ART 180 participants Jendayi Johnson (left), Edward Robinson and Chloe Haggins are involved with the production of Power(FULL): Art in Action. Photo by Matt Licari
Best Annual Event Richmond Folk Festival The Richmond Folk Festival reaches its sixth anniversary this year, bringing the world to Brown's Island and the downtown riverfront from Oct. 11 to 13. VentureRichmond's Lisa Wilkins Sims says, "We have 1,500 volunteers and last year 200,000 attendance. When we started in 2008 after three years of the National Festival, so many people thought it wouldn't happen. It's a phenomenal embrace of the cultural arts." 2. Monument Avenue 10K 3. Greek Festival Best One-Stop Family Fun (Tie) Maymont and Goochland Drive-In Theater Maymont, 2201 Shields Lake Court, 358-7166; Goochland Drive-In, 4344 Old Fredericksburg Road, Hadensville, 457-3456 "Every day, we see generations of families feeding the farm animals, hopping across the Japanese Garden stepping stones, touring the mansion and relaxing in the shade," Maymont's Cathie Rosenberg says. The Goochland Drive-In's John Heidel says, "Most kids growing up don't know what a drive-in is. Now it's become part of their lives." 2. Uptown Alley 3. Dave and Buster's
2013 Best & Worst
First-Date Outing Maymont 2201 Shields Lake Court, 358-7166 Maymont's Cathie Rosenberg credits this recognition to the park's versatility. "Couples can make their date fun and casual with a visit to the Children's Farm and games on the lawn, or it can be quiet and romantic, with a picnic in a gazebo and a stroll through the gardens. No doubt the Dooleys would have loved this award, considering their caring devotion to each other and their estate." 2. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 3. Goochland Drive-In Theater Best Teen Hangout Short Pump Town Center Marketing Director Pam Holland says it's all about the merchandise. "We offer the retailers teens like: Hollister, American Eagle, Journeys, J.Crew, Urban Oufitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, and PacSun." Plus, you can ride up and down in the elevators and have giggle fits. 2. Sweet Frog 3. Jumpology Best Arts Nonprofit ART 180 114 W. Marshall St., 233-4180 Marlene Paul says that this recognition is a "tremendous validation" for the organization, now celebrating its 15th year. "This comes at a really fitting time as we settle into our new youth art center, Atlas [in Jackson Ward], and open our doors to the public to support the creative expression of young people." 2. Visual Arts Center of Richmond 3. Virginia Repertory Theatre Best Impressive Night Out Lemaire at the Jefferson Hotel 101 W. Franklin St. 649-4629 "Whether you are coming in for a cocktail and small plate after work or you are celebrating your 20th wedding anniversary, we want every visit to be special," says Greg McGehee, Lemaire's general manager and wine director. Never one to rest on its significant laurels, Lemaire has recently changed its mixed-drinks roster and dinner menu. 2. Jefferson Hotel 3. Acacia mid-town Best TEDxRVA Speaker Katherine Wintsch Native Richmonder Katherine Wintsch was honored to be on the TEDx stage in her hometown — but she was also terrified. "It was a real coming-out moment for me," says Wintsch, founder of The Mom Complex, a division of the Martin Agency that consults on marketing to mothers. "To stand on the stage in front of hundreds of people and admit my self-doubts as a mother — being vulnerable is not something I do very well. On top of that, I chose to do it in spoken-verse poetry." 2. John S. Blake 3. (Tie) Noah Kim and Michael Birch Pierce Best Street Performer Jonathan Austin This month, Jonathan Austin will reach 23 years of professional street performing. Look for him at the Carytown Watermelon Festival. "What I've learned is that the audience needs to feel like this is the best place to be in that moment," he says. "You gots to make a living, baby!" 2. Bucket drummers 3. Robot in Carytown Best Enjoyable Night Ou t Joe's Inn 205 N. Shields Ave., 355-2282 Katie Price, general manager at Joe's Inn for a decade, says that although it's been a favorite gathering place for 60 years, people still have trouble finding Joe's. "I've had to give so many people