The opening of the much talked about Urban Farmhouse Market and Cafe is scheduled for February 3. The cafe will feature fresh, local, and seasonal foods. View their Winter Menu.

Virginia Blood Services will be holding a blood drive at Baskervill on Tuesday from 8:30AM-12:30PM (101 South 15th Street) to help make up for drives canceled due to snow.

The 5th Annual Chocoholic is this Thursday, February 4, from 6-9PM at the Virginia Holocaust Museum (2000 E. Cary Street):

Join us for Children’s Health Involving Parents’ 5th Annual CHOCOHOLIC!

The ultimate sensory experience…and a lot of chocolate! You will enjoy great conversation, laughs and networking opportunities. Get your taste buds ready for:

• Fountains flowing full of chocolate, cheese and other delicacies.
• Specialty confections from local chocolatiers, restaurants, bakeries and ice cream shops.
• Wines from area vineyards.
• Chocolate martinis…back by popular demand!
• Beer tastings. (New this year!)
• Cast your vote in the Best Chocolate Cake Contest. (Also new this year!)

Read more >

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro from MTV reality TV show “Jersey Shore” (and possibly other cast members) will be a Tiki Bob’s Cantina tonight. [via]

Rachel DePompa broke the story via twitter last night:

Shockoe Strip Club Owner Sam Moore accused of threatening a Richmond Police Officer over the phone.

She later followed up with more details at NBC12.com stating that Moore allegedly threatened violence against a police officer, who had contacted Moore on behalf of a Club Velvet employee about a work dispute. The misdemeanor phone threat charge can lead to up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The ABC Board is ruling this week in a separate matter to determine if Club Velvet will lose their liquor license.

Shamrock the Block 2010, Richmond’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day bash, is set for March 13 from noon-6PM at the 17th Street Farmer’s Market: bands, food, crafts, fun for the kids and of course, beers.

Baristas Erin Helland and Kimberly Certa of Shockoe Bottom’s GlobeHopper Coffeehouse & Lounge prepare to sling coffee with the best in Atlanta at the Southeast Regional Barista Competition. In similar fashion to a cook-off, barista competitions provide an opportunity for coffee professionals to prove the art of a real espresso requires much more skill than a push of a button.

GlobeHopper Coffeehouse & Lounge is participating in the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Southeast Regional Barista Competition in Atlanta February 19-21st in celebration of its upcoming second anniversary.

Read more >

The Virginia ABC Board made the decision on Thursday to revoke Club Velvet’s liquor license based on evidence that Moore allowed underage drinking, public nudity, drug use, consumption of alcohol in unauthorized areas of the club and allowed sexual acts to be performed on club customers.

Moore has 30 days to appeal the decision with the ABC and can continue to serve alcohol during that time. The transcript of the ABC hearing is available here (warning: graphic).

Reports by the Richmond City Department of Public Health Environmental Health Division show that Sumo San has 10 critical violations from their previous 5 inspections over the past year, with 1 critical and a whopping 11 non-critical violations served up most recent on January 27, 2010.

The Quoit Club 2010 Membership Drive will be at The Boathouse on February 15:

Named for Richmond’s most popular 19th century social club, the Quoit Club is a group for young Richmond residents who are interested in history and architecture. Grab all of your friends and come kick off the 2010 Quoit Club season with a membership social at the award winning Boathouse at Rocketts Landing.

Read more >

Come celebrate with GlobeHopper as they turn 2!

We’ve beat the odds! We’re turning two years old!! Come out and lounge with us as we jam to the bad bass beats of Jason Jenkins! Bring your instruments and jam along! All are welcome. No cover. Delicious beer, wine, and liquor specials. Oh yeaaah!

Read more >

Two meetings on bringing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Broad Street have been called for the end of February:

Join us to improve transit service and traffic congestion on Broad Street. This important roadway and transit route serves many commercial and residential areas and averages more than 700 bus trips daily. The study will focus on the most congested section – a 7-mile length from Rocketts Landing to Willow Lawn.

Read more >

The RTD today has a look at the developments underway in Shockoe, including Cedar Broad, Shockoe Valley Heights, and Cold Storage.

The February meeting of the Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association will be held tonight, Monday, February 15th at 5:30PM at Sheba (9 North 17th Street). The focus of the meeting will be GRTC’s proposed Broad and Main rapid transit corridor and the proposed connecting corridor. Also, George Bolos of the 17th Street Farmers Market will present on a practical and achievable light rail plan for Shockoe Bottom’s Main Street Station.

via NBC12.com:

The Richmond Metropolitan Authority has made a decision and the Native American statue “Connecticut” is expected to be headed from The Diamond to Tobacco Row.

This afternoon, the RMA Board of Directors voted to adopt a recommendation by the advisory group to grant the proposal from Odell and Associates, which plans to place the 2,400 pound statue at the Lucky Strike building on Tobacco Row in Shockoe Bottom.

Read more >