Take advantage of this warm winter this weekend by traveling through Virginia’s wine country and tasting some of the state best wine and chili. Tour central Virginia’s premier wineries including: Cooper, Grayhaven, James River and Lake Anna! Buy a passport ticket (www.HOVAwinetrail.com). You will get a souvenir wineglass, tasting at the four Heart of Virginia Wineries and a chance to win prizes upon completing the trail. During this weekend you will get to sample Chili at each winery, then vote for your favorite one! Please note that Heart of Virginia Wine Trails can be completed anytime during normal hours of operation.

There are some major events downtown this weekend make sure you don’t miss anything! The Weekend Starts with more horse and carriage rides and concludes with The 25th Court End Christmas and a holiday house tour of Church Hill, one of Richmond’s oldest neighborhoods!

Friday – Sunday, December 9th- 11th
Horse & Carriage Rides
Pick up area at 10th and E. Cary Streets (James Center), $10 a person (children 4 and under sitting in your lap are free), Friday 7:00-10pm, Saturday 5-9pm, Sunday 5-8pm Clip-Clop Clip-Clop – the sound of horses’ hooves on the cobblestones, jingle bells ringing, the holidays are here in Richmond’s River District. We hope you and your family will join Oakley Farm Horse Drawn Carriages for this traditional holiday treat. Each ride is scheduled on the half-hour and is approximately 20 minutes. You must reserve your seat by calling 804-769-4580 or 804-514-4767.

Saturday, December 10th
19th Annual James River Parade of Lights
Libby Hill Park, corner of 28th and E. Franklin Streets, entertainment at 4:30 pm, parade viewing at 6pm; and the Intermediate Terminal Dock, at Dock and Water Streets, parade viewing at 6pm
This year’s parade features festively decorated boats that cruise the parade course from Richmond to Chesterfield and Henrico counties with spectators from throughout the region that gather at several official viewing locations. The event has become a cherished holiday tradition for people from throughout the region. Sponsored by the James River Advisory Council. For more information call 804-717-6681 or visit jamesriveradvisorycouncil.com.

Sunday, December 11
25th Annual Court End Christmas
Free and Open to the Public
Valentine Richmond History Center and the Wickham House, John Marshall House, the Virginia State Capitol, the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, Monumental Church, the Egyptian Building, the Beers House, St. Paul’s Church and St. John’s Church; Free admission; 12pm-5pm
A Richmond tradition celebrates the season in 19th century style. The free holiday open house features reenactments, children’s activities, refreshments, carriage rides, music, special guest appearances, and free admission and tours of ten historic downtown sites.
Complimentary shuttle provided between sites. Refreshments are either complimentary or for purchase, depending upon venue.

Sunday, December 11
Church Hill Holiday House Tour
Church Hill neighborhood, Advance tickets $15, day of the tour $20, 12pm-5pm
Once again, we open our doors to visitors on December 11, 2011 from 12pm – 5pm for our 46th annual Historic Holiday House Tour. Visitors will enjoy a journey back in time as they stroll through Richmond’s first neighborhood, encountering carolers in period costumes and horse drawn carriages. Price per ticket is $15 in advance, $20 the day of the tour and tickets are available here: (Please pick up tickets purchased online on the 11th at St. John’s Church.) On the day of the tour, please wear flat, rubber soled shoes to protect our historic wood floors!
For more information or to purchase tickets online visit www.churchhillrichmond.com.

Article Courtesy of Venture Richmond.

The Richmond Folk Festival continues the three-year tradition established by the successful National Folk Festival, celebrating the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional craft and food. The FREE festival, will feature more than 30 performing groups on seven stages, along with a Virginia Folklife demonstration area, children’s activities, a folk arts marketplace, ethnic foods and more. Approximately 190,000 attendees are expected.

Top 5 Things You Should Do at the Richmond Folk Festival

More Information on the Festival

M. H. West & Co., Inc. CEO and Chair, Marilyn West was once again proud to give the closing remarks at the Senior Connections 8th Annual Empty Plate Luncheon. M. H. West & Co., Inc. is a proud sponsor of the event and has been for several years. In addition to Marilyn, other WEST associates that attended the luncheon were: Justin House, Radcliffe Chambers, Nanci Kapoor, Joe Armstrong, Erica Cage, Michael Byrnes and Tom Wilkinson. Marilyn serves as the Chair of the Advisory Council for Senior Connections and this is the third year in a row that she has given the closing remarks.

Chip Tarkenton, the Director of Community Relations at Owens & Minor, was this Keynote Speaker. He inspired the audience with idea of putting team goals ahead of individual goals. This year’s award winners included: Cora Dickerson and Joe Doetzer, Eva Teig Award for Corporate Service; Patricia Joy Johnson Brown, MaryEllen Cox Memorial Award for Advocacy; F. W. Taylor, III, Richard Hogan Memorial Award for Volunteer Service; Area Planning and Services Committee on Aging with Lifelong Developmental Disabilities (APSC), Virginia Center on Aging at VCU and Dr. Edward Anselo, E. Harris Spindle Award for Service to Seniors and Joani Latimer-Fergusson, Mary C. Payne Leadership Award.

Despite the rainy weather, the mood inside the Thalhimer Pavilion at the Science Museum of Virginia was decidedly upbeat. The Empty Plate Campaign assisted 615 seniors last and is well on its way to exceeding its goal of helping 1000 seniors this year.

NDEAM’s roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.” Upon the agency’s establishment in 2001, ODEP assumed responsibility for NDEAM and has worked to expand its reach and scope ever since.

Read more.

The hands of time are turned back to the past when 2nd Street was the heart and soul of Richmond’s African-American community. Each year thousands of people come to Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward to hear live music on four stages, enjoy children’s activities, taste delicious food, shop in the marketplace, dance in the streets and renew old friendships. For more information, call (804) 788-6466.

2011 Festival Lineup

More Information

For one night only, Philadelphia will have to manage without its own native R&B living legend, as the lights go down and the curtain goes up on Grammy Award-winning singer, author and actress Patti LaBelle.

Richmond CenterStage with SunTrust presents An Evening with Patti LaBelle at the historic Carpenter Theatre on September 10, 2011. Concert-only tickets will be available to the public on Friday, July 15 at 10:00am and are priced at $48, $78 and $125. VIP Gala Tickets are $250 per person, and includes a concert ticket for one of the best seats in the house, and a seat in the exclusive Gala tent on Broad Street, where you can enjoy an open bar, butlered hors d’oeuvres and gourmet dining options. Then dance the night away under the stars to the sounds of the Upper East Side Big Band.

M. H. West & Co., Inc. is a proud sponsor of this event, click here for more information.

Harvest Wine Festival
James River Cellars; 11008 Washington Highway
12 p.m.-5 p.m.
(804) 550-7516
$15

Listen to live music, taste wine from four different wineries, attend a 101 wine seminar take tours, and visit with craft vendors. Picnickers are welcome.

Rocketts Red Glare – Labor Day Fireworks

Summer’s going out with a bang at Rocketts Landing. So bring a blanket, a picnic basket and the whole family for an evening of music and fireworks this Labor Day. The Richmond Symphony will be here in concert, and then, once it gets dark, you can ooh and ahh as the fireworks burst over the James River in step with the 1812 Overture. It’s co-sponsored by Richmond.com and The Boathouse, in the city’s coolest new riverfront community.

Visit our Facebook page to RSVP and share this fabulous event with you friends and family!

Event Website

This year the Richmond Jazz Festival *  will be at Maymont on August 13th and 14th. With 2 stages full of jazz and R&B this promises to be a hoppin’ event. See below for a schedule of artists.

Saturday, August 13
Verizon Stage #1 Front

• 12:15-1:15 Joye B. Moore
• 1:30-2:45 Maestro J
• 3:00-4:15 Down to the Bone
• 4:30-5:45 Simone
• 6:00-7:15 Earl Klugh
• 7:30-8:45 Kirk Whalum
• 9:00-10:15 Aaron Neville

Dominion Stage #2 Rear

• 1:15-2:30 Soul Rebels Brass Band
• 2:45-4:00 Spyro Gyra
• 4:15-5:30 Christian McBride and Inside Straight
• 5:45-7:00 Soul of Summer
• 7:15-8:30 The Rippingtons feat. Russ Freeman
• 8:45-10:00 Chrisette Michele

Sunday August 14
Verizon Stage #1 Front

• 12:15-1:15 Shanta “Bunmi” Jasper
• 1:30-2:45 Sharon Rae North
• 3:00-4:15 U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors
• 4:30-5:45 Tizer Feat. Karen Briggs
• 6:00-7:15 Los Lobos
• 7:30-8:45 Robin Thicke

Dominion Stage #2 Rear

• 1:15-2:30 Bop Nation
• 2:45-4:00 Maestro J
• 4:15-5:30 Plunky & Oneness
• 5:45-7:00 Pieces of a Dream
• 7:15-8:30 Jazz Attack
• 8:45-10:00 Brian Culbertson

The theme of the week, “Celebrating America’s Health Centers: Serving Locally, Leading Nationally,” highlights the amazing 47 year record of Health Centers in providing affordable, high quality, cost-effective healthcare to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. National Health Center Week also provides an opportunity to focus on the progress we have made towards fulfilling the goal of our “Access for all Americans” plan to provide a healthcare home to 30 million patients by 2015.

Events marking this week include health fairs, visits by local, state and national leaders and media coverage. Capital Area Health Network will be celebrating this week by having activities:

Thursday August 11, 2011
Radio One’s KISS FM’S Midday host, Alex Dupree will broadcast live.

10:00am – 3:00pm
Glenwood Medical and Dental Center
2709 Byron Street, Richmond, VA 23223
Tours of the facility as well as FREE Medical and Dental screenings for adults and children will be available on this day.

Our network provides Primary Adult and Pediatric Medical Care, Dental Care, Mental Health Care, and HIV/AIDS Care. CAHN also offers Patient Education, Specialty Referrals, Social Services Support and Free Transportation.

Capital Area Health Network (CAHN) is a FQHC non-profit medical and dental organization that provides services to the uninsured and underserved population. CAHN provides services on a “sliding fee’ scale for those without medical insurance. (Some restrictions apply) to our medical appointments. CAHN has 5 medical centers, one near you! Make CAHN you new medical and dental home.

Download the National Health Center Week Flyer