The Weekend {list}

You've successfully made it through Valentine's week - it's time to unwind and enjoy the weekend folks. Here's your list:

ALL WEEKEND

The MIX International Short Film Festival
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, various times for each screening
$20 weekend pass, $7 individual screenings - get tickets here.
National and international filmmakers will be visiting Richmond for a spectacular weekend event at the Byrd Theatre. Top filmmakers from 17 countries are expected to be in attendance for the event including from Hollywood, NY, VA, and DC. A Sunday Red Carpet Awards Ceremony with performances by Bob Gulledge and special guest live musical performers, including RVA's own Reggie Pace, (sold separately at $15).


FRIDAY

Studio Two Three Open House
Studio Two Three willl be showing off their newly renovated space and facilities, listening to music and drinking some beverages. If you have a background in print or any project ideas that would be suited for a young, energetic non-profit stop by to hang out.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Rumors Hood Dance Party with DJ Longjawns & DJ Doddie
Dance party Friday night at Cous Cous and Saturday night at Empire for RumorsTV.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Black Girls
Balliceaux, 10p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY

Zest Fest
Greater Richmond Convention Center, 6p - 11p
FeedMore’s annual signature event generates support for our feeding programs while offering attendees a one-of-a-kind opportunity to sample dishes from some of the region’s best chefs and vintages from Virginia wineries.

Soulpower Dance Party presented by RVA Mag
Balliceaux, 10p | free
Old Soul and Funk jams on vinyl, all played at a comfortable 45 rpm for you to get down on the dance floor.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Cinnamon Band, Snowy Owls, Airstrip
Strange Matter, 10p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.


SUNDAY

Jewish Food Festival
Sunday & Monday
6300 Patterson Avenue, 11:30a - 7:30p

Regional Showcase
The Camel, 8p | $5
Featuring Mittenfields, Those Manic Seas, Left and Right, and Gray Young.
RSVP on Facebook here.

FilmRoasters: The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Firehouse Theater Project, 8p | $5
Once a month, the FilmRoasters select a classic, culturally significant achievement in cinema history and slowly incinerate it over a pit of microphone-fueled mockery. February's guest of honor is the non-Keanu version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the movie that gave rise to that classic phrase, "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto!"
RSVP on Facebook here.


Christie Thompson

Your Daily Greens: Fresca on Addison

One of my favorite things about living in Richmond is the multitude of rich and diverse options of vegetarian and vegan cuisine. You can barely throw a rock and not hit a vegetarian these days and it's nice to see so many chefs accommodating this lifestyle with some flare. As a vegetarian myself, Fresca on Addison has become one of my go-to restaurants lately.

Yep, those are homemade vegan cupcakes on the right side of the counter..

From their homemade pitas to their downright delectable kale salad and scrumptious illy coffee, it's hard not to fall in love - vegetarian or not. Their pitas and pizzas are made to order - even the dessert pizza, which I've heard amazing things about. They also offer a small assortment of grocery goods including beer, wine, pastas, and kombucha.  If you haven't yet, make a plan to spend your next lunch break sitting on their umbrella shaded porch sipping an illy latte and feeding your body some serious goodness.

I've yet to leave Fresca without feeling completely energized by the incredible freshness and nutrients their meals have to offer. As their tagline states, they want you to eat better, dammit!, and I think they're doing a great job at it. 

Check out Fresca on Facebook and twitter too. 

Christie Thompson

Happy Valentine's Day RVA!

From the Minimalist team to you!

xo

PS - Don't forget about last week's Valentine's {list} for some hidden gems around the city to take your boo!

The Weekend {List}

From dance parties, to local beer, to historic celebrations - Richmond is a fine place to spend your weekend. Enjoy your list!

FRIDAY

Sweethearts for the Arts: Speakeasy- A blush worthy benefit for Art On Wheels
Gallery 5, 8p | $20 advance, $25 doors
This Valentines Day weekend take a step behind closed doors into the times of prohibition and Speakeasies. Join Art on Wheels at Gallery 5 for an evening of music, fun, and revelry right out of the 20's hosted by Miss Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside. Musical performances by Alison Self and The High Street Lowlifes.
RSVP on Facebook here.

NO BS Brass Band
The Camel, 9p | $7
NO BS Brass and Reggie Pace are blowing up faster than you can say, "RVA All Day".
RSVP on Facebook here.

RVA Mag Presents Cold Cuts with Audio Ammo
New York Deli, 10p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.


