Minimalist

Stay Tuned...

2012-04-05T11:17:00.000-04:00

Hey Richmond, just wanted to let you know that Minimalist is in transition right now. We are attempting to re-focus and re-energize our efforts. Odds are posting will be slim over the coming weeks but we love writing for you and about you and can't wait to get back into it full swing. Please stay tuned!

In the meantime, check out these amazing progress photos of the G40 Art Summit around town by Marc Schmidt.

Image by Marc Schmidt via flickr

The Minimalist Team

RVA Organizers Win National Award

2012-03-27T13:27:00.003-04:00

Did you know there is a National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)? This often comes as totally new information to people who don't already know me.

Richmond has a local NAPO chapter and I'm a member for my organizing company, Minima. Last Saturday, we were recognized at the 2012 NAPO Annual Conference and Organizing Exposition in Baltimore, MD via winning the 2012 Chapter Challenge Award for highest percentage of members in attendance. 18 of 21 were present - go RVA!

Enthusiasm to the max! (I'm on the far left, back row.)

While there is often a lot of competition within in an industry, NAPO Richmond has a unique chemistry of support. We work in a very collaborative fashion to help one another succeed and define our individual areas of expertise.

Kristen Ziegler

RVA Entrepreneurial Trilogy

2012-03-26T15:06:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow night kicks off the Spring 2012 Entrepreneurial Trilogy brought to you by the i.e.* initiative of the Greater Richmond Chamber. From 5:30p - 8p at Troutman Sanders, the first event will focus on the patent process and have attorneys on deck to give pro-bono advice.

Tomorrow's agenda:
5:30 - 6:00p Mix & Mingle, refreshments and open bar
6:00 - 6:45p Panel Discussion featuring special guests:

Jeff Rock Co-Founder, Mobelux
Heather Loftus Co-Founder, Plan G
Mike Bucci President, K & M of VA Inc.
Neil Cohen Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, MWV
Robert Angle Intellectual Property Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP
Dabney Carr, IV Intellectual Property Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP

6:45 - 7:00p Q&A with panel
7:00 - 8:00p Reception with refreshments and open bar, with opportunities for guests to chat one-on-one with attorneys and established entrepreneurs about ideas, best practices and next steps.

The event is free and open to the public. You can register for the Patent Powerhouse here.

Following this event, there will be an Idea Mashup in May to pair creatives and start-ups. The series will end in June with a competition for the Best New RVA Start-Up. Mark your calendars and stay tuned to Minimalist for more info as it becomes available.

Hope to see you there!

Christie Thompson

The Weekend {list}

2012-03-23T13:03:00.001-04:00

Spring has sprung in RVA! Check out your list below for all the best ways to celebrate:

FRIDAY

Meet the Makers: Collina Strada, In God We Trust, Courtshop, and Dusen Dusen
Need Supply Co, 6p - 8p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Richmond Comedy Coalition Presents: Richmond Famous
Featuring Ian Graham, Renaissance Man
Gallery 5, 8p | $7 ($5 with student ID)
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY

Carver Community Workshop Series
If you live in the Carver neighborhood, listen up! Here's your chance to speak up for how you'd like to see your community develop. The Storefront for Community Design will hold three community workshops in the Carver neighborhood in March and April 2012. The purpose of the Carver Workshop series is to define and illustrate the neighborhood's vision for the future. Property owners and residents are all encouraged to attend these workshops. The result of the Storefront workshop series will be a Carver community statement, which will influence future development proposals and infrastructure improvements. Materials related to the Carver Workshop, including maps and workshop notes, will be available for community review at Storefront during regular business hours (Monday - Thursday, 2-6 pm) from March 24 until April 30, 2012.

Church Hill Irish Festival
In case you didn't get your fill last weekend of poorly impersonated drunk Irish accents, Church Hill's Annual Irish Fest will be taking place this weekend!

Shockoe Design Day No.2
'Made in America' highlights American artists as Shockoe merchants, advertising agencies, restaurants, architects and residents come together to make Shockoe the center for design. Enjoy a day filled with local music, food, shopping, design discussions and activities located around the 14th Street, Turning Basin and Virginia Street.
Saturday, 10a - 8p | Facebook event here.

SUNDAY

Urban Assault Ride
Have you ever thought to yourself, "gee golly Richmond is the perfect city for a wicked awesome bicycle obstacle event" ? If so, you are in luck! Urban Assault Ride 2012 takes place this weekend and launches from Kanawah Plaza. You better hustle, though, registration closes TODAY (Friday) at 4pm!
Sunday, 9am | prices vary to participate

Art Rodeo
The Visual Art Center Art Rodeo will have hands-on family-friendly workshops in a variety of media, artist demonstrations like a hot glass truck and blacksmithing, steam roller printmaking, appropriate rodeo music and BBQ, and a community art project featuring upcycled sheep sculptures made from thousands of plastic bags.
Visual Arts Center, 1:30 - 3:30p | free

COMING UP QUICK:

RVA Big Band
Mondays at Balliceaux, 9p | free 21+

Monument Ave 10k
Saturday, March 31

Antiques in Manchester kicks-off their 2012 season on Saturday, March 31!
Located in the covered walkway next to 205 Hull Street between 9a - 4p.

