Richmond Virginia News Time Capsule April 2008 

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April 28 to May 4 | April 21 to April 27 | April 14 to April 20 | April 7 to April 13 | March 30 to April 6 

April 28 to May 4, 2008

Event of the Week 1 First Fridays May 2, 2008,  Downtown Richmond

Is RRHA following HUD regulations?
RIC to YYZ Direct Flights!
A struggle for International Paper, MeadWestvaco
Sigh 
Keith West’s Crusade (Suspects behind-the-scenes collusion, Invokes FOIA) 
-Rewind: School Board Mess

Damage Control? Richmond school officials show off programs 

Richmond Public Schools at a Crossroads

Patrick Henry School Initiative 

Virginia had the 15th highest foreclosure rate among the 50 states... 

...At least we're not California

Regionalism:
-Richmond counters Henrico effort 
-Zip Code Battle: City Fires Back With TV Spot 
-Michael Paul Breaks It Down
-Richmond Leaders Index: No Where to Go But Up new periodical!
-Rewind: Coalition for Greater Richmond

What's the status of getting a marina in the City of Richmond?
Colonial Heights Tornado:
Times Dispatch | CBS6 Blog | NBC12 | WRIC8 (9-1-1 Tapes) 
Owner of Greentop Sporting Goods Dies at age 58 
Final Destination: 5 student deaths at Thomas Dale High School in One Year
-Student collapses, dies during softball practice It's crazy how many kids have died from Thomas Dale, it's like the school is cursed or something 
-Rewind: Chesterfield Observer
Chesterfield's land-use plan: growth in the Upper Swift Creek area will be nearly impossible
Motley Fool Rates Altria
WalMart in the City?

Bob Bobb | Bob Bobb

Taxpayer waste? Save Richmond Reminds us about Centerstage 
-William Brant Holland Speaks 
-China Cracks Down on "False" Everest Reports 

Rewind...
 
-Midlothian man gets kicked out of Mount Everest
-Deported
-AP | ESPN
-The Adventurist
-Chinese Police Patrolling Everest
-Dirtwoman for Mayor | Official Website
-Kingmaker?
-Reaction | Times Dispatch?!
-Rewind: Hints at Mayoral Run Back in October
-Wilder's Office: No Comment

Meet The Candidates: The Rev. Dwight Clinton Jones 

Lawrence E. Williams Declares His Run For Mayor, too (Yet Another I Outscooped the Times Dispatch™ article courtesy of Style)

Death of a Virginia relic collector
Wild dogs attack, kill horse in Prince George
April Showers!
Update: Williamsburg Pottery NOT Up For Sale

Williamsburg Pottery is put up for sale | Official Listing

Raising Downtown

Henrico lauds downtown Richmond livin'

The Great Grocery War of 2008
Ellwood Thompson’s vs Food Lion vs The Fresh Market vs Good Foods vs Kroger vs Tom Leonard’s vs Trader Joe’s vs Ukrop’s vs Wal-Mart vs Whole Foods (Richmond Magazine full article?!)

Was Fan Ukrop's Closing (See Rewind) a Strategic, Retrench Move?

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts adds more time to landscape paintings display
Who's Greener: Friday Cheers or Innsbruck After Hours?
Norfolk Hyping Up First Friday
Midlothian/VCU artist paints the mural of the Phoenician
New Improv Group: Cousin Sheckie
The Three Wise Food Bloggers:
-Caramelized OpiNIONS reviews Bacchus
-Read, Drink, & Be Merry reviews Zorba's
-in vino veritas reviews Cajun Bangkok
New Richmond Media: 
-Bopst Show Episode 2
-RVATV New News Show
B-52s Concert Review

One Of The Greatest Shows I Have Ever Seen

Interview with Jeff Sadler, former manager of Toad’s Place 

Music Rules as Usual

Style Weekly CD Release Party Review

Richmond.com recipe series: Chez Foushee's Poached Halibut over Fava Bean Puree
That means, no beer cavalier (Preppies Gone Wild at Foxfields! 56 arrested)
University of Richmond tuition: $49,190! ($49,190 x 4 years = $196,760)

To Rename itself the University of Short Pump?

Henry Hager-Bush
Live Richmond Falcon Birth

Happy Six Month Birthday, River District News!
Media should mix-up and collaborate
Fishing Reports 
 Blue catfish in James a benefit or burden?  
VCU Safety forum addresses lingering concerns 
Story Ideas for a Good Investigative Reporter:
-Burglaries Have Surged 21 Percent in DC 
-Graffiti up 81.5 Percent NYC
Same patterns in Richmond? Thanks Drudge Report.
Sicko Parents: 2 toddlers found to be on cocaine

Rural does not mean drug-free

City leader calls for action in Mosby Court
Pit bulls stolen from area animal shelter in broad daylight
SIN CITY
Strip-club owner arrested again on sex charges involving minor

Masturbating Peeping Tom in Virginia Center Commons Sears Dressing Room

Caroline couple accused of giving alcohol to minors 

Infernal-affairs

Local Student Fights Off Alleged Abductor 
The Most Dangerous Profession: Restaurant Owner?
-Sad, The Hong Kong Restaurant Murder 
-Employee robbed of 15,000 outside Henrico restaurant 
-Family Secrets' $13,000 Security System 
This Week Only! Winston Cup News:
 -Gordon leaves Richmond more relieved than upset 
-Earnhardt, Busch race to oblivion and put on a show
-Earnhardt says he's not sore about Busch wreck at Richmond 
-Kyle Busch doesn't let boos bother him 
-Why Kyle Busch might be the best thing for NASCAR
-Changing of the guard?
-Richmond's version of Big One leaves mark on field
-COLUMN: Is this exciting, or what? (Or what?)
-Well I'll be 
-Bowyer takes the checkered flag at RIR
-Blown tire costs Hamlin home win
-No fairytale ending for this prince 
-Tireless performance  
-Jayski (updated all the time | RIR Facts)
-Richmond story lines
-Race weekend in Richmond
-Hamlin wins Nationwide race at RIR
-Hamlin wins Nationwide race at RIR
-Hamlin Got It!!!
-Hamlin adds to Richmond haul with Nationwide win
-Fresh tires propel Hamlin to Nationwide win
-Hamlin on pole can't hurt turnstiles
-Hamlin claims pole for Sprint Cup race
-Hamlin turns fastest lap at Richmond
-RIR brings out best in Hamlin
-Hamlin right at home with Richmond pole
-Hamlin wins pole at hometown track
-Does anyone know the way to victory lane?
-The Joe Gibbs Racing Qualifying Report 
-Five drivers and storylines to watch at RIR
-Stewart has folks talking
-An insider dissects Richmond, Stewart's possible move and more
-It's the economy, stupid
-Economic difficulties felt in garage, seen in the stands
-In These Hard Times At Least There's Mark Martin For Perspective
-Suddenly, NASCAR is harder sell
-Earnhardt Jr. returns to track where he earned last Cup win
-Even without wins, Dale Jr. in title contention 
-Osborne happy to be back on top of No. 99 pit box
-Biffle, Newman last remaining 'big' free agents
-Biffle likes his position -- on the season, and at Roush
-Edwards primed for fourth win of 2008 campaign in Richmond
-Edwards signs 'dream' contract with Roush 
-IndyCar vs. NASCAR
-Labonte has major decision to make about future at Petty Enterprises
-Tobacco Avenue’s Tips for Attending: Saturday’s NASCAR race 
-Recession Watch: NASCAR Tickets Go Begging
-Race Not Sold Out This Weekend
-NASCAR race may fail to sell out 
-NASCAR tickets still available for race weekend at RIR
-Fans shift spending away from race 
-Pettys visit paralyzed veterans in hospital 
-Richard and Kyle Petty cheer up paralyzed vets
-Notebook: Petty crew confident Labonte staying put 
-Richmond has the best track, crowd
-Stewart looks for win at his 'favorite' track
-Drivers, crew chiefs enjoy racing at Richmond track
-Richmond evokes nostalgia in drivers, fans 
-Maneuverability called key to success
-Bump & Grind: NASCAR returns to Richmond International Raceway (Richmond.com RIR Blog)
-Key ready to jump back into series with veteran Green behind the wheel
-Four rookies have potential to win Richmond
-Hamlin back in good standing
-Hamlin hoping to keep streak alive for Joe Gibbs Racing
-Amped to end slide
-Dale Jr. fast; Biffle staying put?
-NASCAR: Junior Visits USS Theodore Roosevelt
-Richmond kicks off trio of night races
-Richmond crash changed driver's life forever 
-Keller enjoys Nationwide trip he's on
-Nationwide drivers feel marginalized as SprintCup teams step down
-Without a big sponsor, team stuck in neutral
-Big wreck at Talladega puts big hurt on No. 43 Cup team
-NASCAR Drivers, Virginia Officials Encourage Local Teens to Stop Texting While Driving 
-Vickers carries momentum into Richmond 
-Top 5 and 5 to watch: Richmond 
-Fantasy: Richmond
-Decades worth of RIR memories 
-New week offers renewed hope (and new golf cart!) for Hornish
-Hamlin is Thriving Outside the Spotlight
-Kyle Busch--I’d Be Happy To Celebrate My Birthday With Three Trophies
-Martin Thirsty For Victory Lane At Richmond
-Former Formula 1 driver Speed paying his dues in ARCA
-NASCAR Travelogue: Richmond
-Landon Cassill and his Grandma 
-Lauren Wallace
-Jeff Burton Diary 
-Economy might cut NASCAR crowds
-Gas prices have race fans rethinking trip to the track
-Is Biffle being stiffed 
-Tracking Little E 
-What's in a number
-Hamlin running strong toward homecoming 
-Hamlin, the hottest driver 
-Tony Stewart Update
-Kyle Busch With Jim Rome (video) 
-Lynchburg man is Fox's Spotter 
-Ask Kevin Harvick a question DURING the RIR race 
-J.D. Gibbs expects to keep Stewart with team 
-Lucky dog
-NASCAR and the LPGA 
-JGR on Denny Hamlin
-Schrader to sub for Franchitti at RIR (translation: no Ashley Judd sightings) 
-Labonte drives 'Speed Racer' at Richmond (does that make Terry, Racer X?...Gordan as Chim Chim)
-Little E Preview
-NASCAR has launched a campaign to reconnect with its original fan base
-Edwards crew chief returns from suspension

