Library of Virginia bringing Dopesick author Beth Macy to Richmond for the Carole Weinstein Author Series
Richmond Region Tourism partners with VisitAble to offer disability awareness education to local hospitality community
UMFS opens new $11 million residential center to enhance youth behavioral, mental health treatment
Local Asian American Society of Central Virginia to host author and artist of new book
Inauguration of University of Richmond’s 11th president slated for April 8th
Maymont toasts fall with beer, brats, music, and outdoor fun at Bier Garden event September 23 and 24
Armenian Food Festival returns for 62nd year September 9th and 10th
Library of Virginia partners with Can Can Brasserie to open downtown cafe
Lady N’awlins Cajun Cafe in the Fan to close doors next month after 12-year run
Weekend Radar: Fair Rodeo, Mother India, Ride and Dive, Amazing Acro-Cats
PHOTOS: Chesterfield County Fair Midway
Patsy Cline’s legacy to be honored by jazz vocalist Staci Griesbach with tribute concert at VMFA
Weekend Radar: Latin Jazz and Salsa, Kickers, Chesterfield County Fair. Outdoor Flea Market
Richmond broadcast legends team up to launch new internet radio station “The Breeze”
Library of Virginia partners with Can Can Brasserie to open downtown cafe
Richmond broadcast legends team up to launch new internet radio station “The Breeze”
Lady N’awlins Cajun Cafe in the Fan to close doors next month after 12-year run
Bartizian restaurant in Short Pump makes the leap to events-only concept
Richmond Region Tourism partners with VisitAble to offer disability awareness education to local hospitality community
PHOTOS: VUU Panthers Shred the Dragons of VUL
Flying Squirrels Released Their 2023 Game Schedule
PHOTOS & GAME SUMMARY: Kickers Steamroll Defending Champs Omaha
PHOTOS: VCU Grab Another Late Goal and Draw this Time Against UNC Greensboro
Preview: Kickers Face Defending Champs
University of Richmond Museums present three new exhibitions
14th-century Japanese hanging scroll conserved at VMFA with grant from the Sumitomo Foundation
No more Confederate flags at Hollywood Cemetery
The Valentine receives major national grant to upgrade archive storage facilities
U of R professors awarded $325K NEH Grant for open-source tool to analyze historic images
Pickin’ up paw-paws, puttin’ ‘em in her pockets, Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch. —The Paw Paw Patch Traditional folk song
Recent walks along the James River and I can report that the Pawpaws are ripening. In some areas it smells like the night after a frat tiki party, sticky tropical fruit smells fill the air.
The Pawpaw tree is the largest edible fruit tree native to North America. The trees produce their namesake pawpaw a greenish-blackish fruit, usually three to six inches long. As we get closer to fall some areas along the river will smell more tropical than normal as the fruits fall and decay/ferment on the ground. They are one of the only two fruit trees native to Virginia. The American persimmon is the other one.
If you’d like to do some cooking with your harvested pawpaws this page from the Kentucky State University has the most straightforward set of recipes. Don’t just dive in however, some folks will experience digestive irritation and nausea when trying the PawPaw. So dip your toe and make sure your stomach can deal with the PawPaw.
Be warned humans aren’t the only ones that like the Pawpaw.
The fruit is relished by many species of wildlife as well as humans. Deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, mice, wild turkeys and many other species of small mammals and birds eat the ripe fruit. In contrast, the crushed leaves smell a bit like asphalt and are extremely distasteful to deer and other herbivores and are rarely browsed. Interestingly, Pawpaws are the sole host for the beautiful Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly, whose caterpillars feed only on the foliage of the Pawpaw, eating the tender new leaves and gaining protection from predators from the same chemical that makes the leaves so distasteful to herbivores.
Native tribes used the Pawpaw not only for food. The inner bark was used for rope, string, and lacing. Splints were used for basketry and matting. The wood was used for firestarting for hand drills and fireboards as well as bow and drill. The leaves and stems were used for medicine.
To find a Pawpaw tree look for understory trees. In this area they really like to be near water, thus you’ll find them along the James. The leaves are oblong, narrow at the base, then broadening towards the tip before coming to a point at the end. They droop in a downward direction, giving a tree in full leaf a very distinctive appearance. The bark of the Pawpaw tree is brown and smooth with wart-like splotches called lenticels. These appear as pale gray patches.
For the record, if hit by a falling pawpaw it does indeed hurt and surprise the living hell out of you. I speak from experience.
More on the name pawpaw from Wikipedia:
The common name of this species is variously spelled pawpaw, paw paw, paw-paw, and papaw. It probably derives from the Spanish papaya, an American tropical and sub-tropical fruit (Carica papaya) sometimes also called “papaw”, perhaps because of the superficial similarity of their fruits and the fact that both have very large leaves. The name Pawpaw or Papaw, first recorded in print in English in 1598, originally meant the giant herb Carica papaya or its fruit (as it still commonly does in many English-speaking communities, including Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa). According to Douglas Harper’s Online Etymology Dictionary, it began to be used [presumably in North America] “from 1760 to designate the papaw tree” [meaning not Carica papaya but Asimina triloba].