FeastRVA
April 1st at Studio Two Three - tickets on sale now!

Emily Jones + Emily Smith + Christie Thompson

Simple Food: Raw Kale Salad

2012-03-22T10:03:00.001-04:00

In this new series, Minimalist will be bringing you simple and affordable recipes for delicious and nutrient-rich meals. I'm going to kick off our first post with my new obsession: massaged raw kale salads.

So much green goodness... (the apple missed the ingredients shot)

You will need:
1 large bunch of kale
1 apple, chopped (I used a Pink Lady)
1/4 cup of raisins
1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds
1-2 lemons
olive oil
liquid aminos (or lite soy sauce)
sea salt

Start by washing the kale and removing the leaves from the stems. Put all of the kale into a large bowl and squeeze 1 - 2 lemons on top (depending on how much juice you get from each lemon and how much kale you end up with). Work the lemon juice into the leaves with your hands by gently massaging the kale (almost like working a dough). The acidity in the lemon juice along with the massaging of the leaves will remove any bitterness in the raw kale. Add the chopped apple, pumpkin seeds, and raisins, and a small drizzle of olive oil. You can top it off with a spritz or two of liquid aminos (or lite soy sauce) and salt and pepper to taste. The flavor is best if you let the kale soak in the lemon juice in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

It makes a great side dish, main dish, or snack. It's even better if you let it sit overnight in the fridge, allowing the lemon juice to really soak into all of the ingredients. Your total grocery cost will only be around $10, depending on what you already have in your pantry.

Despite the simplicity of the ingredients and preparation, there is nothing simple about the nutritional benefits of kale. Kale is extremely high in fiber and anti-oxidants making it one of the best cancer-risk reducers. Kale has cholesterol-lowering properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and supports the body's natural detoxification system. Eating kale raw (not heated above 104 degrees) preserves the nutrients found naturally in the plant and keeps you extra healthy.

Here's to a simple & nutrient rich life!

Christie Thompson

G40 Art Summit + Floodwall Street Art Festival

2012-03-21T13:47:00.001-04:00

In case you haven't heard, some incredible art is making its way into Richmond this month and next.

Gaia's mural at 11 W. Grace - image by The Cheats Movement

First, RVA magazine and Art Whino have been hard at work bringing the G40 Art Summit to Richmond. Starting this week through April 5th, 13 mural artists from all over the world will be painting 20 large scale murals in a 10 block radius to help launch Richmond's Downtown Arts District. There will be an opening reception on April 6th and dozens of other events throughout the rest of April including gallery shows, art workshops, painting nights, art battles and more. Gaia has already completed a mural at 11 West Grace and Pixel Pancho is currently in town working on his robots mural also on Grace Street. Check RVA mag's site for more updates on murals as they progress around town.

Secondly, the city of Richmond and Ed Trask are teaming up with Altria, Venture Richmond, Troutman Sanders, the Cordish Company, Art 180, and more to bring us the RVA Floodwall Street Art Festival on April 12 - 15. The festival is inviting artists from around the country to paint wall murals that will hang as removable banners along the flood wall. The artists will spend three days constructing their pieces and you're encouraged to come watch and interact with them. The organizers of the event hope that local organizations will purchase the banners after the event and the space can become a rotating gallery of sorts. In addition to the murals, Chop Suey's Bizarre Market will be set up and Brown Distributing will have beer trucks in the area on Saturday, April 14th.

This Spring is shaping up to be quite the colorful season!

Christie Thompson

The Weekend {list}

2012-03-16T12:44:00.004-04:00

Top 'o the weekend to ya! If you've been waiting 364 days for green beer and have a penchant for leprechaun's, then you're in luck, dear readers. St.Patrick's Day is upon us, and we foresee gobs of green garb and over-served patrons in your future.

FRIDAY:

Image via Need Supply Co.

Meet the Maker: Cause & Effect
Head to Need Supply tonight to meet the designer and maker behind the brand Cause & Effect. Billy Moore of Cause and Effect makes the majority of his products by hand his home is in Tennessee. He draws inspiration from his father and grandfather, who made things that were meant to last.
Need Supply Co., 6p - 8p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Bio_Diversity > Art + Architecture + Design Inspired By Nature
Celebrating the diversity of Richmond’s creative culture, Bio-diversity is an assemblage of painting, sculpture, architecture, and furniture exploring the influence of nature in art and design. Featuring our good pal, Amrit Singh!
Eric Schindler Gallery, 7p - 9p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Canary Oh Canary, Ocean Vs Daughter, and Marionette
Strange Matter, 10p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY:

O'Toole's get's things started early on Saturday morning by opening at 11am, and they've got a full itinerary for the entire day. Get there early if you want a table!

