Richmond off-topic postings

[I miss RVA]

4 hours ago, ancientcarpenter said:

I really hope they don't do that. It will take the charm away from the Folk festival and RVA and just become another paid thing. Main reason I got into it was because it was free in my younger years and just learned to love it and love RVA even more.

 

From what I understand, Folk festival nationally came to RVA for first 3 years and then they moved to a different city - this is their entire schtick.  Then they hand it off to the local city and Folk festival organizers to manage. It's their way of leaving breadcrumbs and spreading the "movement" which is genius in my view. Making it a paid thing would crack the foundation of the Folk Festival philosophy at its core.  

I'd rather they do whatever is necessary to make this a permanent RVA fixture (which it sounds like it is) and really grow this thing into a national/international event. Boost the attendance from 230K to 500K to 1 million-plus annually! This could do for Richmond what Austin City Limits has done for Austin over all these decades. Especially with the new shining riverfront venue - and - a booming skyline as the backdrop, this is a MAJOR marketing tool that RVA needs to have in her arsenal annually. 

[wrldcoupe4]

Funny you mention that - I think it shared a weekend with ACL

[kllrjnk]

Hello. New member here. I have been a  faithful reader for many years now and have finally decided to join.

I wanted to share information about an upcoming event on Thursday,  October 20th that may be of interest. It's an exhibition featuring 22 modern architectural models by 10 Richmond area architects and designers. Many of the architects will be on hand for casual discussion. 

The event is free but registration for tickets is required. Below is the Eventbrite link with additional details and ticket information.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/414879324227

[I miss RVA]

52 minutes ago, kllrjnk said:

Hello. New member here. I have been a  faithful reader for many years now and have finally decided to join.

I wanted to share information about an upcoming event on Thursday,  October 20th that may be of interest. It's an exhibition featuring 22 modern architectural models by 10 Richmond area architects and designers. Many of the architects will be on hand for casual discussion. 

The event is free but registration for tickets is required. Below is the Eventbrite link with additional details and ticket information.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/414879324227

Welcome to the forums, @kllrjnk!! Thanks for posting this event - looks like it will be pretty cool.  Any idea if it might be recorded?

Glad you took the Nestea Plunge and joined the rest of us RVA crazies! Glad you're here - and very much hope you'll post frequently. 

[kllrjnk]

Thanks! @I miss RVA

The exhibit will be photographed and I'll be happy to post some pics. 

[I miss RVA]

6 minutes ago, kllrjnk said:

Thanks! @I miss RVA

The exhibit will be photographed and I'll be happy to post some pics. 

Please, if you would, that would be fantastic!! Thanks so much! 

[eandslee]

1 hour ago, kllrjnk said:

Hello. New member here. I have been a  faithful reader for many years now and have finally decided to join.

I wanted to share information about an upcoming event on Thursday,  October 20th that may be of interest. It's an exhibition featuring 22 modern architectural models by 10 Richmond area architects and designers. Many of the architects will be on hand for casual discussion. 

The event is free but registration for tickets is required. Below is the Eventbrite link with additional details and ticket information.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/414879324227

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting this!  
 

I wonder if we’d get any insight into any future Richmond developments through the models they will display?  Also, might be able to just ask some of the architects about some of the projects announced that we haven’t seen renderings for. Could be interesting.  
 

I bet a quarter Walter Parks will be represented!  [eye roll]

Edited October 14, 2022 by eandslee

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, eandslee said:

1.) I wonder if we’d get any insight into any future Richmond developments through the models they will display?  

2.) Also, might be able to just ask some of the architects about some of the projects announced that we haven’t seen renderings for. Could be interesting.  

3.) I bet a quarter Walter Parks will be represented!  [eye roll]

1.) - That would be super interesting to see.

2.) - YESSS!! I want to know the answers to that myself!

3.) - I think the bigger bet will be HOW MUCH will Walter Parks be represented? (meaning - percentage of models exhibited) 

[georgeglass]

Has anyone else noticed the new lighting on the Truist building downtown? I couldn't get a pic because I was driving, but I was coming from Rocketts towards town tonight and the southeast corner had two rows of lights at that edge all the way down. It looks really good IMo and I swear I haven't seen it before.

