'Richmond, VA's Stonewall Jackson Statue Comes Down'

                                                                        Credit: RVA Coffee Stain

Monument: Lee's Statue, After

Photo Credit:

@AiRVA_Drone

Historic change due on Monument

I read with joy early this morning as friends' feeds shared news stories & articles with regard to the intended removal of the statue of General Lee from Monument Avenue. 
When I first moved to Richmond,  my Civil War knowledge was pretty scant & my initial understanding was that these monuments and memorials were of heroes from that era. Heroes only to some, however.

This last week, the local protests have dominated RVA's news channels. Similarly for the over-spill from non-violent to violent action. I struggle to condone these acts of violence on Boulevard and Broad which led to shop or restaurant windows being broken; a dumpster set on fire near a home or on West Broad, directly outside of VA Rep. Those businesses don't deserve to suffer and yet. ... Nor do the black community, African-Americans, people of colour deserve to suffer either and yet for many, daily discrimination is a reality. 

Some of Monument's statues are now defaced and graffitied, 
both the profane & the sacred: Black Lives Matter, Solidarity, One Love...

Photo by my friend, SG

Source: Richmond is Burning, Again ~ Style Weekly

Monument Avenue's Confederate statues are no newcomers to press coverage. Following events in Charlottesville in 2017, the monuments became an even more heightened source of debate & contention. At the time - whilst other statues were removed in DC, KY, FL, MO, NY, WI - those in Richmond remained in situ.

Source - Style Weekly: "Is Monument Avenue set in stone?" April 2017

But in light of nationwide protests following on from George Floyd's horrifying and unnecessary death, it's signalled a sea change from Governor Northam: enough is enough. I applaud his decision and the debate it's now re-opened up for Mayor Stoney in regard to the rest.

 BLM gathering point at Lee's statue by my friend, LR

From the New York Times:  
Virginia Governor Plans to Order Robert E. Lee Statue Removed

Washington Post looking back on Lee's legacy & the statue itself:  When Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s statue arrived in Richmond in 1890, it was greeted by 10,000 admirers

... but even back then, still not everyone was in favour (Credit: Hampton Newsome).

Whaaa...

Whaaat's going on with the roads? 
So stripy!

_________________________________

New Voices gig. 

A reunion. Tears. Hearfelt hugs.

"Look at us making a scene DSL."

Afterwards to Bamboo for beer & sassy chat.

Homeward-bound, hostel-bound.

I request we walk because I've so missed the city & its streets. Indeed, I find myself that overcome with joy to realise we've actually reached Monument Avenue that I step straight off the sidewalk without paying due attention to the height of the kerb & land clean in the road, just as an ambulance passes by one block over.

- Shall I flag that down for you? 

Beast. 

Laughing & in pain. 

Bah. Cue one fat ankle. Ow.

RIP Christmas Cadillac.

'Christmas Cadillac,' vintage auto on Monument Ave., not lighting up this year:
Keith Kissee has been decorating his vintage Cadillac at the corner of Monument Avenue and Strawberry Street for the past 14 years.

Well, that makes one rather sad to read of an end to this pretty epic tradition 
but to every thing, there is a season so full marks to Kissee for keeping the locals entertained for so long. I hope his MO renovation goes well!

With added Pink.

RVA gets it so right; 
I do love their flamingo theme...

Credit.

Easter on Monument.

Dogs-in-hats ended up being replaced by rabbits-on-'cakes. 

Pouring rain did not inspire our desire to join the Parade on Easter Sunday so instead I headed over to Monument after work on Monday. 

BC's previously-spotted giant bunnies were already in retirement for the year 

  but the wreaths, banners & decorations were still up to be admired. 

Yay, go 1800 again!

Easter Tree along Robinson.

 

   They say an Englishwoman's home is her castle. 

In which case, I'll happily settle for this:

WANT.

It's the one which Marcia & I frequently admire on our drives to Willow Lawn. 

It does happen to be inhabited at present but I'm sure they're just looking after it for me. 

There's even a pink blossom tree outside. That house has got my name on it.

A Week (or so) In Pictures

 We had a Snow Day...

... which meant work was off
but curling up in sofas & watching the snow fall & fall & fall

& the evening's weather report
plus endless repeats of Happy Days was very much on. 

There was Lots of Tech, 

& eventually, an Opening...

... which meant an awful lot 
as it reminded me an awful lot as to why we really do the jobs we do;
of light at the end of Tech Week's tunnel;

of theatre & friendships & gratitude.

Along with a Talkback on Opening Night,
including the lady behind the whole conception of the show, Eileen Mitchard.
Having the show at the Rep's still a pretty big deal, this being only
its second premiere since it first opened. We are happy to host it!

There's been review after review after review

along with a bunch of lovely photos from Jay Paul, including

the Red & Black attack featuring that oh-so-'sultry black dress' !

BC & I met up Sunday to tick off my Bucket List choice & ponder our future as joint boutique owners, owing to that "nice collection of costumes" we'd designed.

  ... I'd paused by the door of Strawberry Street café on the day of our dreary museum date as a ready escape from the rain-soaked streets. BC had told me then to hold out for a better time, for greater things ~ beginning with Brunch. 

                                           What better way to spend a lazy Sunday morning?!

  

A buffet served out of a bath-tub!

The place being packed full proved its popularity
so I figured it had been
well worth the wait. 

 

We managed about six courses between us before it was time to head. 

Definitely worth a revisit.

It was a very sunny Sunday too. 

Cue a spot of afternoon rooftop sunbathing with the roomies.

My American birthday on '03/12/13' as well as my half year of RVYay!

 Drinks for Luke's birthday & an initiation into Beer Pong
(more Pong, more water; less Beer in our particular homemade version.)

Tunes & Pints for Molly's birthday (HF's "Myra"), coming over all Irish
with music & craic at Rosie Connolly pub on S.17th in Shockoe Bottom. 

Fancy beer glass.

Awesome signage.
-  You gotta be careful between London & the North East.

 (BC also made tree magic happen. ^ ^ ^ )

Joey had comps from his recent overhire at Richmond Shakes. so took his three ladies for a rare evening actually out & at the theatre to see The Tempest. Shakespeare's swansong has never been quite so well deconstructed 

as post-performance on our car journey home. 

                                 
(Question: What do you get if you put a chippie, a sparkie,
                                 a paint girl & a stitchbitch together? 
 
                                                                       Answer: Exactly!/See above.) 

Work-wise, my suits are now fully sized & in order!

You're looking at Chest 41" - 42" right here.

A visit to meet Mr. Marks on Grace & Third.

  

Making dresses fly to spruce up Front of House at Willow Lawn: 

 











 

Making the most of the lull between shows at
the November to replenish tour stock.
Marcia & I made a new dress between us;
my responsibility being the bodice.

Re-introducing Mrs. Cratchitt of  "A Christmas Carol"

  We've also moved onto preparations for the next fundraiser event:

The 16th Annual Fairy Tale Ball,
a benefit event for The Children's Theatre of Virginia (Willow Lawn).

This year's theme? Pirates & Princesses!

We've made acquaintance with Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.
Here's another storybook character for you all to meet...

The Paper Bag Princess.

(I'm working on her costume at present;
that's the fabric just behind the picture.)

More Stories from the Snu.

So it did actually settle overnight!

A whole One Point Six inches. Whoa.

The Chevrolet rooftop dance of anticipation.

 In lieu of Jazz Night, The Manly Man decided we'd make the most of the Chevvy's 4WD in order to take white winter photos of Monument. 

("We" being more himself & Ginny. 

  I was permitted to tag along.) 

But first the snow needed to settle & build up 
if General Lee's general aspect was to look
suitably white & snow-covered. The Manly Man’s money was on 9pm, giving us two hours to fill first.  

The 'guin or the grapes?  Tough call.

Time enough in which go see our favourite BC, working the evening as bartender/ server at Athens Tavern on Robinson.  

   So we whiled away the hours with drinks & dessert. Galactoboureko!  Or by
BC's pronunciation, "Galactic Burrito". (I'm not convinced he's really grasped the  

         whole Grecian-themed thing.)

Ginny guarding the treasure pile of BC's tip 
(a.k.a: Things we found in our pockets:
$5 dollar bills, lollipop, bit part, red sequinned bracelet,
brown gloves for his cold handies on the snowy walk home...)

as well as my masterfully crafted "Kentuckian" cocktail. 

(The closest I could get to Tia Maria with) 

Frangelica + Baileys + Kahlua.  Very warming.

Some time after 9 on Monument:

 

Lie down on your back. Flap your wings. Repeat.
Ta-dah!  Snow Angel Richmond!Plus one from a far bigger kid...

Playing with the traffic lights' light nr. Stuart Circle
(or, Why never to take an LD out into the snow with you): 

 

Penguin At Arms.