Dogwood Dell Trails Grand Opening
Join Richmond-MORE and the City of Richmond Trail Care Crew for a grand opening celebration. Head to the shelter next to Barker Field (Dog Park) for a cookout and presentation of the new trails. Ride and hike on the new trials will follow!
Dogwood Dell Picnic Shelter, 2p | free

Image via Shamrock the Block Facebook.

Shamrock the Block
Music all day at two stages, beer trucks galore, and at least 25,000 of your closest Irish friends.
17th & 18th Streets in Shockoe Bottom, 12p - 6p | free

Need more green beer options? Check out Richmond.com's St. Patrick's Day Bar Guide.

Soulpower Dance Party
Balliceaux, 10:30p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Wild At Heart
It's the last in this series of midnight movies at the Byrd!
The Byrd, 12am | $5

Bring it on, bring on the weekend!

Emily Smith, Emily Jones, & Christie Thompson

Shadrock Music Fest

2012-03-13T10:37:00.000-04:00

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Style Weekly will be hosting the inaugural Shadrock Music Fest at Brown's Island to mark three decades of award-winning arts and culture coverage in Richmond. Tickets are only $30 for the day to enjoy all 8 bands.

This year's line up will feature:

De La Soul
Yo La Tengo
Dum Dum Girls
Shabazz Palaces
Kepone
Invisible Hand
Kid Is Qual
Photosynthesizers

Between Shadrock, Groovin' in the Gardens, Friday Cheers, and RVA Music Fest - Richmond is embracing the live music scene in a big way this summer - and I'm pretty excited.

Christie Thompson

The Weekend {list}

2012-03-09T11:37:00.002-05:00

Spring has been quite the tease lately... luckily you have all sorts of awesome to get you through the last few weeks til warmer weather is here to stay. Enjoy your list RVA.

FRIDAY

R/D, The Polychrons & Zati
Electronic overload - The Polychrons, local dub fusion, and Zati, a local electronic DJ, followed by the nationally acclaimed electronic producer R/D.
The Camel, 9p

Rumors Boutique Vs. DJ Long Jawns: Hood Jams Part 2
Empire, 11p | free (get there early as this bar hits capacity quick!)

SATURDAY

Orchids Galore!
Hundreds of orchids will dazzle the senses with color, fragrance and beauty throughout the Garden’s Conservatory during Orchids Galore! The display kicks off the Garden's celebration of spring: A Million Blooms.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 9a to 5p | $11

28th Annual Craftsmen's Spring Classic Art & Craft Festival
Richmond Raceway Complex, 10a to 6p | $7

World Fusion
See our recent post for more on this event.
Plant Zero, 7 to 10p | $25

NO Richmond
Balliceaux, 10:30p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

SUNDAY

28th Annual Craftsmen's Spring Classic Art & Craft Festival
Richmond Raceway Complex, 11a to 5p | $7

Lobo Marino, Darling Waste, Paul Diello, A Murder of One
The Camel, 9p | $5

What did we miss? Tell us in the comments!

Christie Thompson

My Story in Belle

2012-03-08T12:25:00.001-05:00

For those of you who know me, I have a pretty dramatic story to tell about my past few years of life. I like to call it "The Three Octobers".

October 2008 - job loss
October 2009 - major break-up
October 2010 - ovarian cancer (and the beginning of Minima)

Bad things come in threes, right? October 2011 was amazing, so I'm thinking my luck has turned around. In any case, all of those life challenges made me a better person and I'm thankful for that. Karen Newton (you may know her blog I Could Go On and On) wrote a beautiful piece about my story in this month's Belle Magazine titled "Spare and Change".

Sneak peak:

But the same day her legal documents arrived in the mail to create the company, Ziegler found out she had an ovarian tumor. The business she'd started had to be put on hold. "But having a vision of starting my business got me through surgery and chemo," she says. "I was so excited about it all, so that was the light at the end of the tunnel for me."

I'm thrilled to share my story with our city. You can read the full article here, or pick up a physical copy at any one of these locations.

Kristen Ziegler

Event Spotlight: World Fusion

2012-03-07T10:01:00.001-05:00

This Saturday from 7p - 10p at Plant Zero in Manchester you can dance, eat, and drink for an incredible cause and only $25. The World Fusion event is a globally infused party that benefits services offered by the Resettlement program of the Commonwealth Catholic Charities of Virginia. World Fusion will feature the funky sounds of Richmond's own DJ Williams Projekt, light appetizers, all you can drink beer and wine, henna tattoos, a free photo booth, and a fantastic silent auction full of local restaurant gift cards, spa packages, yoga classes, and more. What an awesome deal for only $25!