directions," she says. The success is in a balance of adding new things but not getting rid of old favorites. "Knowing, for example, to keep the hamburger steak in the computer, because three of our regulars want it." 2. Byrd Theatre 3. Sidewalk Café Best Jazz Club Bogart's 1903 W. Cary St., 353-9280 The house band is the Chez Roué, fronted by irrepressible sax man Roger Carroll, and the big band sounds every second Sunday are organized by trumpeter Jonathan Greenberg. Britt Novitch has booked the music for the past six years. "My approach in the last year is to try to branch out, don't solely do jazz, but basically we try to mix it up, and it's always something new." 2. Emilio's 3. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Best Commercial Art Gallery Quirk 311 W. Broad St., 644-5450 "Quirk is not your typical commercial gallery," says gallery director Mary Fleming. Open for eight years, Quirk has three exhibit spaces and a curated shop that includes wearable art jewelry, gifts and stationery. The Quirk Collective: Trunk Show , featuring the shop's favorite designers, will be held on Sept. 14. 2. Crossroads Arts Center 3. Glave Kocen Best Scenic View Libby Hill T. Tyler Potterfield, author of Nonesuch Place, a history of how our city formed in the setting bestowed upon her by nature, says of this choice, "Richmond's hills form a dramatic natural amphitheater for viewing the arc of the James, where the Falls and Tidewater meet. Throughout our City's history, Libby Hill has afforded the best seat in the house." 2. Hollywood Cemetery 3. Pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle Best Outdoor Sculpture Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Sculpture Garden 200 N. Boulevard, 340-1400 The sound of rolling and tumbling water, the expanse of green, and the combination of statuary and topiary makes this almost 7-acre park setting an inviting place to linger and lower the blood pressure. Dale Chihuly's Red Reeds creates its own special effects along the reflecting pool during early mornings and later evenings as the sun's rays make them glow. 2. Robert E. Lee Monument 3. Chihuly's Red Reeds at the VMFA Worst Intersection West Broad Street and Pump Road Some 56,000 vehicles pass through here, and at peak drive time, it's 6,000 an hour. A major commercial destination with heavy residential wrapped around it makes for a vehicular cluster, but there's no more expansion room. "There's only so many ways you can slice it," says Robert Vilak, regional traffic operations manager for VDOT. 2. Broad and Belvidere 3. Parham and Patterson Building That Needs To Be Torn Down New City Hall 900 E. Broad St. The 1971 Ballou & Justice architects building dates from the urban renewal era, and it shows. That said, city spokesman Michael Wallace tells us, "City Hall is receiving much-needed upgrades, particularly as it relates to energy and efficiency matters, at the present time." 2. (Tie) Richmond Coliseum and The Diamond 3. Markel Building off Broad [the "Jiffy Pop" building] Best Historic Site Hollywood Cemetery 412 S. Cherry St., 648-8501 It is perhaps typical of Richmond that we gave the best view of the river to those who cannot in their present condition possibly appreciate it. But those who visit certainly enjoy the scene from its bluffs of the Hollywood rapids, its outdoor gallery of funerary sculpture and spotting the names of the famous. 2. Virginia State Capitol 3. Tredegar/American Civil War Center Best Live Music Venue The National 708 E. Broad St., 612-1900 Brad Wells, a prime mover at the renovated 1923 theater, says that the massive undertaking to open in February 2008 was made with the emphasis on an "A-plus experience." And not just for audiences. Last summer, The Killers, who usually play in larger arena spaces, selected The National because of backstage offerings that include a hot tub. 2. Innsbrook 3. The Camel Best Tourist Attraction Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 200 N. Boulevard, 340-1400 What's not to like? Here you'll find 6,000 years of artists' interpretations of the human figure, from Egyptian funereal sculpture to Julie Heffernan's magical 2006 Self Portrait in a Coral Bed. All this plus Fabergé eggs and one of the best collections of Art Nouveau and Art Deco décor in the country. By 2015, the adjacent cupola-topped Robinson House, a 19th-century residence, will host a year-round tourist and information center. 2. James River 3. Maymont Best Nonprofit Art Gallery Gallery 5 200 W. Marshall St., 644-0005 Nick Crider, operations director for the gallery, says that the cultural catalyst housed in what is one of the city's oldest firehouses is seeking to bring in more dance, comedy and daytime children's activities. Every third Thursday, there's the Music Makers Exchange. "It's a mashup of two artists who would've never played together otherwise," he explains. One recent pairing was the rocking Taters with avant Prabir Mehta. 2. 1708 3. Visual Arts Center Neighborhood With the Most Interesting Architecture The Fan District Drew. St. J. Carneal, who wrote the book on the Fan's history and architecture, explains the origins of the finial-capped, bay-windowed and elaborate porched streets. "Big chunks of the neighborhood were built on spec. If the house didn't appeal to people, well, then, it wouldn't sell. And we like these places today for most of the same reasons of the people who first lived in them." 2. Church Hill 3. Monument Avenue Nonprofit That Hosts the Best Events Richmond SPCA The Fur Ball is not the Richmond SPCA's only large-scale event, but it's the biggest. (And it returns on Oct. 5.) Robin Starr, the organization's chief executive officer, says, "It combines the fun of getting dressed up and going to a very elegant hotel and [having] a fine evening, [but] it's never stuffy, because we have our pets with us." 2. SCAN 3. SportsBackers Best Suburban Community Woodlake An innovative planned community when developed 30 years ago, "Woodlake offers a sense of neighborhood familiar in a more urban environment," says community manager Julie Joyner. Biking and walking trails and neighborhood gatherings provide ways for people to meet. Last year, a bike trail was built that connects to the water using two 123-foot long bridges built by the maintenance crew. 2. Wyndham 3. Bon Air and Midlothian Apartment Community With the Best Amenitie s The River Lofts at Tobacco Row 2300 E. Cary St., 648-0111 The River Lofts feature five distinctive worlds of residency named for the original product produced in the former tobacco warehouses: American Cigar, Consolidated Carolina, Cameron Kinney, Cutters Ridge and Lucky Strike. American Cigar has a courtyard, and the Consolidated Carolina building includes a waterfall swimming pool and hot tub — even a movie screening room. 2. Malvern Manor 3. Atrium Lofts at Cold Storage Best Local Band Three Sheets to the Wind yachtrock.biz Band leader Topper Dandy sums up Three Sheets to the Wind's appeal thusly: "The real secret of the band's success is that we play the greatest style of music that has ever existed — the hits of the '70s and '80s." Three Sheets drummer/fashion icon Danny Marnier muses, "It's often said that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. This band has had the opportunity to be very lucky with our preparation." 2. No BS Brass Band 3. Black Girls Coolest House in Richmond Graham and Jennifer Gardner's "Igloo House" Sculptor Demetrios Mavroudis and his wife, Connie, originally built the white dome that rises above the south bank of the James by the Willey Bridge. In 2006, the Gardners purchased the property that included an ordinary ranch house. Neighbors figured they'd tear it all down. Architect Michael Shearman, however, reclaimed the igloo. "We do still have to strategically place cups around the igloo portion of the house when it rains, but we used to use soup pots," Jennifer says. 2. Agecroft Hall 3. The Rice House Best Dance Company Richmond Ballet 407 E.Canal St., 344-0906 The company recently finished a successful 29th season, during which it made an impressive Kennedy Center debut and celebrated the 100th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring with an electrifying performance at Norfolk's Chrysler Hall. "Wait until we do it here in November," says managing director Brett Bonda. "It'll blow everybody's socks off." 2. Jessica Morgan School of Dance Performing Co. 3. Latin Ballet of Virginia