April 21 to April 27, 2008

Event of the Week 1 Henrico County Open April 24 - 27, 2008,  The Dominion Club

Event of the Week 2 17th Annual James River Wine Festival April 26-27, 2008, Innsbrook Pavilion 

Trying to Catch Me Riding Dirty...
-Wilder Pays City Back...After getting called out by the Free Press
-Wilder Addresses Financial Waste
 -Wilder Received Pay Stubs Itemizing Auto Allowance 
-Richmond car funds interests prosecutor (Michael N. Herring)

Wilder Stories Keep Coming...
-Wilder's next move is unclear
-Pastors Support Wilder (and 5 days later, the city paper gets to the story)
-Dwight Jones Still Lurking 
-Goldman seeks probe of Wilder car allowance 
-Ancient Governor’s Mansion silverware found in Mayor's pocket (returned)
-Wilder ‘didn’t not know’ he was receiving car allowance  

Rewind: Benjamin Johnson Story

 Change to Elected mayor has cost at least $13.4 million

SURPLUS?!?

Norfolk Wants a Strong Mayor, too

Richmond School Board Chairman George Braxton Won't Seek Re-election

Read the Fine Print of Your Lease  

City leaders announce panel to help appoint new superintendent

Rewind More: Jewell-Sherman and School Audit Story

Media General versus Harbinger Capital Partners

-The Economist: On the brink; Some of America's most venerable newspapers face extinction, unless they evolve  
-Classifieds down? Not in Real Estate 
-Times-Dispatch's circulation falls, Readership increases 
-National Trends (Top 20)
-The Worst Investment in America?
-Executive Editor Glenn Proctor Discusses Ethics 
-With So Much News, No One Gets It All 
-Response: Too Much News, They Say
-Sign o' the NY Times  (Rewind: Hubris)
-Fortune: Harbinger of things to come in the news business? 
-More Help with the Noose
-CLOSURE Part 1: Media General shareholders elect new directors from Harbinger
-Death by Proxy 
-Media General Reports First-Quarter 2008 Results 
-Media General March revenue down on classified ad softness 
-Calls Tampa Market, Its "Crown Jewel"
-Board fight a boost to Media General, Shares Up 8%
-Next Target: The NY Times?
-Harbinger's Philip Falcone Earned $1.7-billion in 2007 
-Fortune: Harbinger wins key shareholder support in its proxy battle with Bryan-family controlled Media General
-Reuters: Gabelli backs Harbinger's Media General slate 
-Media General To Harbinger: You Just Don't Get Us
-Rewind: Harbinger Takes Stake in Media General

Rewind: Analysis of How Media General Got Here

Crisis in Local Employer Community??
-Circuit City
-Genworth
-Qimonda
-Even Employers of Guest Workers

929 Wachovia Securities employees have received notice of when their jobs will end

Ex-employees start a new firm (Riverfront Investment Group)

Tackling Kaine's Changes

Earth to Kaine: Don’t cut funding for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation 

Kaine Losing Street Cred with the Greens

Shad Planking
Mark Warner vs Jim Gilmore vs Bob Marshall

Gilmore Claims Victory!

Dear Richmond Media, Cite your F'ing Sources...