Thanks to many local sponsors, your entire $25 will go towards furthering the Resettlement program services offered in Richmond. The program helps displaced refugees that have recently arrived from war-torn countries (including Bhutan, Burma, The Congo, the Middle East) as well as newly arriving immigrants. They serve over 300 refugees per year in Richmond by providing ESL classes, school services (enrollment / homework help), casework (health screenings, social security, etc), employment services, family mentoring, transportation, and immigration counseling. You can learn more about the Resettlement program here and find volunteer opportunities here.

You can purchase tickets here or at the door on the night of the event. You can also RSVP on Facebook here.

Hope to see you there!

Christie Thompson

Good Ideas for Cities: Richmond

2012-03-05T10:14:00.001-05:00

The collaborative organization GOOD recently announced they will be visiting our great city to help brainstorm ideas to take Richmond to the next level. During a one day event in April, three creative teams will be organized to tackle a real challenge issued by a local urban leader. Each team will work together and with their local leader to create a potential solution which will be presented by the teams in front of a live audience to encourage and engage in discussion. After the event, all ideas will also be showcased on GOOD.is.

Where do you come in? Well, you can apply to be a part of one of these awesome creative problem-solving teams tasked with a challenge facing Richmond! Deadlines for applications are this Monday, March 12. Teams and event details will be announced at @IdeasforCities on March 13. The main event will be held on April 24 at a location to be announced and is being hosted by the i.e.* Initiative of the Greater Richmond Chamber and Capital Region Collaborative.

This is an incredible opportunity for the city of Richmond and for us as citizens to get involved. I'll definitely be applying and hope you will be too!

Christie Thompson

The Weekend {list}

2012-03-02T13:36:00.003-05:00

Well shucks, it's Friday y'all. Here's your list:

FRIDAY

Oscar Munoz, Imprints for a Fleeting Memorial
1708 Gallery, 5 to 9p | free as part of First Fridays

Illustration by Nelly Kate

CAGED ANIMALS + SOFTSPOT + BOAS - Illustrations by Nelly Kate
Nelly Kate is a good friend of Minimalist and she's about to hit it big - on the heels of her new album release, ISH ISH, her illustrations will be up tonight for one night only at Gallery5. We couldn't be more excited for this! Be sure to stop by Gallery5 tonight to check out her show and buy her new album here.
Gallery5, 6 to 9p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Body of Evidence
Photography by Chuck Scalin of a recent discovery of 14 stored evidence boxes, each contains objects pertaining to unsolved mysteries, long ago forgotten. (Are any members of the Scalin family not super talented?!)
Ghostprint Gallery, 6p (through the rest of March) | free as part of First Fridays
RSVP on Facebook here.

Brooklyn-based Japanther, image via

WRIR Presents Japanther
Strange Matter, 9p | $7
RSVP on Facebook here.

Bio Ritmo
Balliceaux, 10p | $8

SATURDAY

2012 Mid-Atlantic Beard & 'Stache Competition
Facial hair extravaganza! Win a prize for your follicle growing abilities - and benefit the Food Bank while you're at it. What's not to love?
Strange Matter, 8p | $5 to enter, $5 to compete (benefiting the Central VA Food Bank)

Tragic Love: Midnight Movie Series
Midnight movies return to the Byrd with a Tragic Love theme. This Saturday, check out Re-Animator.
The Byrd, 12a | $5

SUNDAY

THE SPITS / SOUTHSIDE STRANGLERS / THE NERVOUS TICKS / THE HAVERCHUCKS
Strange Matter, 6p | $8 Advance, $10 at the door
RSVP on Facebook here.

Did we miss something fantastic? Let us know in the comments!

Christie Thompson & Emily Smith

Staying Sane February

2012-02-29T17:10:00.002-05:00

For those of you who have been following us for awhile, you might remember our "Staying Sane" posts that we've taken a bit of a hiatus from recently. Well, they're back! We like to share what we did to keep us happy at the end of each month. It's is all about the little things, right?

Kristen - I'm always looking for ways to create more free time for myself. Aside from enjoying an aesthetically pleasing space, it's one of the main reasons for my minimalist lifestyle. Less stuff = less maintenance. Earlier this month when we started having Spring-like weather, I decided I should clean my windows. I noticed the blinds that came with the apartment were a little dirty and attempted to clean them as well without much success (years of caked on grime isn't easy to remove). They looked better, but I still thought they were pretty unappealing. I remembered a conversation I'd had a few weeks earlier with Sally over at Metro Modern. She and her husband, David, don't have any window coverings in their Fan row house. I thought to myself, "Do I really need window treatments?" I decided to leave the blinds down for a few days and see how it felt. I LOVE it! The view is so much better and the rooms are even brighter. The outline of the windows without any blinds creates a very clean look AND I don't have to dust or wipe down another blind as long as I live there (time savings = 4 to 6 hrs/yr) . I did purchase some inexpensive curtains from IKEA for my bedroom. (A little) modesty can be a good thing.

