Join us on December 4th for First Fridays – Richmond’s most creative night on the town – to kick off your holidays, but to make it a perfect evening you’ve got to add the annual Grand Illumination to your plans, which starts at 6pm down in Shockoe Slip. Certainly RVA’s most festive Downtown event, Grand Illumination actually kicks off the month-long holiday celebration in the River District, Celebrate Illuminate, which is presented by Venture Richmond, one of our major sponsors.

Along with the Annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 5, this is going to be a weekend packed with creative experiences, performances, shopping, dining, and plenty of people watching. From over-the-top art-filled gallery windows to unique holiday shopping and delicious dining, Downtown comes to life tomorrow night. You may have read about these great events in the recent “Downtown for the Holidays” insert that just came out in Style Weekly before Thanksgiving. (We truly appreciate this fine promotion provided by our Print Media Sponsor Style Weekly!)

At First Fridays, you’ll shop local and rejoice in the beauty and wealth of handmade, one-of-a-kind works of art (from African to Contemporary) plus jewelry, home décor, accessories, CDs, the latest fashions and more while supporting your neighbors and creative community. Galleries, restaurants, shops, cultural sites, and the city’s finest accommodations are located along Historic Broad Street, east of Belvidere Street to 8th Street, and into Historic Jackson and Monroe Wards.

This coming Art Walk will be special because we’re holding our first Food Drive for the Central Virginia Food Bank. Can you imagine how much food we could collect if every visitor contributed just one item?! I do hope you’ll do just that.

Highlights of December’s First Fridays:

• We’ll host our 1st Annual Food Drive for the Central Virginia Food Bank from 6:30-10:00pm. Our Drop off location will be along Broad at 208 West Broad Street out front of the Visual Art Studio.
  
• There will also be Food Drives at Metro Space Gallery, Lift Coffee Shop, and Linden Row Inn

• Grand Openings of our newest venues 9WG Studios and Artcraft Design Studio:
  
  9WG Studios is located at 9 West Grace Street, which is just off Broad between Adams and Foushee Streets. Check out this million plus renovated space that now features recording and videography studios, graphic design space, and cool exhibition space. We’ve been told the future holds live performances!
  
  Artcraft Design Studios features an intimate look at the artists workshop as Jim Daigle and his son Nat show off their distinct artworks. Jim presents his handcrafted furniture and wood sculpture while Nat’s urban inspired paintings set off the backdrop. You’ll easily find their cool new space at 508 West Broad Street, which is easily discovered beside Downtown’s latest hip dining spot, Belvidere at Broad.

But don’t let the holidays stop on Sunday. Many of the Downtown creative businesses and organizations are planning a variety of events throughout December as well as extended hours to make your holiday shopping fun and EASE-E! Check out our Calendar of Events on our website for more info.

Cheers & Happy Holidays!

Christina

PS- The January First Fridays is moved back one week due to the Holiday, so we’ll see you in the New Year on Friday, January 8, 2010!