly, against its will, waned — in the first 24, and 48, then 72 hours. The round-the-clock rescue efforts yielding way too few — hardly any — occupants for the recovery areas staffed and waiting nearby.

Those heartbreaking visuals and so many others from those days are seared forever in our minds.The disturbingly twinkly confetti-like papers afloat around the plane-pierced structures. The police and fire department vehicles with their sirens blaring and their heroes aboard, racing full-speed toward an area that survival instincts would reflexively demand one avoid. Stunned people in business suits running out of buildings. Onlookers screaming, hiding their eyes, pointing, praying, crying. Victims waving — and then beyond comprehension, actually leaping — from the facades of the burning buildings.

A personal video from the POV of being pulled into a coffee shop to escape the billowing cloud of collapse, with the audio of “thank you, thank you, thank you.” Al Qaeda training camp videos with hooded practitioners navigating overhead monkey bars. The iconic antenna atop WTC1 descending slowly into an expanding column of dust.

Then, new pictures.

Emerging from the horrific aftermath, a surge of patriotism. On our near-daily drives to the pediatrician’s office for twin baby weight checks, ever increasing numbers of flags hung outside homes, offices, stores and from car antennae. Business marquees no longer touted “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Help Wanted;” but instead, proclaimed “We Love You, New York,” “We Will Never Forget,” and “God Bless America.”

The most rote of routines became less mundane. 3000+ families started September 11th as if it were any other day. Re-evaluation of even the most miniscule, theretofore taken for granted aspects of day to day life seemed in order. As I dried myself after a shower, newly acquainted with the word “Taliban,” I couldn’t help but imagine how grateful an Afghani woman might be for my warm, thick towel. Something that could be used for far more virtuous purpose than merely wicking away the moisture from a freshly-clean new mother. An Afghan mother might have nothing in which to swaddle her newborn baby.

What if a woman in this horridly repressive culture had twins?

How were those women there envisioning our lives?

The concept and purpose of a burqua was (and is) difficult for me to understand. In those first days with our new babies, unashamedly, I found myself not only immodestly “uncovered,” but frequently bare from the waist up. Did that mean that I, a new mother of beautiful, pure, innocent twins, would be viewed as immoral? Whorish? Incomprehensible beliefs so varied from our own…felt so very passionately, that dispassionately, murderous evil could be enacted under the misguided assignation of martyrdom.

Vividly, I remember my thankfulness, that amongst so many other blessings — in positioning the twins to nurse, they were facing me…and not the future-altering images that filled the TV screen. As an adult, as an American, as a mother, it was my obligation to face those images…and to mourn with those who were mourning.

Yet amidst the devastation, the molten towers’ girders seemed to find reincarnate solidity in heroes whose stories began to emerge — and continue to emerge today.

Forever linked to our family’s personal history, Scott and I pay rapt attention annually to the documentaries, the interviews, the tributes. Each September, our emotions careen from giddy twin birthday celebrations on the 5th, to grave solemnity on the 11th. Then, we move on. Always remembering. Forever united, a family…micro and macro.

Gratitude. Grief. Grace.

We will always remember the events of 9-11.
Never forget.

Have an event to add to our calendar? Email us at christa@richmondmom.com! Don’t forget to check your Richmondmom.com Savvy Saver card for great savings at many local events and activities for kids and adults. Don’t have a card? No worries – download a copy here!

Visit our Richmond Summer Camps and Summer Fun 2013 links for a huge listing of camp options and things to do all summer long.

Are you planning ahead for July 4th celebrations? Then be sure to click here and see our great listing of July 4th celebrations, fireworks, parades, shows, and more.

Permanent Exhibit at the Science Museum

Boost! Opens, Signaling Beginning of Multi-Year Transformation for the Museum - Now Open! Celebrate with us as the Museum shares its biggest new, permanent exhibition in a decade and heralds the start of new, exciting things to come. Boost! challenges your perception of health and wellness in a way that is personalized and playful! Included with exhibit admission- $11 with $1 discounts for ages 4-12 and 60+. Free for members. Read our review here.

Now Through August 4

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of The Music Man at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre on Friday, June 28 with a Preview on June 27. The show runs through August 4, 2013. Read about it here.

Now Through August 18

SYMMETREES at The Science Museum of Virginia. Photographer and sculptor John Moser shares his unique view of fallen trees in Central Virginia forests by capturing their photos, then enhancing them so that the images take on a life of their own. Included with exhibit admission. Free for members.

Now Through September 6

Flight of the Butterflies – The Science Museum of Virginia: Read our Real Richmond Review.Migrate with hundreds of millions of Monarch butterflies across North America! Discover the hideaway of these magnificent creatures – a secret that was unlocked after 40 years of research by Dr. Fred Urquhart. Immerse yourself in this compelling adventure as you find a super generation of butterflies who miraculously travel to a new and remote destination. Experience firsthand the beauty of the migration cycle of butterflies spanning not only thousands of miles but generations!

To The Arctic at The Science Museum of Virginia: Through September 6, 2013. Venture across floating ice with a mother polar bear and her two cubs as you take an extraordinary journey into the Arctic.  Discover the constant struggle for survival as they face natural predators and a rapidly changing climate.  Travel with a herd of caribou to their calving ground and plunge into the ethereal underwater world of waltzing walruses!  Gaze across an exquisite spectacle of sapphire white as you see hundreds of miles of snow-bound peaks in this breath-taking film!

Hubble. Journey through distant galaxies and accompany astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. $9 general admission, $5 for members.

Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk. Experience an exhilarating raft ride down the Colorado River with a team of explorers including renowned river advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and anthropologist Wade Davis. $9 general admission, $5 for members.

Now Through September 29

Robots + Us at The Science Museum. The Museum is open 9:30am-5pm on Memorial Day. What differentiates humans and robots?  Explore what it means to be human by examining how lifelike machines emulate four major categories of human capabilities: moving, sensing, thinking and being.  Take a closer look into robotics, computer science and biomedical engineering as you encounter interactive components, videos and much more! It’s here now through September 29, 2013!

Plan ahead: Opening July 12, 2013 Through August 1, 2013

Virginia Repertory Theatre celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern with a production of Steel Magnolias featuring an all-star cast. Click here for more information.

ALL WEEK

Take advantage of CMoR’s extended summer hours with fun activities each weeknight! All Summer Nights activities are free with museum admission. A variety of food options are available at the Seymour Snack Shack including frozen yogurt, popcorn, snow cones and a variety of hot and cold beverages like coffee and juice.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Free morning movie at Atlee. Atlee Library, 9161 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 – 10:30 a.m. Popcorn & drinks provided by the Friends of the Atlee Library. (804) 559-0654

Tuesday, July 2

Westchester Commons Kid’s Club. Crafts, games and story time. Free fun for parents and kids.

Summer Movie Express. Each Tuesday and Wednesday for nine weeks, G and PG movies will be shown for $1. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Will Rogers Foundation.

Summer Film Series. Free each Tuesday and Wednesday through August 21, family-friendly movies will be shown. Seating is limited, doors open at 9:00 a.m.

Dig into Crafts at West End Library. Create a fun dinosaur for free. 5420 Patterson Avenue, Richmond. 3-4pm.

Movie and Pizza Night at Cochrane Rockville Library at 5:30pm. Cochrane Rockville Library, 16600 Pouncey Tract Road, Rockville, VA 23146 5:30 p.m. “Beneath the Surface” Movie & Pizza Night Ages 11 & up. See a great movie about an unexpected journey with your friends. Pizza provided by the Friends of the Rockville Library. (804) 749-3146

Maymont Park Summer Season Tour. Guided tours on the half-hour show how summer heat affected adaptations at home, fashion, and travel 100 years ago. Learn details of Swannanoa, the Dooley’ summer retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Repeats Tuesday – Sunday each week.

Wednesday, July 3

Innsbrook After Hours. Gates open at 5:00pm, and concert-goers will be introduced to a significantly expanded food court with seating and pre show specials, as well as a marketplace with entertainment for patrons to enjoy prior to the show.

Summer Movie Express. Each Tuesday and Wednesday for nine weeks, G and PG movies will be shown for $1. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Will Rogers Foundation.

Summer Film Series. Free each Tuesday and Wednesday through August 21, family-friendly movies will be shown. Seating is limited, doors open at 9:00 a.m.