Before and after. Granted, the before was taken at night, but it still illustrates the undesirable-ness of the blinds.

Christie - With the recent launch of Fibre Craft's website, I've been sewing and making like a mad woman. My stock pile of material had begun to get a bit out of control and was making it really hard to be efficient in my "studio" (read: large desk in the corner of my room). I decided to make some more space to store materials and supplies under my bed by going through some old boxes and clearing out nearly four trash bags full of stuff to give away.

I was able to fit one large wine crate box and two vintage suitcases full of material under my bed in place of the things I gave away. I also finally added tags to my smaller boxes so it's easier to find notions and scraps when I need them. Lastly, it freed up a ton of space under my desk making the room feel a lot less cluttered. It's really helped keep the inspiration flowing in the one place of my apartment that I need it the most.

Organizing Memories

2012-02-28T21:02:00.003-05:00

Items that have a strong sentimental value can be some of the hardest to let go of. As time goes on and the collections of memorabilia grow, the task of going through it all gets a bit overwhelming. Below, I break it down into three steps.

Step 1 - Consolidate

Photo credit Minima

The first step to organizing anything is to put like with like. For example - if you're organizing photographs, go through your home and get them all together in one location or container. By doing this, you're already more organized. Do you know the exact whereabouts of your college graduation photos? Maybe not, but at least you'd have an idea where to start looking. Added bonus - those photos are no longer cluttering up the various corners of your home where they were living before. If you are doing an all inclusive memorabilia sort, choose a room that can be used as a temporary work space and gather all of your items together in that space.

Have a whole house full of memorabilia? Pick one category that you feel will be the easiest to start with and follow our steps accordingly.

Step 2 - Sort and Purge

Once you have everything together, sort into more detailed categories. For photos, I always recommend keeping things simple and sorting by year. If you're doing an overall memorabilia sort, separate items into categories like "travel", "kids' art", "wedding", "childhood items", "cards", "photos", etc. I like to use free boxes from the ABC store to help contain the sorting process and keep items separated. You won't know what kinds of store bought containers you'll need until you have finished the sort/purge and can determine the quantity and size of items to be stored.

Tip - sticky notes are your friend! Use them as temporary labels while you sort. Photo credit Minima

As you are sorting, if you come across an item you know you don't want keep, start a "donate" and/or "consign" pile. Typically I recommend quickly sorting items into categories without much consideration as to whether they will be kept. Then, once you see your complete collection all together, it's easier to make editing decisions rather than deciding one piece at a time.

There are many ways to keep your memories alive other than holding on to every item that has sentimental value. Most of us simply don't have that kind of storage space. For many, snapping a photo of the item is enough to help them remember. A digital photo takes up zero physical space as opposed to the 20 stuffed animals from your childhood (maybe just keep your all time favorite). You know the saying - "Why don't you take a photo? It'll last longer."

For printed photos, local business Revolve offers scanning services so that you can safely store images online. They can also transfer your VHS to DVD!

Another option is to re-purpose an item into something that can be incorporated into your daily life. Minimalist writer Christie Thompson transformed a client's late grandfather's jacket into wool ties for his three grandsons.

Visit Fibre Craft for more recycled handmade goods.

Step 3 - Contain

Once you've culled through your collections, the items you've chosen to keep need to be stored in a way that will protect them from damage and keep them organized so that your efforts don't go to waste. When choosing containers, consider where the items will be stored and select something that will fit the space and your aesthetic preferences. Anything kept in an unconditioned area such as a garage or attic should be in a plastic container with a lid. Paper-based boxes like these can be an attractive option for indoor storage. The Container Store and Exposures are two great places to find products.

Clear plastic ArtBin boxes store photo envelopes by year. Photo credit Minima

If you have any questions about organizing keepsake items please feel free to contact me at hello@minimaonline.com or leave a comment below.

Kristen Ziegler

The Weekend {list}

2012-02-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the weekend!

FRIDAY

Richmond Famous ft. The RVA Beard League
The Richmond Comedy Coalition's all-improvised monthly show series, Richmond Famous, features live and totally unscripted comedy, created on the spot, inspired by the true stories of some of RVA’s most interesting people.
Gallery5, 8p | $7
RSVP on Facebook here.

VCU Southern Film Festival: Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel (2011)
5p - reception
6p - film critic Molly Haskell
7p - film screening
8p - discussion with John Wiley, Ellen Brown (authors of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, & Molly Haskell
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts | $8 non-VMFA, $4 VMFA, free to VCU students & faculty

Black Girls (Vinyl Release) NO BS! White Laces! Trillions!
Kingdom (formerly Alley Katz), 9p | $12
RSVP on Facebook here.

Eternal Summers / White Laces / Peace Beast / Navi
9p | free
RSVP and get secret location (message event creator) on Facebook here.

Dank D and Friends - Live at Bonvenu!
Richmond's freshest hip hop, featuring Brian McDaniel of Dirty Richmond.
Bonvenu, 10:30p | free

SATURDAY

Reel Rock Tour
As a part of the climbing festival, see a collection of short films that showcase amazing climbing adventures from around the world!
VCU Life Sciences Building, Room 155, 8p | free

Dead Fame EP Release Party
Balliceaux, 10p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.

SUNDAY

5th Annual Crafters Anonymous Craft Swap
Gather a bag of your unused or slightly used craft supplies that you no longer need or want and bring them to the craft swap this Sunday. All proceeds benefit Art 180 - a Richmond based non-profit organization that creates and provides art-related programs to young people living in challenging circumstances.
Art Works Richmond, 1p - 4p | $6 (or $1 if you bring a bag of goodies to swap)
RSVP on Facebook here.

Sticky Rice Iron Chef Masters Classic - The Final Round
Sushi chefs from all three Sticky Rice locations will compete for top honors. Specials and door prizes will be featured during the event.
Sticky Rice RVA, 9p |free
RSVP on Facebook here.

What else is going on Richmond? Let us know in the comment section!

The Minimalist Team

The Weekend {list}

2012-02-17T12:21:00.000-05:00

You've successfully made it through Valentine's week - it's time to unwind and enjoy the weekend folks. Here's your list:

ALL WEEKEND

The MIX International Short Film Festival
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, various times for each screening
$20 weekend pass, $7 individual screenings - get tickets here.
National and international filmmakers will be visiting Richmond for a spectacular weekend event at the Byrd Theatre. Top filmmakers from 17 countries are expected to be in attendance for the event including from Hollywood, NY, VA, and DC. A Sunday Red Carpet Awards Ceremony with performances by Bob Gulledge and special guest live musical performers, including RVA's own Reggie Pace, (sold separately at $15).

FRIDAY

Studio Two Three Open House
Studio Two Three willl be showing off their newly renovated space and facilities, listening to music and drinking some beverages. If you have a background in print or any project ideas that would be suited for a young, energetic non-profit stop by to hang out.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Rumors Hood Dance Party with DJ Longjawns & DJ Doddie
Dance party Friday night at Cous Cous and Saturday night at Empire for RumorsTV.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Black Girls
Balliceaux, 10p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY

Zest Fest
Greater Richmond Convention Center | 6p to 11p
FeedMore’s annual signature event generates support for our feeding programs while offering attendees a one-of-a-kind opportunity to sample dishes from some of the region’s best chefs and vintages from Virginia wineries.

Soulpower Dance Party presented by RVA Mag
Balliceaux, 10p | free
Old Soul and Funk jams on vinyl, all played at a comfortable 45 rpm for you to get down on the dance floor.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Cinnamon Band, Snowy Owls, Airstrip
Strange Matter, 10p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.

SUNDAY

Jewish Food Festival
Sunday & Monday
6300 Patterson Avenue | 11:30a to 7:30p

Regional Showcase
The Camel, 8p | $5
Featuring Mittenfields, Those Manic Seas, Left and Right, and Gray Young.
RSVP on Facebook here.

FilmRoasters: The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Firehouse Theater Project, 8p | $5
Once a month, the FilmRoasters select a classic, culturally significant achievement in cinema history and slowly incinerate it over a pit of microphone-fueled mockery. February's guest of honor is the non-Keanu version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the movie that gave rise to that classic phrase, "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto!"
RSVP on Facebook here.

Christie Thompson

Your Daily Greens: Fresca on Addison

2012-02-15T13:04:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about living in Richmond is the multitude of rich and diverse options of vegetarian and vegan cuisine. You can barely throw a rock and not hit a vegetarian these days and it's nice to see so many chefs accommodating this lifestyle with some flare. As a vegetarian myself, Fresca on Addison has become one of my go-to restaurants lately.

Yep, those are homemade vegan cupcakes on the right side of the counter..

From their homemade pitas to their downright delectable kale salad and scrumptious illy coffee, it's hard not to fall in love - vegetarian or not. Their pitas and pizzas are made to order - even the dessert pizza, which I've heard amazing things about. They also offer a small assortment of grocery goods including beer, wine, pastas, and kombucha. If you haven't yet, make a plan to spend your next lunch break sitting on their umbrella shaded porch sipping an illy latte and feeding your body some serious goodness.

I've yet to leave Fresca without feeling completely energized by the incredible freshness and nutrients their meals have to offer. As their tagline states, they want you to eat better, dammit!, and I think they're doing a great job at it.

Check out Fresca on Facebook and twitter too.

Christie Thompson

Happy Valentine's Day RVA!

2012-02-14T09:17:00.003-05:00

From the Minimalist team to you!

xo

PS - Don't forget about last week's Valentine's {list} for some hidden gems around the city to take your boo!

The Weekend {List}

2012-02-10T10:35:00.003-05:00

From dance parties, to local beer, to historic celebrations - Richmond is a fine place to spend your weekend. Enjoy your list!