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, georgeglass said:

Has anyone else noticed the new lighting on the Truist building downtown? I couldn't get a pic because I was driving, but I was coming from Rocketts towards town tonight and the southeast corner had two rows of lights at that edge all the way down. It looks really good IMo and I swear I haven't seen it before.

Wow!! Very interesting that they've installed new lighting on the tower itself. Here's a look from the TV-8 sky cam positioned in Rocketts - it's grainy and tough to see clearly - BUT - a close look DOES show quite a different lighting pattern on the Truist tower.

If anyone in Manchester might be able to snap a pic or two from across the river some evening, we'd have a really good look at it!

Here's the view from the TV-8 sky cam:

 

[Brent114]

I think it’s just the Christmas lights (I hope it’s temporary).   It doesn’t look like proper, long term lighting (wavy like the strand hasn’t relaxed).   
 

I was hopeful that the corners were being bathed in light (it’s the perfect building for that, 400 uninterrupted feet of surface area).   This looks good, and would look great if they did the long term $50k investment in more durable lighting. 

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Brent114 said:

I think it’s just the Christmas lights (I hope it’s temporary).   It doesn’t look like proper, long term lighting (wavy like the strand hasn’t relaxed).   
 

I was hopeful that the corners were being bathed in light (it’s the perfect building for that, 400 uninterrupted feet of surface area).   This looks good, and would look great if they did the long term $50k investment in more durable lighting. 

Thanks for taking and posting these, @Brent114-- good call. I was wondering last night if maybe Truist was trying to get an early jump on the holiday season lighting. That totally makes sense.

[Shakman]

Agree.  Would have been nice if the interior of the corners were permanently LED lit.  Perhaps use mirrors to reflect the light up and into the sky.

[Brent114]

Do you guys remember when  BofA put the prison lights up on the east side of the building?  It’s the only time I’ve ever seen anyone try to illuminate a building from the top down.  
 

Those interior corners on the Truist building would look awesome lit.  
 

Richmond really needs to step up its night game.  Old City Hall had better be lit after this renovation.  The GA definitely needs to the lit (lighted?) too. Right after  it was converted to apartments, the old CNB had the top illuminated and it looked great, but one by one the builds burned out. Now nothing.   I recently watched a video of a car driving around Charlotte at night.  Not much there makes me jealous but the way they light that city up at night is pretty amazing.  More of that here please. 

Edited October 28, 2022 by Brent114

[KJHburg]

On 10/28/2022 at 12:32 PM, Brent114 said:

Do you guys remember when  BofA put the prison lights up on the east side of the building?  It’s the only time I’ve ever seen anyone try to illuminate a building from the top down.  
 

Those interior corners on the Truist building would look awesome lit.  
 

Richmond really needs to step up its night game.  Old City Hall had better be lit after this renovation.  The GA definitely needs to the lit (lighted?) too. Right after  it was converted to apartments, the old CNB had the top illuminated and it looked great, but one by one the builds burned out. Now nothing.   I recently watched a video of a car driving around Charlotte at night.  Not much there makes me jealous but the way they light that city up at night is pretty amazing.  More of that here please. 

in Charlotte it started with a few buildings but now it is coordinated as these articles discusses. For Panthers games, for charity awareness, for national holidays, for religious holidays it is coordinated by our uptown booster group Charlotte Center City Partners.  Now every building built has the LED lights built in and I like to refer to it as we have become the Vegas of Banking.  

But Richmond could start this too and the new Costar tower needs to have LED lights built in to show them how it is done.  It creates excitement to see it. 

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/know-your-704/article266516911.html 

https://www.wfae.org/podcast/faq-city/2021-08-10/who-coordinates-the-lights-on-charlottes-skyscrapers

Here is the upcoming schedule 

https://stories.wf.com/clt-lights/

 It is quite beautiful to see the skyline all lit one way or another.  Make a point if you are in the Charlotte area at night to drive around the 77/277 loop and see the lights. 

[Shakman]

I have always been a fan of exterior lighting of skyscrapers beyond just Christmas lights.  So far 600 Canal, Riverfront Plaza, Two James, and Gateway Tower are somewhat lit.  I'm not sure if City Hall and the former Verizon Tower are still lit.  City Hall's south facade is /was fully illuminated.  

 

"Hopefully all that lighting does not increase traffic and overcrowd our schools."   

"I can't see the stars!"