Daniel F. Austin’s Florida Ethnobotany states that
The original “papaw” . . . is Carica papaya. By 1598, English-speaking people in the Caribbean were calling these plants “pawpaws” or “papaws” . . . [yet later, when English-speakers settled in] the temperate Americas they found another tree with a similarly aromatic, sweet fruit. It reminded them of the “papaya”, which had already become “papaw”, so that is what they called these different plants. . . By 1760 the names “papaw” and “pawpaw” were being applied to A. triloba.
Yet Asimina triloba has had numerous local common names, many of which compare it to a banana rather than to pawpaw/papaya (i.e. to Carica papaya). These include: wild banana, prairie banana, Indiana banana, Hoosier banana, West Virginia banana, Kansas banana, Kentucky banana, Michigan banana, Missouri banana, the poor man’s banana, Ozark banana, banango, and asimoya.
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Richard Hayes is the co-founder of RVAHub. When he isn't rounding up neighborhood news, he's likely watching soccer or chasing down the latest and greatest board game.
The Pawpaws are Uponpon Us
The Panthers started their season with a massive 71-0 win over Virginia University of Lynchburg.
How close was the battle for Virginia Union’s starting quarterback job?
Jahkari Grant and Christian Reid vied so vehemently for the spot that the competition carried through the entirety of fall camp. In fact, the Panthers’ coaching staff didn’t officially declare the starter until earlier this week, just a couple of days before their season opener.
It was a tough decision, coach Alvin Parker said. But Grant, in the end, made just a few more plays in VUU practices to separate himself.
“It meant a lot,” Grant said, of winning the spot. “But I can credit [Reid] to that, too, because he pushed me to be the best player that I can be.”
And so it was Grant who directed the Panthers’ offense in their debut on Thursday at Hovey Field against Virginia University of Lynchburg, over Reid — his roommate and friend.
Their efforts paired with a voracious defensive showing, and VUU stomped its way to a 77-0 victory over VUL, in front of 4,760.
“The biggest thing, we wanted to get a lot of guys a chance to play [Thursday night],” Parker said. “And I think we did. I think we made it all the way down to the threes and the fours. But we knew during camp we had a good amount of depth. And we knew that, no matter who we put in, we can get some results.
“So we were happy to see that.”
The Panthers (1-0) racked up 487 yards of total offense. They held the Dragons (0-1), members of the National Christian College Athletic Association, to 203 total yards.
The playmaking ability within the Panthers’ offense runs deep. Grant, who began his career at Rhode Island, showed off his arm — most notably when he hit Keyon Dickens (J.R. Tucker) over the top for a 51-yard gain that set up Byers’ first touchdown run. Byers showed off his agile quickness and his strength — a second-quarter touchdown reception he had came after he powered through a tackle attempt right after the catch. Jiles showed off his athletic ability at 6-3, hurdling a VUL defender to add to his yards after the catch on a 29-yard gain early in the second quarter.
And the list could go on.
“We got too much depth for anybody to even compete with us,” said Byers, who also said he was playing with a passion in the aftermath of the passing of his sister on Sunday. Her funeral was Thursday.
Reid, who began his career at Charleston Southern, replaced Grant in the third quarter and had a 5-yard touchdown pass of his own, to Ricky Key, Jr. (Westside), early in the fourth quarter.
VUU also had three special teams touchdowns: a blocked field goal returned 70 yards by Ephraim Moore to close the first half, a Larry Hackey 70-yard kickoff return to open the second half and a blocked punt that was fell on in the end zone by R.J. Rountree almost midway through the third quarter.
On defense, the Panthers played with a swarming intensity, that yielded eight total sacks. Defensive end Armonii Burden, a preseason all-CIAA pick, was in on 1.5 sacks and led VUU with six total tackles.
“I just really appreciated how they didn’t let up,” Grant said of the defense. “Like they were just all gas, no brakes, the whole game.”
Even after a shutout recorded in the manner of Thursday’s, Parker walked away feeling the Panthers have a few things to work on — namely penalties, of which VUU had nine for a loss of 104 yards.
That’s all the more pertinent considering what’s next, too. The Panthers travel to face Valdosta State on Sept. 10, the No. 2-ranked team in D2Football.com’s preseason poll and last season’s national runner-up.
But, after Thursday’s statement, next Saturday figures to be an apt test for a VUU team that is teeming with talent.
“We’re excited to go down there and take on the challenge,” Grant said. “We just got to get better every day and go down there and just play our game.”
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A recent inspection of all the park-maintained bridges found that this particular bridge was structurally unsafe for public use.
The pedestrian bridge leading to Texas Beach is closed until further notice.
A recent inspection of all the park-maintained bridges found that this particular bridge was structurally unsafe for public use.