FRIDAY

Sweethearts for the Arts: Speakeasy- A blush worthy benefit for Art On Wheels
Gallery 5, 8p | $20 advance, $25 doors
This Valentines Day weekend take a step behind closed doors into the times of prohibition and Speakeasies. Join Art on Wheels at Gallery 5 for an evening of music, fun, and revelry right out of the 20's hosted by Miss Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside. Musical performances by Alison Self and The High Street Lowlifes.
RSVP on Facebook here.

NO BS Brass Band
The Camel, 9p | $7
NO BS Brass and Reggie Pace are blowing up faster than you can say, "RVA All Day".
RSVP on Facebook here.

RVA Mag Presents Cold Cuts with Audio Ammo
New York Deli, 10p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY

Taste the Local Tap Take Over
Can Can Brasserie, 5p - 8p
Virginia is for lovers of locally brewed craft beer. Can Can shows it's local love with eight different Virginia breweries featured on tap. A silent auction and raffle that will feature donations from local businesses and artisans. Benefiting the Pink Ink Fund (that we mentioned awhile back) started by Amy Black of Trademark Tattoo in Carytown.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Image via Style Weekly

The Biograph Theatre 40th Anniversary -- Film Screening
Grace Street Theater, 7p | $20 ($10 for the films, $10 donation to the James River Film Society)
The James River Film Society will present a double feature including "Breathless" - a 50th anniversary restoration 35mm print no less -- and "Lonely Are the Brave". See the Golden Age Revisited article at Style Weekly for more information on the Biograph Theatre's Anniversary.

No Richmond Dance Party
Balliceaux, 10p | free
Your monthly dose of No Richmond DJ's (along with guest DJ Marty Violence of Steady Sounds) spinning all vinyl new wave, post punk, no wave, etc.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Pre-Valentine's Dance Party with Black Girls and Winston Cup, 1981
Emilio's, 9p | $5
If No Richmond wasn't enough to get your feet two steppin', surly Black Girls and Winston Cup, 1981 can take you there. I've yet to make it to Emilio's but it's on my way to work and I've always been intensely intrigued as to what's behind those dark curtains in the windows.
RSVP on Facebook here.

Happy Friday Richmond!

Christie Thompson & Emily Smith

Upside Down, Left to Right

2012-02-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

English film-maker and director, Danny Cooke, created the short film, Upside Down, Left to Right which provides a glimpse into Plymouth University's movable-type printing studio.

Richmond hosts a handful of active letterpress studios, supported no doubt by the recent neo-traditional revival. Be sure to check out Thousand Pound Press, Page Stationary, VCU's Bowe House Press and The Visual Arts Center, to name a few, for local examples of relief printing!

Emily Smith

The Valentine's {list}

2012-02-08T21:55:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again to show your boo how much you care through surprises, candle lit dinners, and sweet little somethings. Whether you're on a budget or not, Richmond has much to offer for every love bird this year.

Image via Etsy

Looking for a romantic evening out?
Cafe Rustica, Bistro 27, Edo's Squid, Stella's, Bacchus, and Acacia are a few of our favorite date night spots for their warm atmosphere and delectable cuisine. Most restaurants around town are offering Valentine's specials so be sure to check ahead for options. Richmond.com put together a great list of special menus from dozens of restaurants. Check it out here.

Take-out and a fireplace or sunset view more romantic?
A red or white pizza from 8 1/2 with a bottle of wine from Strawberry Street Vineyard can't be beat. Also, if you're looking to whip up something yourself, check out local blogger Tim Vidra's E.A.T. blog featuring tons of recipes and some of the most mouth watering food images you've ever seen.

Need a fantastic gift?
Check out Mongrel, Rumors, Quirk Gallery, and Need Supply for all sorts of big and small gifts. For something handmade by your fellow RVA locals, check out Academy Jewelry (jewelry), Fibre Craft (bags and neck ties), Emily the Mighty (laptop and ipad cases) and Itty Bitty Press (screen prints).

Want to get outside?
Get on your tandem bicycle and head over to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fountains, Swan and Shields Lakes at Byrd Park, Italian and Japanese Gardens in Maymont Park, Lewis Ginter, Belle Isle (especially the west end of the island), Chimborazo Park, or Hollywood Cemetery. Sure, a cemetery can be a little creepy but with fantastic views of the James River, crumbling stone and big trees along the southern perimeter it can also be pretty darn romantic.

Happy Valentine's Richmond!

xo,

Christie Thompson & Emily Smith

Fibre Craft Handmade

2012-02-07T09:52:00.001-05:00

Photo by Evan MacKenzie

For the past few weeks I have been hard at work putting together a brand new website for my handmade business, Fibre Craft. Fibre Craft is a line of handmade accessories for him and her inspired by and created from vintage and recycled materials. Currently in stock are clutch bags for her and neckties for him, all handmade in Richmond!

