Posts Tagged ‘Fan District’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Kitchen and Garden Tour May 1

Monday, April 18th, 2011

If you can’t catch one of the Richmond tours during Historic Garden Week, there’s always the Fan Woman’s Club Annual Kitchen and Garden Tour.

Kitchen and Garden Tour in Richmond's historic Fan District May 1 2011 1-6 PM

This year’s theme, Urban Delights, offers a diverse selection of homes and gardens in Richmond’s historic Fan District. Discover how urban homeowners maximize every inch of space both inside and outside their homes. See how each home has been personalized by its owners who focus on blending historic architectural details with the functionality required by modern families.  The tour features homes across the length of the Fan District, from the 1400-block of Grove to the Boulevard.

The Fan Woman’s Club organizes this tour each spring as its primary fundraiser to support its grants to neighborhood non-profit organizations and its neighborhood improvement activities.  The woman’s club has upgraded park facilities with new benches and plantings and funded new period-appropriate street litter receptacles.  Houses are staffed by volunteers and neighborhood businesses sponsor the event.

The Historic Fan District is an 85-block turn of the century (19th to 20th, that is) residential neighborhood, named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as the largest intact Victorian neighborhood in the United States. It takes its name from its tree-lined avenues and streets that “fan out” from Monroe Park, adjacent to the academic campus of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Best described as architecturally diverse, the over 2,300 classic town homes feature bay windows, turrets, high ceilings, parquet oak and pine floors, mahogany woodwork, stained and leaded glass, and varied porch and balcony designs. Most homes are brick or brick and brownstone.

At the east end of the Fan, close to Monroe Park, sits a unique clapboard residence on a large corner lot.  Completed before the area gained popularity in 1869, on a parcel purchased in 1862, it is now Richmond’s premier bed and breakfast known for its hearty gourmet breakfasts. A stay in our urban inn is a better way to stay: to experience the Fan neighborhood like a local, to dine in neighborhood eateries, and to enjoy live theater, neighborhood entertainment and nearby museums and attractions.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Historic Fan District Events, Richmond's Best-Kept Secrets | No Comments »

Richmond’s Easter on Parade April 24

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Easter Sunday brings out that Richmond favorite Easter on Parade.  Not a parade like you would normally expect, where bands and marchers march up the parade route! NO! Here in Richmond Virginia we do it a little differently; you’ll find bands and acts stationary on peoples’ porches along Monument Avenue. Parade go-ers parade up and down Monument Avenue taking part in all the festivities. Instead of an Easter Parade, we call it Easter on Parade – and it’s FREE!.

Monument Avenue's Easter on Parade April 24

Parade site is located on Monument Avenue between Allen and Davis Avenues, between the Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis monuments.

It’s one of the most beloved of Richmond traditions. Each year more than 25,000 people converge on the four-block site to celebrate the arrival of spring and the beauty of Monument Avenue, taking this once-a-year opportunity to stroll in the streets with cars absent and removed. Music, arts, crafts, children’s activities, food, balloon artistry, a petting zoo, and of course, people and pet watching are all part of the celebration. This is a parade for all Richmonders and visitors to Richmond to come out and participate! Wear a hat or even an entire costume! There’s a hat contest so you better start making yours now.

If you happen to be in town for Easter, take part in this event and remember that the Fan district’s premier bed and breakfast inn is located just a short stroll – a few blocks – from Allen and Monument, giving you the perfect spot to stay and enjoy Easter in Virginia’s capitol city. The William Miller House is known for its hearty gourmet breakfast and it would be a great way to start your day with a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast to power a stroll up and down Monument Avenue!

 

Tags: , ,
Posted in Historic Fan District Events, Richmond Events, Richmond's Best-Kept Secrets | No Comments »

Spring is here! It’s Garden Week in Virginia!

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Spring is definitely here in Richmond Virginia.  Azaleas, dogwoods, irises and other mid-Spring blooms are evident everywhere in Richmond’s historic Fan District.  Our urban yard is also showing signs of spring.  Here, at the William Miller House Bed and Breakfast, azaleas, camellia, and even our front-and-center dogwood are in their glory.  The weather is milder and porch-sitting, despite the pollen, is back in season – as is relaxing in the courtyard garden.

Here’s the latest blooms in our garden:

Azaleas show their color

Dogwood welcomes guests at Richmond's premier bed and breakfast

Bottlebrush, anyone?