Richmond Magazine: Where Richmond’s news-gatherers get the skinny

When Blogs Do Good

Carytown... 
AlterNatives renovates, Soak Closes

What’s Killing The Great Shops of Carytown?

-Richmond Arrests Graffiti Suspect Michael "Last" Clark
 -River District News: Clark's Portfolio of Work
 -Good Graffiti?
-flickr Richmond Graffiti
Bopst Show Episode 1 Podcast, New "Channel", Same Bopst...sans FCC restrictions!

Rewind: 
 -Bopst vs. Chocolate Chip
 -Clean Radio Version

Style's 2008 Music Issue

CHECK OUT! Our New Live Music Calendar
Comprehensive schedule of Richmond shows at the National, Toad's Place, outdoor festivals, and indoor venues.  Also, links to all the local music calendars... 

Denali Reunites for Show

RVA ALT MEDIA...
-RVA Magazine Latest Issue (Big PDF; Ed Trask, Girl Talk, DJ Spooky, Chuck Scalin, Ann Beretta, Shonna Tucker of Drive By Truckers, Prabir & The Substitutes, Ink Slingers, Where Is Israel?, Tobacco Ave, Books On Wheels)
-RVAMag: Second to None CD
-New Episode: RVA TV

Geez, What's Next? Gus' White Spot?... 
Cville Plan 9 and Satellite Ballroom to Close...To Become a CVS | Hook's take | Could bode well for Richmond as it eliminates at least a little bit of booking competition

Will Indie Record Shops Survive? 

Save the Satellite Ballroom

County Roundup
-La policia en Chesterfield es racists!, Praises Richmond
-Chesterfield questions the definition of revitalization 
-Hanover Residents fear more Habitat houses
-Henrico Name Change
Richmond to Fayetteville Greyhound Crashes
Voice Series on the Capital City Program...
"Colored Children’s Prison"

School or Pathway to Prison? 

Why America may go to hell-Martin Luther King
Richmond Home Sales Down 31 percent

Virginia’s Housing Market in Uncertain Times: First Quarter Home Sales Report, 2008 

Hopewellians Boil Your Water! 
Bushwacked: Admiral Bill Fallon
Light at the end of the I-295/288 Exchange
SnagAJob.com Honored (get a job) 
Restoration of the lake at Forest Hill Park

NBC 12 

Free Money to Start Your Richmond Business 
They Paved the Civil War Grounds and Put Up a Parking Lot
The "Mega-State" and the Creative Class
Further adventures of Richmond's premiere playa bartenda
See a future PGA tour player 
80 Different Actors Have Portrayed Thomas Jefferson
VCU Webisodes nominated for ‘Oscars of the Internet’ (VCU TV HD)
Sign of the Apocalypse? Conservative VCU Newspaper (The Broad Street Journal)
Huge BBQ News:
 Buzz n Neds, From Greentop to Bass Pro Shop

BBQ: Recognizing the tradition of a comfort food

Blogger Declares Richmond's best desserts

Chocolate n Wine Events this weekend

Northside Grille Waitress, BIG Mistake...

Adventures of the RVA Foodie Family | Part 2 

Richmond's Love Boat

'John Adams' set becomes 'Bordertown'   
 
Border Town

Body sighting proves to be fish story

Shields Lake and Dorey Park Lake Stocked with Brown Trout!

April 14 to April 20, 2008

Event of the Week 1  College Baseball VCU  vs University of Richmond, Tuesday, April 15, 2008, The Diamond (3001 North Boulevard), 7 - 9 pm, $5 (free with VCU ID)

Event of the Week 2 Earth Day, Saturday April 22, 2008, 14th Street Bridge to Art Works (320 Hull Street), 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., free

Highlights

  • Bike rides and Walks
  • 14th Street Fish Festival, Bosher Dam Fish
  • Ladder tours
  • Food and Music
  • Environmental exhibits and Art
  • Arbor Day planting
  • Children activities 

Event of the Week 3 Historic Garden Week (Richmond Schedule) April 19-27, 2008

One Year Later...
-Virginia Tech 
-Times Dispatch series
-WRIC 8
-WTVR 6
-Virginia Tech Collegiate Times 
-Roanoke Times 
Downtown Development...
-Residences at Hotel John Marshall?
-Richmond’s downtown culture and newest coveted housing option 
The Norfolk Four: Clemency petition sits on Kaine's desk
School or Pathway to Prison?
Looks like someone in the Mayor's office was at the CGR meeting... 

...on cue, Henrico to rename itself

Coalition for a Greater Richmond Meeting Recap

Richmond City Council OKs cut in real estate tax rate
The Aftermath:
-UPDATE! Resolution Jun 28, 2008 
-Johnson resigns
 -Wilder unaware of car allowance 
-Double Standard | Accountability and the Mayor 
-CBS6 Exclusive: Johnson Speaks
-The Power of WOTBN: Fire Benjamin Johnson. Then, lock him up!  

More mismanagement of taxpayer dollar...The Benjamin Johnson Car Stipend Story...
WTVR | Style | Times Dispatch (TD: Richmond spends more per capita on administration than virtually any other city or county outside the pricey Washington suburbs of Northern Virginia.)

Mayor Doug Wilder suddenly loses interest in financial accountability 

Chesterfield county doesn't want mobile home parks
First they steal our banks, now they want our police chief
 The Kids Speak Up...
Shades of Our Nation: What it Means to be Black in America | Wins competition

Diversity 

Students mobilize for action against black doll display

Pope of the blues people

What’s Killing The Great Shops of Carytown?
35 Cent
Don Harrsion Saving Richmond in Style: Junket Dreamers

What Richmond can learn from Charleston

Don't Know What You Got Till It's Gone...
UKROP’S TO CLOSE GRACE STREET STORE 

Heavy blogger reaction: River City Rapids (I wonder if VCU has ever thought about the grocery business?) | Fan District Hub (Frankly, you targeted the wrong demographic — the Community Pride demographic)| Urban Hayride (I personally think it is a blow to Richmond's urban growth) | Urban Richmond (Ukrop’s will close at 6 p.m. on May 10th)| Tobacco Avenue (Ukrop’s to close The Crappy One) 

Picking through Charlottesville's Trash 
Mea Culpa 1: Media General's Self-Analysis (Intro)

Mea Culpa 2: Media General's Self-Analysis of its Blogs

Washington Post 6, Times Dispatch 0 (List of All Winners)

The Future of the TD...
Why the Richmond Times-Dispatch is Dying Chimes In 

Chesterfield Weekly Chimes In

Washington Post Chimes In

Richmond History Lessons...
-Vintage Richmond Postcards
-The National Park Service: Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
-The son of a historic Virginia governor could have chosen politics

Richmond, Safest City for Dangerous Dogs

Best of the Local Food Blogs... 
Auspicious Jots Reviews Hermitage Grill

Read, Drink, & Be Merry Reviews Sensi

Veronica's Test Kitchen Reviews Umi Sushi Bistro

MUSIC CITY
RVANews: The Eight Track (Coming Soon! The Bopst Show???)
  
RVAMag: Second to None #2 CD (also Download first CD: Combination Dinner)
 
 Style's 2008 Music Issue (Free CD)

Frat guys in audience totally rock crowd at Toad’s Place

C-ville: Laying out local (Charlottesville) music, A-Z

Va. Union's Robbins to step down

Retirement includes antiquing

Richmond Giving Launched!
Hell Hath No Fury Like a Baseball Fan Scorned

TD Talking Richmond Baseball...
-Local owners seeking baseball in Richmond 
-How loss could become a gain 
-When R-Braves are done, don't balk at bidding baseball adieu

Swan Song Blog

NPR: Field of Dreams

Scott Spiezio Unemployed and still fighting substance abuse

Welcome Penzeys Spices 3400 W Cary St

Brandon Eats | Times Dispatch

American Institute of Architects Richmond Awards 
Big fish in a small pond: Cultivating Richmond theater (Richmond Shakespeare Festival)
trompe l’oeil (gotcha, click here instead)
Smart Traveler: Historic Garden Week (official website) 
Burberry and kate spade Outlets Open Up in Virginia 
2008 Richmond Golf Guide 
LOUD RICHMOND RESTAURANTS
Air Tran Magazine: 10 Fun Things to do in Richmond Virginia
Kemba Smith Story
High gas prices may force some NASCAR fans to watch RIR from home

NASCAR Blues 

SI Projects Chris Long as the First Pick in the Upcoming NFL Draft...#12 Branden Albert, #27 Brandon Flowers
Bopst's advice to bands
Holly's The Big Winner

Model Virginian a finalist on Bravo reality show  


April 7 to April 13, 2008


Event of the Week 1 Ben Folds Friday April 11, 2008, The National, 9:00 PM
One of the greatest lyrics ever: This should cheer you up for sure. See I've got your old id and you're all looking like "The Cure." 

Event of the Week 2 The 76th annual Strawberry Hill Races Saturday April 12, 2008.  Colonial Downs Racetrack.  Richmond's largest spring cocktail party.