Posts Tagged ‘Christmas Parade’
Get your can to First Fridays
Posted by Christina in Special Events at First Fridays on December 4th, 2009
..and help us gather urgently needed food staples for the Central Va Food Bank (FeedMore) at our first Food Drive at First Fridays tonight.
We’ll be set up along Broad Street to make it easy to find, at 208 West Broad Street (just west of Comfort restaurant) outside the gallery, Visual Art Studio. Come say Hi and drop off your donations between 6:30-10pm.
Can you imagine how much food we could gather if everyone who attended First Fridays donated something? Man! I don’t know how I’d get it to the Food Bank, but we’d deal. This is one of those good problems to have, no? I’d like this to be an “annual” event so we’ll work up to that level. For now, grab a can or two from your pantry or hit Ukrop’s on the way Downtown.
Here’s what’s needed most:
- Canned tuna, salmon, chicken and ham
- pasta sauce (canned preferred)
- rice and pasta
- canned vegetables and fruit (these are preferred items because they’re healthy of course)
- hot and cold cereals
- peanut butter
We should do this more often than at the holidays, but the holidays can be such a depressing time of year for those in need. It’s incredibly sad to learn that 1 in nearly 6 people go to bed hungry every night from lack of food. This is simply criminal. These are our neighbors, and in these difficult economic times, I’m sure we know someone, unfortunately probably many, that need a little extra help. FeedMore provides food for a tremendous amount of organizations and food pantries across Central Va so we’re talking about helping many people in need. I hope you’ll consider sharing.
A few of our participating venues are also getting into the spirit and holding Food Drives too!
- Metro Space Gallery is giving you a little incentive to share by entering you in a drawing for a beautiful Print from Cannonball Press (their featured exhibitor this month from NY) with the donation of 5 items tonight! (open 6-10pm tonight)
- Linden Row Inn is offering Free Valet Parking when you donate 5 food items!
- Lift Coffee Shop is giving away a small Free Latte with every donation to the Central Va Food Bank (every day!)
Thanks in advance for your help in making our Drive a good one. If you forget to grab a can tonight and are heading to the Christmas Parade tomorrow (12/5), the Food Bank will actually have stations set up all along the Parade route for your convenience. Now how easy is that?!
For more info on how to help at any time, check out: http://www.cvfb.org
Start Your Holidays Downtown!
Posted by Christina in Uncategorized on December 3rd, 2009
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!