But, this weekend begins Historic Garden Week in Virginia, with homes and gardens across Virginia open to ticketholders.  Often termed America’s Largest and Grandest Open House, Garden Week features tours in Richmond on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Information. So make your plans and y’all come!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Bed and Breakfast News, Richmond Events | No Comments »

Top Chef visits the B&B in spirit

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Saturday night 5-members of the Fan Woman’s Club and their spouses enjoyed a visit from Top Chef: All-Star winner Richard Blais albeit vicariously through Chef Mike Rohde. Mike says “All of the credit goes to Richard who created the dish, however, there were some challenges along the way.”  I actually had to make some modifications to the recipe, unfortunately the Black Cod or Sable fish was not up to par, so I had to substitute Chilean Sea Bass or Patagonian Toothfish, also a fish with a high oil content that could stand up the the recipe and take to brining.  Preparation began with the Mustard Caviar, which turn out to be beyond belief and will surely find its way into more of my dishes.

I was somewhat indecisive about the recipe that I was going to prepare for the Fan Woman’s Club Progressive Dinner, and annual event in Richmond’s Historic Fan District in Richmond, Virginia.  I have been a long-time followers of both Top Chef and Richard Blais’ career and have learned a great deal from his two TV shows were he use science or molecular gastronomy to challenge stand methodology.

While I have become a BIG sous vide cook, I thought I would keep my dish a bit on the simple side, although I doubt that many of the diners here will be taking on any of Richard’s dishes.

I had finally settled on braising either beef or pork, but was not sure of what.  It was only last week that I watched the final episode of Top Chef: All-Stars and when I saw the dish Pork Belly, Black Cod Cutlet, Bone Marrow, Beets, Brussels Sprouts & Kumquat.  I figured Richard is from new York so if Richard can do it I should be able to do it as well after all its in the water in NY.  Its a great dish and I would highly recommend any serious cook to give it a try.

Richard, if your ever in Richmond Virginia stop by so I can say thanks, for myself and the other diners!

Here is a link to my final version of the dish.

Richard Blais winning dish on Top Chef: All-Stars

Tags: ,
Posted in Bed and Breakfast News, Historic Fan District Events, Recipes | 2 Comments »

Fan District Art Openings April 1

Friday, April 1st, 2011

First Friday Artwalk is here again in Richmond; and today, Friday April 1, many galleries in the historic Fan District are featuring opening receptions this evening.

Artemis Gallery at 1601 W Main Street is opening “Wired Realities,” wire sculptures by Guy Barnard and Bob Early with a reception from 5 to 10 Pm. Exhibition continues through May 5, 2011.

At Brazier Studio, the gallery  at 1516 W Main Street operated by Loryn Brazier, Fan District resident, “Turn on the Light” featuring new paintings by Anne Blair Brown and gallery artists opens with a reception from 6-8 PM tonight.

Ginger Levit atelier en ville at 1519 W Main Street is hosting an opening reception tonight between 5:30 and 8:30 PM for “Rites of Spring: Leafy Landscapes of Virginia” – Sheila Holland’s large acrylics on canvas.

Glave Kocen Gallery at 1620 W Main Street is hosting a opening reception tonight between 6 and 9 for “180 Degrees of Color” featuring work by Rob Browning and Steve Griffin.  Exhibition will continue through April 29.

Laura Loe Paintings open 6-8 Pm at 2513 W Main Street.

Main Art Gallery at 1537 W Main Street will host an opening reception between 7 and 9 PM tonight for “Fly Around” featuring art by Laura Pharis.  Works will continue on display through April 30.

Page Bond Gallery, also operated by a Fan District resident, will host Ryan McGinness with an artist talk at 6:30 PM, and a reception for the opening of “Art HIstory is Not Linear” 7Pm to 9PM at 1625 W Main Street.

At 1514 W Main Street, Reynolds Gallery will host an opening reception for “Corpora Delecti” glass and wire sculptures by Jack Wax and paintings by Heide Trepanier “Ether.” Reception 7-9PM. Exhibition continues through May 14.

Uptown Gallery at 1305 W Main Street will host an opening reception between 5 and 9 PM for the watercolors produced by the artists of the James River Art League.

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will host an artist’s talk by Leslie Wayne at 5 PM at 1812 W Main Street and an opening reception 6-8PM for “Leslie Wayne: recent Work.”

These openings and receptions are, of course, in addition to First Friday  Art Walk along Broad Street. Art venues abound in Richmond, and art lovers are warmly welcomed! And, don’t forget that the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is featuring the only east coast appearance of “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris.”  So make it an art-filled weekend with wandering galleries Friday evening, watching the Monument Avenue 10K Saturday morning, touring with Real Richmond Food Tours and More Saturday afternoon, cheering on VCU’s Rams in the FInal Four Saturday evening at a neighborhood eatery , and a visit to VMFA for Picasso on Sunday before it ends on May 15th.  It will make a powerful, fun-filled weekend.  Y’all come!

Information provided by the innkeepers of The William Miller House Bed and Breakfast, Richmond’s premier bed and breakfast, located in the heart of the historic Fan District

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Historic Fan District Events | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »