The first weekend in April promises a wide variety of events and activities in Richmond Virginia for both visitors and residents alike.

Virginia Commonwealth University makes it to the Final Four!

First Friday Art Walk is on – with galleries, boutiques, and restaurants supporting Richmond’s fabulous art scene. Now in its tenth season, first Friday plays a vital role in downtown Richmond, with opening receptions at downtown galleries making the event a cultural destination.  Event takes place rain or shine and features nearly 40 diverse galleries, cultural organizations, shops and restaurants — along historic Broad Street, east of Belvidere and into Jackson and Monroe Wards.  INFO.

Saturday, April 2 is the annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K, providing the opportunity to run Richmond’s most beautiful boulevard.  Registration is now closed for the 10K; it has reached its capacity of 40,000 participants.  But you can still enjoy the music along the route, party with the other spectators, watch the costumed runners competing in the Dress-Up and Run, and join the runners and spectators in Monroe Park for the awesome post race party.  Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K was named one of the best running races in the country by USA Today!  INFO.

Saturday afternoon, Real Richmond Food Tours and More, navigate the culture and cuisine of “The Wards: The Art and Soul of Richmond” beginning at 2 PM.  Tickets are limited and sell out quickly – so make your plans immediately.   The 2 1/2 hour tour will stop at local eateries to sample delicious treats and meet the owners and chefs. In between a leisurely 1 1/2 mile stroll/walk will acquaint you with the best of both sides of Broad Street in the heart of Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward. INFO.

Studio 3 of the Richmond Ballet’s Studio Series continues at the Richmond Ballet Canal Street Studio with a ballet honoring the trio of muses who inspired Marcel Marceau: French mime Debureau, Charlie Chaplin, and Arthur Marx.  Its light-hearted and refreshing, just an enjoyable way to spend an evening. INFO.

And, of course, “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris” continues at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. If you haven’t seen it yet, you better catch it before it’s gone! VMFA.  The is the only east coast venue for this special exhibition of 176 of the famed artist’s works. TIP: Download the audio file FREE to your smartphone, take your earbuds, and skip the audioguide.  Save $5 and be guaranteed the tour.  Download INFO.

And, next weekend Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rams will play in the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  Though the game is in Houston, VCU fans will be gathering at eateries and neighborhood bars all over the historic Fan District to watch the outcome. You, too, could be in the middle of it all in Richmond’s liveliest neighborhood.  And, if you’d rather walk than drive, there’s always the Fan District’s premier bed and breakfast for an in-town getaway!

Calling all art aficionados!

First Fridays Art Walk

Richmond’s popular arts program known as First Fridays Art Walk, now in its tenth season, takes over downtown, primarily east of Belvidere Street and West of 8th Street this Friday March 4, 2011.  You’ll find a wide variety of galleries, eclectic shopping, top restaurants, cultural organizations, and independent studios open rain or shine between 5:00 PM and 9:30 PM.  Some are even open later!

Art in various media from local and national artists is featured, with many galleries opening new exhibitions to coincide with First Fridays.  There’s bound to be a spot in your home for a piece you love! Shopping covers the gamut from music, bikes, thrift finds to restoration/renovation items – wonderful treasures to take home for friends or family – or as a special opportunity to indulge yourself.   Whether you’re looking for a pub or a fine dining experience, you’ll find some of Richmond’s best restaurants serving art patrons from the area and those in-town to visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ newest exhibition “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris.”  MAP.

The map indicates a few accommodation choices, but Richmond’s premier bed and breakfast is just west of Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus and offers “a better way to stay!”

Exhibits and Festivities abound at Richmond’s downtown galleries during First Fridays Art Walk.  There are openings and continuations of exciting exhibits to inspire artists and collectors alike.  Quirk Gallery open from 6 PM to 10 PM is featuring an innovative collection in the main gallery titled “Couldn’t We Ride: The Art and Craft of Bicycles.”  And, remember, the Quirk Gallery Shop offers one-of-a-kind gift ideas for a friend or to treat yourself from a selection of practical and decorative items. Quirk is located at 311 W Broad Street.

A collection of photos in tribute to Fela Anikulapo Kuti, titled “Africa: Center of the World” opens at Elegba Folklore Society at 101 E Broad Street.  At 220 W Broad Street, teh Ghostprint Gallery is featuring a retrospective of screen-printed fliers reflecting Richmond’s music scene since the late 1970′s.  The Richmond Public Library at 101 E Franklin will feature photography by John Tyler Community College students as “Earth Matters III,” and an exhibit of hand=sewn wall hangings by Jean Gonzalez, a local Fan resident.  Visual Art Studio at 208 W Broad presents a one-night only exhibition of landscape and miniature flower paintings by Cathyann Burgess and “Centaur” new paintings by Dan Rhett. MORE INFORMATION.

Don’t neglect the galleries and openings along W Main Street: including Ginger Levitt atelier en ville at 1519 W Main, Red Door Gallery at 1607 W Main, Uptown Gallery at 1305 W Main. Art is hot in Richmond this Friday!

Many of these galleries are within a short walk of our Fan District Bed and Breakfast. Make it a weekend get-away and soak up Richmond’s art scene!

Free museum entry and a healthy 10K walk through Richmond’s history centers is on the schedule for June 5 2010. The Stride Through Time begins and ends at Tredegar on the banks of the James River. Accompanied by live music at various intervals, you’ll travel the 6.2-mile course through nine historic districts in downtown Richmond, past numerous museums, historic sites and monuments, over cobblestone and brick.

Join these striders through time on June 5 2010. The Poe Museum is one of the sites along the way!

Antique cars, historical figures and authentic architecture will bring 400 years of history to life, all while you enjoy a fantastic workout. Many museums along the route will be open for free during the walk. You must sign up before the  event.   SIGN UP.  And, the fee entitles you to a bib with number, a goodie bag, water stops along the course, a finisher t-shirt, food and festivities at the finish line at the American Civil War Center, free admission to many of the museums along the route, live entertainment, and living history performances. You’ll have to pick up your packet beginning at 7 AM on Saturday June 5.  Walk begins at 8:30 AM with a wave starting every 15 minutes. There is a course limit of 4 hours!

If you’ve selected a Richmond bed and breakfast for this fun-filled weekend, beginning with First Friday Art Walk, then spending Saturday striding through time, and Sunday at Broad Appetit, let us know you’ll need an early breakfast to make the start line in time to set off with your wave.  At the William Miller House Bed and Breakfast, your hearty gourmet breakfast will stick to your ribs for the duration of your walk. This promises to be a weekend to appeal to the art lover, the history lover, and the food lover in everyone!

The ninth season of Richmond’s First Fridays Art Walk is well under way.  In fact, there are only 3 First Fridays left in the ninth season; in September 2010 the tenth season launches. This monthly event showcases over 30 diverse small businesses, working studios, and cultural organizations that call Richmond’s downtown home.  Featuring diverse art galleries, unique boutiques, incredible dining, a spot of culture, and independent studios – First Fridays beckon art lovers to experience downtown’s nightlife.   Participating galleries often launch new exhibitions in conjunction with First Friday events and offer extended hours on First Friday to facilitate browsing. Downtown restaurants and cafes in the arts corridor often offer specials or discounts to First Friday walkers.  First Friday Art Walk participants may even find a museum or two open and welcoming visitors. Nearby shops open their doors for that special take-home gift from soaps and lotions, vintage musical instruments, to streetwear fashion. There’s a new downloadable and easy to read map for finding all the fun!

So here’s a great plan for a weekend of art: pick a first Friday, book the weekend at Richmond Virginia’s premier downtown bed and breakfast.  At 4 Pm on Friday, check into your room, enjoy a glass of wine and a bit of cheese at 5Pm, head over to First Friday Art Walk or check out the galleries along Main Street, pick a neighborhood eatery for dinner, return to the William Miller House Bed and Breakfast and collapse into your pillowtop bedding dressed in fine, high-quality linens.  In the morning you’ll wake to fresh brewed coffee included in a hearty gourmet breakfast for two.  After breakfast, head over to the newly-expanded Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to explore their permanent and special collections. Remember: “Tiffany: Color and Light” opens on May 29 and extends into August. Afterwards, explore the shops of Carytown, visit another of Richmond’s world-class museums, or cruise through Richmond’s River District on a flat-bottomed canal boat.  Then, back to your inn to enjoy another complimentary wine-hour and make your dinner plans selecting a neighborhood dining experience. After dinner, take the FREE bus to Shockoe Slip and Bottom and check out the nightlife. Return trip is also free on the 2BNB bus, just flash the peace sign to flag the bus down.  Donations are greatly appreciated to keep the big green bus running!  Sunday morning you’ll be treated to another hearty gourmet breakfast for two, and after checking out of the inn, visit Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens’ Millions of Blooms with Glorious Glass in the Garden, glass sculptures by Hans Godo Frabel.

First Fridays provide the opportunity to begin an art-focused weekend in Richmond with a great experience; but any time is a great time for art lovers in Richmond! Studios, galleries, museums and special exhibitions are always on the schedule.