Have you heard about the $6.2 million renovations in the works for Monroe Park? Scott over at Oregon Hill.net has a post about this with a lot of links, I thought I’d just point you over there if you hadn’t read about it yet.

“We want to bring the city parks into the 21st century.” Charles Samuels

Plans include (among other things): water feature that mimics the James, boat races, game area, summertime movies, outdoor concerts, new seating areas, more lighting, etc.

From Holly Gordon over at rvanews:

Strange Matter (vegan-friendly, carnivore-approved) is now offering bike delivery service to VCU Campus, Oregon Hill, Jackson Ward, Carver, the Fan, Randolph, Carytown, and the Museum District. Owner Bobby Pembleton says they have a “flexible $10 minimum charge.” Delivery is available every day except for Sunday, from 11am to 10pm. They only have one bike staffer and are averaging four to eight deliveries a day according to Pembleton. Strange Matter also does Tuesday night 50% off burger specials and Sunday brunch.

Strange Matter

929 W. Grace St
reet

804-447-4763

strangematterrva.com

Sticky Togogo is also offering delivery, though by car. After 5pm, if you live between Broad and Cary Streets and Belvidere and Thompson Streets, you can have your G.I. Janes, Godzirras, sticky balls, and tots delivered to your door. Togogo is open until 10:30pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11pm Friday and Saturday. $10 minimum means I may have to add a bucket of tots to my next order to get it high enough. Can they deliver PBR?

Sticky Togogo

2227 W. Main St
reet

804-358-2633

stickytogogo.com

ROBBERY (x2) 8/30/10, 10:34 p.m.

900 block of West Grace Street: Two males reported they were assaulted and robbed by a group of unknown males. An arrest was made.

ROBBERY 8/30/10, 3:38 a.m.

1101 W. Grace St.: A clerk reported an unknown male robbed the store at knifepoint. An arrest was made.

BURGLARY 8/27/10, 9:48 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

1302 W. Cary St.: An unknown person(s) entered the residence and stole two computers.

BURGLARY 8/28/10 — 8/29/10, 10:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

1605 W. Main St.: An unknown person(s) entered the residence and stole a laptop, cell phone, camera, backpack, two video game systems, video games and cash.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 8/29/10–8/30/10, 11:00 p.m. – 1:28 a.m.

1020 W. Grace St.: An unknown person stole a vehicle from the above location.

1. At the former White Dog Space on Main St. (near Stafford), Friend or Pho is slated to open next week, “as an Asian gastro pub specializing in Vietnamese and Korean food, with 20 beers on tap in addition to craft and imported bottles.”

2. The Cellar Door opens today (Wednesday) at the Stuart Court Apartment Building on Monument. Find them on Facebook.

3. BellyTimber Tavern (on Main St. at Plum) has revamped its menu, offering additional bar food, small plates, and a wider selection. (As a personal aside, I had lunch there today and found their Roast Beast sandwich with side salad to be very good.)

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9. Tickets are $12 for individuals, $10 for season subscribers, and $8 for students and RAPT members with ID. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 804-355-2001 or visit www.firehousetheatre.org.

The last in the Fan District Association’s Summer Concert Series is this Sunday, August 15th, 6-8 pm at Meadow Park with a performance by Susan Greenbaum. As always, the Fan District Association will provide a free ice cream cone to all who attend.

Barbara Crawford’s land and sky paintings reveal universal connections; exploring the vastness of the sky – fluidity, romance, freedom, volatility, and faith – her use of color and scale reference human history and our ability to grapple with our place within it. The large color photographs, by Lee Saloutos are from an ongoing project, which documents the ever-changing environment around the Salton Sea in California. From its accidental formation in 1905 to present, this landscape has wavered between environmental disaster and an ecological resource.

The works will remain on view through Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Beginning Tuesday, August 3, and continuing until Tuesday, August 31, the VHS is offering the opportunity for families to participate in interactive activities while they visit the museum.  August Afternoons take place from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and consist of coloring projects, photography and artifact analysis, and exhibition scavenger hunts.

The VHS is open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. (shop and museum galleries only). Admission is free.

Here’s a bit more of info about Jonny Z:

Jon Zanin, known to a countless list of adoring friends as Jonny Z, died in 2007 at the age of 26. Zanin is remembered as a creative and compassionate soul, a maker of art and music, a friend to all and enemy to none, a champion for the underdog. The festival honors his legacy, celebrates his spirit, and promotes art, music, community and friendship.