"Oh my gosh.  It's blinding me."

"Those lights are too tall."

[Hike]

Since it’s leaf season and I’ve been working on them for 2 days now, I thought I’d mention that you can mulch the leaves instead of bagging them or taking them to the curb. I’ve been working on ours for 2 days and we still have leaves on the trees but making some good progress. I use our lawn mower and bagger and in some areas, just chop them and leave them and the bagged ones we keep in a big pile for reuse. It’s a good winter mulch over the soil and eventually becomes soil. All my times in the woods hiking I’m impressed by how good Mother Nature creates such good soil. Those leaves are never removed and it’s rich soil, our soil will never look that good but it helps, give it a try. It’s dusty and can be messy but it’s worth it and I like how they look and feel good about keeping them for another purpose vs ditching them then going to buy mulch to replace it.

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131114849/leaves-fall-autumn-compost-mulch-grass-lawn-nutrients

Edited November 7, 2022 by Hike

[I miss RVA]

Sadly, it wouldn't fly today because of all the preservationist pushback about "historic" architecture, etc.,  - but back in the day (1960s, 70s and into the 80s) the beautiful CNB Building (my life-long favorite Richmond skyscraper) used to have the letters "C" "N" "B" adorning all four sides at the top of the tower. What was REALLY COOL about those letters - they changed colors depending on what the weather forecast was. When temperatures were supposed to be warm or hot, the letters illuminated RED. If it was to be mild/moderate/clear, the letters illuminated WHITE. Cool or cold weather would bring GREEN letters. And if there was rain or snow? The letters would flash on and off... on and off... like the old-fashioned Christmas tree lights.

It was one of my FAVORITE features about Richmond's skyline when I was growing up in the River City.

 

[I miss RVA]

RVA -- or more specifically -- Main Street Station -- is coming to a postage stamp!

Check this out! The USPS has unveiled its lineup of new commemorative stamps for 2023 - and Main Street Station made the grade for the select list of FIVE famous train stations around the U.S. that will be featured as part of the Postal Service's "Railroad Stations" collection.

Here is a screen scrub taken from the USPS website:

Railroad Stations
Noteworthy railroad stations began brightening the American landscape by the 1870s and, although many were torn down once they had outlived their original purpose, hundreds survived. This issuance of 20 stamps features five architectural gems that continue to play important roles in their communities: Tamaqua Station in Pennsylvania; Point of Rocks Station in Maryland; Main Street Station in Richmond, VA; Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, CA; and Union Terminal in Cincinnati, OH. Passenger trains stop at all of them except Tamaqua. Derry Noyes served as art director. Down the Street Designs created the digital illustrations and typography.

 

And a bigger image of the MSS stamp:

 

 

 

This is REALLY exciting -- MORE national pub and name recognition for RVA.  Truly, this is a HUGE HUGE win for Richmond!

 

You can check out the plethora of other stamp images planned for 2023 release by the USPS at their website:

 

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2022/1024-usps-reveals-stamps-for-2023.htm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_richmond&stream=top

Edited November 10, 2022 by I miss RVA

[plain]

That is F&¢+1πG AWESOME!!

[eandslee]

I will be in Richmond Friday and Saturday for the Richmond Marathon. This year, I’m running the Half. Can’t wait to spend some time downtown and seeing all the changes along the running route. If all goes well, weather should be great!  I’ll see if I can take some photos while I’m there. Really looking forward to this!

[wrldcoupe4]

Have a good race!

[Shakman]

1 hour ago, eandslee said:

I will be in Richmond Friday and Saturday for the Richmond Marathon. This year, I’m running the Half. Can’t wait to spend some time downtown and seeing all the changes along the running route. If all goes well, weather should be great!  I’ll see if I can take some photos while I’m there. Really looking forward to this!

Have a great race.

Edited November 10, 2022 by Shakman

[I miss RVA]

4 hours ago, eandslee said:

I will be in Richmond Friday and Saturday for the Richmond Marathon. This year, I’m running the Half. Can’t wait to spend some time downtown and seeing all the changes along the running route. If all goes well, weather should be great!  I’ll see if I can take some photos while I’m there. Really looking forward to this!

May you have a successful race, brother! Stay safe, be well, and finish strong!

[eandslee]

Some photos I took this morning during the 45th annual Richmond Marathon: