The Annual Downtown Real Estate Review will be held Wednesday, December 16 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. OR 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Richmond CenterStage in the Carpenter Theater. The review will feature 20 developers discussing more than 40 downtown developments. The event is free, but requires registration.

With the smoking ban now in effect, there are few restaurants that accommodate smokers. Havana 59 has opened their upstairs area to allow smoking, and Richbrau is considering allowing smoking on their second floor. Where else can you smoke? [via]

wtvr has the story on the Fas Mart robbery last night:

Police Officials say two suspects robbed a Fas Mart at gunpoint Friday night at 11 p.m. in the 2600 Block of East Main Street. The suspects were then pursued by Police into Henrico County.

While fleeing from police, the two robbery suspects lost control and slammed into a telephone pole in the 1600 Block of New Market Road and were killed as a result of the crash.

The RTD has more information on one of the robbery suspects killed fleeing from police on Friday.In addition to being a longtime felon, he was also an aspiring writer and guest lecturer at VCU. [via]

Join Shockoe Slip merchants and restaurants this Thursday and Friday for their Open House Block Party!

Come to our first annual Shockoe Slip Open House Block Party charity event December 10th and 11th for a barrage of amazing specials and deals and tons of fun! Get an edge on your holiday shopping, take advantage of drink and dinner specials, pet some puppies for adoption, warm up with hot cider, sing some Karaoke, dance to hot holiday music and be among friends all while helping Shockoe Slip raise funds for charities!

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Dana Craig reviews Aztek Grill, Shockoe Bottom’s newest Mexican restaurant, in today’s RTD.

On the surface, everything about Aztek Grill, the new “modern Mexican” spot in Shockoe Bottom, seems ready to offer an affordable yet unique dining experience. However, kinks in service and a less-than-intuitive menu left much to be desired.[via]

House of Marinara eats at Dora’s Brazilian Grill and gives the newly-opened restaurant a solid review.

They have the traditional rodizio (all you can eat meat-fest), but they also have other entrees in case someone in your party is not a true carnivore.

Governor Kaine and Mayor Jones at the ribbon cutting and dedication for the Virginia Capital Trail. [via]

Photo from Jeff Kelley.

As GRTC continues to push for a bus transfer station at Main Street Station, the RTD reports that Mayor Jones is cautious that it might interfere with high speed rail. 

“I believe that GRTC probably has a Plan B. I don’t want to speak for them, however,” Jones said in an interview when asked about the proposed transfer center. “But from my perspective, only so many things can go in Shockoe Bottom.” [via]

Many community organizations have come out against the most recent proposal for a transfer station at Main Street Station, including the Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association, The Historic Shockoe Partnership, and The Slave Trail Commission. Today’s article highlights a new group formed specifically to fight the transfer station, the Better Station Coalition.

The second location of Croaker’s Spot in Manchester is now open!

Dana Craig’s Best Restaurants of 2009 gives props to both The Boathouse at Rockett’s Landing and (the new) Cafe Gutenberg as two of “the best new local restaurants of 2009″. Speaking of Gutenberg she says:

This Shockoe Bottom café has a tumultuous history — from Tropical Storm Gaston’s devastation to almost closing last year. But this year saw Cafe Gutenberg reborn. It came back strong to define itself as a bona fide dining destination with a menu that celebrates the bounty of its neighbor, the 17th Street Farmers’ Market. Whether it be a local mushroom panino with scrambled eggs and Cabot Cheddar or grilled brats with ale-braised sauerkraut, it’s hard to find something not to like.

Heather Russell, formerly a gallery director and art advisor up north and now an adjunct professor at VCU in Art History, is launching the new gallery RUSSELL/PROJECTS with an opening in January. Urge has more:

Relocating to Richmond two years ago, Russell set her sights on becoming a player in Richmond’s vibrant creative milieu. “I wanted to be a part of it and to also contribute to fostering public arts projects and supporting young artists here in the community,” she explains.

The gallery’s initial exhibition will run from January 21st through to March 7th and features Helena Wurzel’s “VANITAS”–the first solo show for the artist.

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