SATURDAY

Taste the Local Tap Take Over
Can Can Brasserie, 5p - 8p
Virginia is for lovers of locally brewed craft beer. Can Can shows it's local love with eight different Virginia breweries featured on tap. A silent auction and raffle that will feature donations from local businesses and artisans. Benefiting the Pink Ink Fund (that we mentioned awhile back) started by Amy Black of Trademark Tattoo in Carytown.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Image via Style Weekly

The Biograph Theatre 40th Anniversary -- Film Screening
Grace Street Theater, 7p | $20 ($10 for the films, $10 donation to the James River Film Society)
The James River Film Society will present a double feature including "Breathless" - a 50th anniversary restoration 35mm print no less -- and "Lonely Are the Brave". See the Golden Age Revisited article at Style Weekly for more information on the Biograph Theatre's Anniversary.

No Richmond Dance Party
Balliceaux, 10p | free
Your monthly dose of No Richmond DJ's (along with guest DJ Marty Violence of Steady Sounds) spinning all vinyl new wave, post punk, no wave, etc.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Pre-Valentine's Dance Party with Black Girls and Winston Cup, 1981
Emilio's, 9p | $5
If No Richmond wasn't enough to get your feet two steppin', surly Black Girls and Winston Cup, 1981 can take you there. I've yet to make it to Emilio's but it's on my way to work and I've always been intensely intrigued as to what's behind those dark curtains in the windows. 
RSVP on Facebook here.


Happy Friday Richmond!

Christie Thompson & Emily Smith

Upside Down, Left to Right

English film-maker and director, Danny Cooke, created the short film, Upside Down, Left to Right which provides a glimpse into Plymouth University's movable-type printing studio.

Richmond hosts a handful of active letterpress studios, supported no doubt by the recent neo-traditional revival. Be sure to check out Thousand Pound Press, Page Stationary, VCU's Bowe House Press and The Visual Arts Center, to name a few, for local examples of relief printing!

Emily Smith

The Valentine's {list}

It's that time of year again to show your boo how much you care through surprises, candle lit dinners, and sweet little somethings. Whether you're on a budget or not, Richmond has much to offer for every love bird this year.


Image via Etsy

Looking for a romantic evening out?
Cafe Rustica, Bistro 27, Edo's Squid, Stella's, Bacchus, and Acacia are a few of our favorite date night spots for their warm atmosphere and delectable cuisine. Most restaurants around town are offering Valentine's specials so be sure to check ahead for options. Richmond.com put together a great list of special menus from dozens of restaurants. Check it out here.

Take-out and a fireplace or sunset view more romantic?
A red or white pizza from 8 1/2 with a bottle of wine from Strawberry Street Vineyard can't be beat. Also, if you're looking to whip up something yourself, check out local blogger Tim Vidra's E.A.T. blog featuring tons of recipes and some of the most mouth watering food images you've ever seen.

Need a fantastic gift?
Check out Mongrel, Rumors, Quirk Gallery, and Need Supply for all sorts of big and small gifts. For something handmade by your fellow RVA locals, check out Academy Jewelry (jewelry), Fibre Craft (bags and neck ties), Emily the Mighty (laptop and ipad cases) and Itty Bitty Press (screen prints).

Want to get outside?
Get on your tandem bicycle and head over to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fountains, Swan and Shields Lakes at Byrd Park, Italian and Japanese Gardens in Maymont Park, Lewis Ginter, Belle Isle (especially the west end of the island), Chimborazo Park, or Hollywood Cemetery. Sure, a cemetery can be a little creepy but with fantastic views of the James River, crumbling stone and big trees along the southern perimeter it can also be pretty darn romantic.

Happy Valentine's Richmond!

xo,

Christie Thompson & Emily Smith

Fibre Craft Handmade

Photo by Evan MacKenzie

For the past few weeks I have been hard at work putting together a brand new website for my handmade business, Fibre Craft. Fibre Craft is a line of handmade accessories for him and her inspired by and created from vintage and recycled materials. Currently in stock are clutch bags for her and neckties for him, all handmade in Richmond!

It is with quite a bit of pleasure and delight that I introduce you to FibreCraftHandmade.com.  A big, big thanks goes out to my web designer, Jason Smith, and my photographer, Evan MacKenzie. You can use the shipping code 'LOVELY' to get free shipping through Valentine's Day!

In true Minimalist spirit, I must share with you the platform my website was built on is an amazing resource for anyone wanting to create a small online web store. Big Cartel is a site similar to most portfolio websites, giving you a basic template or two for free and allowing you to upgrade the CSS manually if you know how. Unlike Etsy, they don't charge per purchase, but they have a small monthly fee (based on number of products) that includes hosting.  I highly recommend checking it out if you're looking to sell items online and want to break out of the Etsy world.

Hope you like the new site! Also, you can 'like' Fibre Craft on Facebook to get updates on new products and happenings.

Christie Thompson