Fun (Free) Family Activities‏

Thanks Heather G. for compiling this!!!

Meadow Farm Museum – Free
All month
Crump Park
Activities all month, including a sheep shearing demonstration, mid-19th century birthday celebrations, and what it was like to be a doctor or patient in 1860. Click on the link, scroll to May.
http://www.co.henrico.va.us/rec/meadow_farm.html

Henrico County Library – Free
All month
Normal reading activities, plus a free teen comic day on May 2 and an Armed Forces Day craft that will be sent to active duty members of the Armed Forces.
http://www.henricolibrary.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

Arts in the Park – Free
May 2nd, 11-6 p.m. and May 3rd, 11-5 p.m.
A nationally-rated, juried art show which offers the opportunity for you to see and purchase fine and original work produced by top-quality artists and crafts people from Virginia and throughout the United States.
http://www.richmondartsinthepark.com/

Cinco de Mayo Festival – Free
Saturday, May 2, 1:00p to 7:00p
Brown’s Island
The Cinco De Mayo Festival returns to Brown’s Island Saturday May 2nd from 1:00pm-7:00pm. Please join us for a FREE festival with music, food, beverages, crafts, children’s activities and more. Performers will include The DJ Williams Projekt, Bio Ritmo, and the Hackensaw Boys.
http://www.brownsisland.com/cinco-mayo2009.htm

Central Virginia Wind Symphony Performance – Free
Friday, May 8, 7pm
Short Pump Town Center
The Central Virginia Wind Symphony will perform an exciting concert on Mother’s Day weekend at Short Pump Town Center. The ensemble is comprised of the most talented high school musicians in Central Virginia.

Saxon Shoes' Stroller Stories - Free
Saturday, May 9, 9-10am
Saxon Shoes Kid Department (downstairs), Short Pump Town Center
Enjoy storytime and more as each month a celebrity reader reads their favorite storybook appropriate for children ages 0-7. Activities like coloring, games, and giveaways accompany the reading to bring the story to life.

Imagination Richmond – Free
Saturday, May 9, 10am – 3pm
Willow Lawn
Imagination Richmond is a FREE day-long, family event featuring fun and exciting children’s activities including a meet & greet with Clifford the Big Red Dog and Snow White, Jonathan the Juggler, music by Silly Bus, dancing fairies, Aesop’s Fables puppet show, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon art, story time and other favorite children’s activities.
http://www.willowlawn.com/events.php

Mommy & Me and Daddies Too
Wednesday, May 13, 10 – 11:30am
Willow Lawn
Free morning out with crafts, games, storytelling, dancing, and educational programs designed to enhance parent's interaction with their children. Registration required.
http://www.willowlawn.com/kidsclub.php

KidFest – Free
Sat, May 16, 1-4 p.m.
Deep Run Park
Enjoy games, arts and crafts, information booths, and more, all tailored just for kids! Catch the high-energy alternative show by up-and-coming young artists Mission Six along with the rock ‘n roll tunes of the talented blues rock guitarist Grant Austin Taylor. Be sure to peruse the art exhibits by local galleries that feature children artists. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Garden Celebration – Free
Sunday, May 17, 12 – 3pm
Maymont Park
Maymont celebrates the opening of Marie’s Butterfly Trail and Jack’s Vegetable Garden with a fun-filled family festival on the Children’s Farm Lawn. Kids will enjoy crafts and activities while adults can talk with members of the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers about landscaping to attract butterflies to the backyard and discuss composting and vegetable gardening with local Master Gardeners.

Sound of Music Train Station

A friend sent this to me. It is awesome. Makes you want to dance and sing.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4816051/12849087

Restaurant suggestions for a nice date

This is what I asked:

We are going out to eat for our anniversary, but we don't know where to go! I am hoping for suggestions. Is there someplace uniquely Richmond we have to visit while we live here? Maybe someplace historic or with a view? Let me know if there is someplace nice you love (we're not talking super expensive though). Thanks!

This is what you answered:

One of our favorite places is Bottoms Up Pizza in Shockhoe Bottom. I guess it is one of the places Richmond is known for. Might not be anniversary worthy but definitely a place to go before you move! - Stacy N

My favorites are Sticky Rice and Zeus Gallery. Sticky is a sushi place but has tons of other stuff and Zeus is always different. Zeus is romantic and pricey and Sticky has a crazier atmosphere. More fun...both are in the fan. - Lisa

The Carrot Tree Inn located in Yorktown (45 min. away) http://www.carrottreekitchens.com/inn.htm - historical food from the time period - it's so so good (less expensive than the one below)
And Chez Max - (http://www.chezmaxva.com/) local Richmond french cuisine - expensive but one of the best places we've eaten ever! - Carlie

I don't know about uniquely Richmond, but the Melting Pot is great :) However, it's a tad on the expensive side.
One place I can think of that is uniquely Richmond, but not necessarily appropriate for an anniversary date, is Buzz and Neds BBQ on Boulevard.
Other places uniquely Richmond that might be more appropriate for a "date":
River City Diner (has three locations): http://www.rivercitydiner.com/
Like French? Can Can Brasserie: http://www.cancanbrasserie.com/0408open_info.html
Strawberry Street (yummy quiche!): http://www.strawberrystreetcafe.com/
- Heather G

You may want to try the Old Tobacco Factory in Shockoe Slip. It's a cool cobblestone street area with lots of night life (restaurants, art galleries, bars, dance places, etc.) The Tobacco Factory used to be... well... a tobacco factory. Now it is a restaurant with lots of different types of food. You can check their menu online to see if it tickles your fancy (and your pocketbook). I think you can spend a ton of money there if you order the expensive stuff on the menu, but on the other hand you don't have to (as I recall). The atmosphere is cool - the whole thing is open to the bottom (3 or 4 floors) and there is music played downstairs, etc.
You can take in a movie at the Byrd theater in Carry Town for $1. It is a cool old theater and sometimes they still play live organ music before the shows like they did when the pictures were silent. The organ comes up out of the floor. - Heather P

Suzie and I talked about one of her favorites, Maggiano's Little Italy in Short Pump. We also talked about Old Tobacco Factory and Texas de Brazil vs. Ipenema Grill.

Molly suggested The Cheesecake Factory.

I want to try as many of these fabulous places as we can!

This is where we went:

We went to Ipenema Grill for dinner and The Cheesecake Factory for dessert (and then to Barnes and Noble to browse and then to a movie). So fun. So good.

Hubby had gone to Rodizio's Grill in Trolley Square in Salt Lake City once and LOVED it. He has wanted to take me to a Brazillian Grill ever since. Texas de Brazil is probably about the same caliber; Ipenema Grill is a bit less expensive (and a bit less extravagant). Suzie had been to both and said she thought the food was actually better at Ipenema. It was good, but Josh said it wasn't cooked as perfectly as at Rodizio's. I think it was because we were there on a slow week night, so they perhaps let the food stay over the grill a bit longer than would be ideal. It was good, though (Josh especially loved it), and it is a really fun experience. The grilled pinapple is a definate favorite. The atmosphere is okay; it sounds like Texas de Brazil's atmosphere is amazing. Pick your price range, I guess, but althougth there is a significant difference in price between the two, Ipenema still isn't cheap.

Of course the cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory was fabulous. I got the CRAIG'S CRAZY CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE. Oh.my.yum.

Thanks again! Any more suggestions?