RVA Food Trucks at Chesterfield Mall. Expect trucks like Soul Ice, Boka, Mr. Softy, Habanero, Almadina, Paris Creperie, The Dog Wagon, Station 2, P&T Kitchen, Grate Pizza, Chupacabra, Super Fresh, Slideways Mobile Bistro, Croaker Spot, King of Pops, Thai Cabin, Flynn’s Foods, and The Meatball Company. Tables and chairs will be set out. Each event will be based on weather permitting. Check the mall’s Facebook every Wednesday at 3 p.m. to confirm the night’s event.

Genworth Independence Day Celebration. Join Genworth on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 to celebrate freedom with the Heritage of America Band. The concert will begin at 6:30pm at Genworth Financial’s World Headquarters located at 6620 West Broad Street. The concert will be immediately followed by our 7th annual fireworks display. Children and adults of all ages are welcome, but please, leave your pets at home. We will have face painting, balloons, giveaways, food vendors and much more.

RVA Fireworks on the James. RVA Fireworks on the James is a FREE “Patriotic Family Fun” event that will feature performances by SPARC (School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Richmond Ballet’s “Minds in Motion.” Food Vendors will be on Brown’s Island and the public is invited to bring a picnic (alcohol and pets not permitted) and a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy music. In case of rain, event is July 5th.

Bilingual Story Time. 6:30pm-7:15 pm. Meadowdale Library, 4301 Meadowdale Blvd, Richmond. Parents and children can enjoy this read-aloud English/Spanish that grows language and literacy skills, paving the way for school preparedness.

Maymont Park Summer Season Tour. Guided tours on the half-hour show how summer heat affected adaptations at home, fashion, and travel 100 years ago. Learn details of Swannanoa, the Dooley’ summer retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Repeats Tuesday – Sunday each week.

Lewis Ginter Drop in and Dig. 1-3pm. Families are invited to drop-in and participate in simple, easy to learn gardening tasks under the guidance of Children’s Garden staff and volunteers.

Thursday, July 4

Happy Birthday America!

Click here for a complete listing of July 4th celebrations, fireworks, and more!

Friday, July 5

Busytown at Virginia Rep. Virginia Rep is thrilled to offer donuts from Dixie Donuts as special treats before and after the show.

Kids Fun Night at All Fired Up from 6-8pm. Kids create fun projects and dinner is included. Call 804.744.5506 to register.

Broad Rock Sports Complex Movies in the Park. 8pm-10pm. Bring food, a blanket, and a chair and enjoy the movie beginning at dark. Paranorman showing on July 5. Call 804.646.5733 with questions.

The Flying Squirrels vs. Akron. Enjoy one of our 24 Firework Extravaganza following the conclusion of the game. Patriotic Jersey auction benefits Special Olympics of Virginia.

Free Friday Morning Movie at Goochland Library, 3075 River Road West, Goochland, VA 10:00 a.m. Friday Morning Movie See a great kids’ movie on the big screen every Friday in July, beginning July 5. Popcorn provided by the Friends of the Goochland Library.

Henrico Theatre $1 showing of Shrek. 305 E. Nine Mile Road, Henrico, VA.

All American Celebration at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Free admission all day, celebration is from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Guests are invited to wear red, white and blue and bring wagons and strollers to decorate for a parade. Enjoy music, water play and fun activities in the Children’s Garden.

Saturday, July 6

The Flying Squirrels. Enjoy one of our 24 Firework Extravaganza following the conclusion of the game.

Henrico Theatre $1 showing of Shrek. 305 E. Nine Mile Road, Henrico, VA.

Maymont Glow Run. Non-timed, 3-mile run/walk for families and people of all ages. You can enjoy glow sticks, laid-back fun and the beauty of the Maymont surroundings. There will be a DJ and party afterwards! Children 7 and under are free. The party starts at 7pm and the race begins at 8pm with prizes and lots of fun.  Proceeds benefit Maymont.

Storytime with Arthur at Barnes & Noble. 1:30pm – 3:30pm. Chesterfield Towne Center.  Join us for a special Storytime with Arthur! We will have stories about Arthur and all of his friends as well as snacks, crafts and a visit from our anteater friend!

Powhatan State Park Grand Opening from 10am-5pm. Visit Virginia’s newest state park along the banks of the historic James River. Activities all day, and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. 800-933-PARK. It’s all free.

PIE WALK & Pie Tasting at Whole Foods. Enjoy pie fun from 11am-1pm at Whole Foods in Short Pump. It’s just like a cake walk but with pies and so fun!

Sunday, July 7