It is with quite a bit of pleasure and delight that I introduce you to FibreCraftHandmade.com. A big, big thanks goes out to my web designer, Jason Smith, and my photographer, Evan MacKenzie. You can use the shipping code 'LOVELY' to get free shipping through Valentine's Day!

In true Minimalist spirit, I must share with you the platform my website was built on is an amazing resource for anyone wanting to create a small online web store. Big Cartel is a site similar to most portfolio websites, giving you a basic template or two for free and allowing you to upgrade the CSS manually if you know how. Unlike Etsy, they don't charge per purchase, but they have a small monthly fee (based on number of products) that includes hosting. I highly recommend checking it out if you're looking to sell items online and want to break out of the Etsy world.

Hope you like the new site! Also, you can 'like' Fibre Craft on Facebook to get updates on new products and happenings.

Christie Thompson

The Weekend {list}

2012-02-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

FRIDAY + SATURDAY

Monoprint by Jim Sherraden

American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print
Smithsonian traveling exhibition, The Art of Hatch Show Print, celebrates a time-honored graphic art tradition through the work of Nashville's Hatch Show Print, one of the nation's oldest and continuously printing shops. While Hatch's name is synonymous with the music business, its posters promoting football games, vaudeville shows, state fairs, stock car races, and picture shows reflect the breadth of American popular culture.
Library of Virginia | Exhibition Gallery
See more of The Art of Hatch Show Print on YouTube.

FRIDAY

First Fridays Art Walk

Moving Parts
New Work by Emerald Grippa
Quirk Gallery, 5 - 9p| free

First Fridays Samplers
The Visual Arts Center, 6:30p - 8:30p | $5 - $15
Stop by the VAC on Friday night to get two hours of hands on instruction in Raku (traditional Japanese pottery firing), Wheel Throwing, or Letterpress Printing for all skill levels. For a small fee you can test out a new medium and decide if you want to invest in a full course. I've taken two classes at the VAC over the past few years and my investment was well worth the price and time.

Black Girls & Psychobilly Cadillac
The Camel, 10p | $6
RSVP on Facebook here

Poster design by Team Eight

WRIR Party for the Rest of Us
The Renaissance Conference Center, 7p | $10 donation
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY + SUNDAY

RVA Environmental Film Festival
The James River Film Society and the Falls of the James Group of The Sierra Club will join together to present another exciting RVA Environmental Film Festival at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. The event will showcase films designed to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Saturday 10a - 6p
Sunday 1p - 6p
RSVP on Facebook here.

SATURDAY

Sarah Tector Trunk Show
Jeweler Sarah Tector visits from North Carolina. Come check out her sleek and modern jewelry. Sarah's design philosophy is simple: less is more. She prefers to let one element in a piece stand out creating mainly in sterling silver, gold, platinum and other mixed media.
Quirk Gallery, 12p - 4p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Dance Your Cookies Off with the River City Roller Girls
Fundraiser dance party for the roller derby team.
Gallery 5, 8:30p | $5
RSVP on Facebook here.

SUNDAY

The Most SUPER Super Bowl Party
The Republic, 4p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Super Bowl Sunday
Huge screen, huge sound system, drink and food specials.
The National, 5p | free

Boas / Heavy Midgets / Ahnnu
Psychedelic event with live video projections by Chris Balint from Baltimore.
The Camel, 9p | free
RSVP on Facebook here.

Happy Friday Richmond! And Happy Birthday to our Minimalist founder Kristen!

Christie Thompson & Emily Smith

The Rooster Cart: Open for Business

2012-01-31T15:17:00.001-05:00

I had quite a refreshing lunch break today at the Rooster Cart over by Bandito's & Black Hand Coffee. The owners of the former Cafe Gutenberg (now, Arcadia) have started the all vegan cuisine food cart called the Rooster Cart. They are currently serving a number of sandwiches, including the Mock Duck Rooster sandwich and Tofu Bahn Mi (classic Vietnamese street food). Rice bowls and vegan sweet pea mac and cheese were also on the menu today.

The sibling owners, Jen Mindell and Luke Mindell, hope to have the Rooster Cart open for business in the VCU area and eventually downtown. Today and most of this week though, they are set up in the parking lot behind Bandito's Burrito Lounge from 12p - 3p. The service was warm and the food was incredible. I will definitely be tracking down the Rooster Cart on a regular basis. Follow them on Facebook to get updates on where they'll be posted up each day.

It's exciting to see more creativity in the food cart world of Richmond. Washington DC has managed to make a lifestyle out of food carts and it's fascinating to say the least. Start up costs are nothing compared to an actual restaurant and customer loyalty and business at most carts seems to be booming. Can't wait to see what other local carts will pop up this summer and beyond.

Congrats to Jen and Luke for the great cart and great food! Read more about their start up at RVANews.

Christie Thompson