The RTD has a thorough profile of LaDifférence and its owners. The article gives history to the nearly 3 decades old company, the background of its owners, and their “conscious decision” to open their shop in Richmond. 

Instead of going to New York, Washington or Florida to buy furniture, people from there come here to buy furniture… Only a handful of stores across the country have larger-than-life reputations. When people who know furniture come to Richmond, they make an effort to see LaDifférence. [via]

Style Weekly has the lead on the latest vision for Shockoe: a visitors’ center in Main Street Station. Willard Strickland, a retired teacher, is pitching the idea to make one of Richmond’s most recognizable landmarks a greeting point for visitors. No word on whether a formal proposal is in the works, but the idea is already gaining support from city booster, Jim Ukrop. [via]

In celebration of National Pit Bull Awareness Day, Ring Dog Rescue is hosting a series of activities at Plant Zero on October 23. The centerpiece event of the celebration is a roundtable discussion intended to provide insight, education and a place to network for animal welfare advocates.

“In Defense of Dogs – An Evening on Animal Welfare” is a public event, featuring a night of notable speakers in animal advocacy, along with food, beer, and wine to facilitate networking and mingling between local animal lovers. There will also be a special appearance by Gracie, one of the former Michael Vick dogs. With two high profile dog fighting cases pending in our local area, the time could never be better for an event which educates the public and honors these unjustly maligned animals.

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From the Library of Virginia’s Virginia Memory: This Day in Virginia History

This scale drawing of a portion of Manchester, Virginia, illustrates a February 21, 1869, murder scene, showing two routes from a local tavern to the home of Richard H. Whitehead. After drinking with Thomas Willis at Talley’s Bar Room, Whitehead shot James Rogers. The Chesterfield County Court convicted both Whitehead and Willis of murder in the second degree and sentenced Whitehead to eighteen years in the penitentiary and Willis to seven. The map is interesting for its depiction of particular buildings and residences of the time, revealing considerable information about how the area actually looked.

The will be an event on Wednesday, October 14 from 5-7PM launching The Riverfront Petition. Sponsored by Together We Stand, Partnership for Smarter Growth, Scenic Virginia, and the Alliance to Conserve Old RIchmond Neighborhoods, the petition is intended demonstrate the number of people “who support public ownership of all riverfront land along the north bank of the James RIver in the East End”.

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The best 1980s Christian metal band from Orange County, California, plays this Friday, October 16, at the Canal Club. Doors open at 7PM. $18.00/$20.00

The Rocketts Landing blog has a write-up on on last week’s opening of work by world-renowned and Richmond-based photographer Shaun Irving:

Turning a truck into a giant camera began as a joke in college. Irving ruminated on the concept for a few years, but the idea never left him. So in 2004, using all of his savings, Irving bought an old U.S. mail truck and built the vehicle into the world’s largest travelling camera.

Seen on the Hope in the Cities FB page:

If you are interested in being a part of one of the most significant historical sites in our city, come to Lumpkins Jail on Saturday, October 17 at 9 am to help clean up the site. It is an excellent time to work with others who care about our history and preserving sites that tell our story in such a powerful way. You can call 646-8911 to let them know you are coming, or just show up.

The Revival Tour featuring Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Jim Ward (Sparta), Tim Barry (Avail),Dave Hause (The Loved Ones), and Jenny Owen Youngs hits Canal Club this Thursday, October 15. Doors open at 8PM. $11.00/$13.00

Check out David Turner’s amazing Shockoe Bottom paintings 2003-2007.

The Virginia Holocaust Museum honors Senator Henry L. Marsh, III, on Sunday, October 18, at the 2009 Neilson J. November Award Dinner (PDF).

RVA Mag‘s latest feature from its “Welcome to RVA” series shows off the Manchester district.

Welcome to RVA – Manchester from RVA TV on Vimeo.

October is National Art & Framing Month, and Frame Nation is celebrating with the first annual, Frame For Good “Will Frame For Food” food drive for the entire month of October.

Frame Nation is encouraging a donation by offering $1 for each can donated for a savings of up to $50.00 off any custom frame order placed during October!

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 ”Meet Me in the Bottom- The Struggle to Reclaim Richmond’s African Burial Ground” premieres October 23 at the Grace Street Theater at 7:00 p.m.

The Burial Ground for Negroes (ca. 1750-1816) is located north of Broad Street, between 15th and 16th Streets. It is the oldest municipal cemetery for enslaved and free Blacks known toexist in the Richmond area. An 1810 map shows the Negro Burial Ground near Broad Street and Shockoe Creek.  Today the Burial Ground for Negroes sits adjacent to a parking lot owned by Virginia Commonwealth University. In fact, there are questions as to whether the Burial Ground lies beneath the parking lot. Activist and other groups have protested what is seen by many as a desecration of sacred ground. This documentary tells the story of the community’s efforts to reclaim the Burial Ground as the final resting place of their ancestors.

Admission is free. Following the screening, there will be a community discussion. For more information visit the movie’s website.

Richmond Magazine has the latest details on the proposed slavery museum in Shockoe Bottom, as well as a slideshow of the renderings. The editor of Richmond Magazine’s twitter page hints that  the Fredericksburg location is out.