If you still feel the need to hit Texas Beach and the James River you can take the North Bank Trail east towards downtown. Although I’ll be honest not sure exactly what the mean by this route. If someone more familar with the trails wants to chime in please do so in the comments.
There is also this, “Parks and Recreation staff will be available during the holiday weekend to assist visitors and ensure their safety as they access all areas of the James River Park System,” parks and recreation said in a release Friday morning.
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A good number of our picks happen tonight so get to planning.
Rafter Z Rodeo at Chesterfield County Fair September 2nd
This a twofer. To get to the Rodeo you’ve got to go the County Fair. I went on Wednesday and had a blast. The fair is awesome and a rodeo to boot is even more awesome. I’d suggest getting to the arena early prime seats are likely to fill up fast. Expect crowds this is the last days of the fair.
Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Breakaway, Tie Down Roping, Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding.
Mother India at Gallery 5 All of September
My knowledge of Indian art and artists is next to nothing. Fortunately I’ve got a chance to fix that this month.
Mother India is a month-long art show at Gallery5 that celebrates the overlap of our region’s Indian art and artists! Art and India have been inseparable for thousands of years. India’s cultural heritage has been passed on through the arts throughout all of India’s history of colonialism, gaining independence, and entering the international arena as a global superpower. Indian artists have a unique offering to share with the world. On one hand they hold an ancient artistic lineage, on the other, a modern approach to our ever changing world. The art itself has remained rooted in some of the oldest traditions on Earth while also constantly evolving to meet the relevant needs of contemporary life. Gallery5 is thrilled to display a group of artists that help share this notion. From paintings and ceramics to film, photo, and projections, Mother India shares some of the color, texture, tones, and vibrancy that is unique to Indian art. The show will open on Friday September 2nd at Gallery5 for the monthly First Friday art walk in the historic Jackson Ward Arts District.
Ride and Dive 2022 at All the Pools September 3rd
This weekend marks the closure of most pools. So why not hit all of them in one day and have a beer after?
16 miles, 7 pools, 5 hours, 1 celebration of RVA biking and swimming. Ride and Dive is an annual group ride and race against the clock to bike to and swim in every public pool before they close for the day and the summer. Along the way, see how far Richmond’s bike infrastructure has come and how much further it still needs to go. Arrive at Fairmont Pool ready to swim promptly at noon and then bike to and swim at the following pools: -Fairmount -Woodville -Hotckhiss -Battery Park -Randolph -Blackwell -Powhatan Triple Crossing Fulton for pizza and beers at 5:30
Amazing Acro-Cats at Gottwald Playhouse September 3rd
This cat band rolls into town fairly regularly and I always miss it and it’s going to happen again. Don’t be like me, go see the cat band.
The Acro-Cats, featured in the Netflix series Cat People, are coming to Richmond!
This troupe of trained domestic house cats, all former orphans, rescues, and strays, give a one-of-a-kind “purrformance” that includes cats riding skateboards, jumping through hoops, ringing bells, balancing on balls, and performing other feats of agility and entertainment. The show finale is the only all-cat band in the world: Tuna and the Rock Cats. The Rock Cats play guitar, drums, and piano, and they’ve recently been joined by the Jazz Cats on saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet. How do you train a cat to do complex stunts? Chief Executive Human (CEH) Samantha Martin uses clicker training, a technique involving only positive reinforcement, to train her troupe. Samantha and her assistants, and the Acro-Cats, tour the U.S. in their “catified” bus, which often is also home to a litter of foster kittens. In addition to being on Cat People, the Amazing Acro-Cats have been featured on national TV shows including The Late show with Stephen Colbert, Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, CBS News Sunday Morning, and PBS Nova’s Cat Tales.
The Acro-Cats tour to support Rock Cats Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Rock Cats Rescue is focused on saving cats “One Click at a Time” through cat welfare, rescue, and adoption. The Acro-Cats show promotes the importance of bonding and training cats with positive reinforcement, while also finding homes for rescued cats. Rock Cats Rescue has found homes for 309 kittens since 2009.
Ticket Information: Very Important Cat People Furront Row (VICP ONE): very front row seating and get to participate in the Meet & Greet fuurst VICP TWO: seating in rows 2, 3, and 4 and get to participate in the Meet & Greet after VICP1 General Admission: seating in the rest of the theater and get to participate in the Meet & Greet after VICP ONE and VICP TWO Discounts: A discount of $3 per ticket (excluding VIP ONE) is available to military, seniors (65+), and children (ages 2 – 12) All the rules! Due to the nature of the show and the cats’ decree, outside animals are not allowed inside the theater. This doesn’t include children, and kids 2 and under who stay on someone’s lap during the entire purrformance do not need to purchase a ticket.
Lobby, Box Office, and Merchandise open one hour before each showtime, and seating usually starts 30 minutes prior to posted show time. ADA seating is available!
This event is suitable for cat lovers of all ages, but wild children and crying babies will be given candy and a kitten and returned to their legal guardian. (Or just asked to step outside of the theater to calm down before returning to the theater.)
Thank mew and enjoy the show!
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