'The Slumber Party' at Hickory Hill

The department will present three performances of “The Slumber Party” on stage at its Hickory Hill Community Center, located at 3000 Belt Boulevard. The performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28, Feb. 29 and March 1, and a reception will follow the opening show.
     The play, written by E. Claudette Freeman, is the story of five friends. As children they experienced first loves, heart breaks and the changes of life together. They endured family struggles, bouts with racism, the joy of one’s pregnancy and then separation. Now some six years later, they gather again, at the request of Daniella Reed for a slumber party. An evening of memories and childhood antics turn into a night of skeletons bearing rude awakenings, realizations and tests of friendships.  

    
The production is directed by Margarette Joyner, and the cast features Shanna Battle, Tiffany Byrd, Mahogany Kidd, Carolyn Hayes, Stephanie Pope, and Shalandis Wheeler Smith.

    
You must be 18 or older to attend, and a donation of $10 at the door is requested. Advance reservations are not required.

    
For more information, call 804-646-7934.

Department Statement on Removal of Skateboard Ramps

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities has asked users of the skateboard ramps placed on the tennis courts at Carter Jones Park, located at 2813 Bainbridge St., to remove the ramps by Wednesday, February 15. The public notice also advises that if the ramps are not removed by that date, they will be removed by the City.

“While the department supports skateboarding as a recreational activity, we have determined that the ramps are being used after the park is closed to the public at sunset and late into the night, which has resulted in continuing complaints from the neighborhood,” said Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, director of the department. “It is unfortunate that the situation has come to this, however we have found that there is no other way to prevent this activity after hours in the park other than to remove the equipment. We will be meeting with the skateboarders for discussion with them in hopes of getting their understanding and cooperation,” Merrifield said.

 

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Wear Red for Go Red! Richmond

MEDIA ALERT

WHO:             Dr. Carolyn Graham, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services

Dr. Donald Stern, Director of Public Health

WHAT:           Go Red! Richmond - A Mayor’s Healthy Richmond Campaign to raise

                        awareness of heart disease among women

WHEN:          Friday, February 3, 2012

Noon – 12:30 p.m.

                       

WHERE:       Marshall Street Plaza

                        900 E. Marshall St.

BACKGROUND:

Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ Healthy Richmond Campaign is encouraging all City of Richmond, Richmond Public Schools, and Richmond Health Department employees to Go Red! Richmond, by wearing red on Friday, February 3, and rally at Marshall Street Plaza for a brief presentation, prizes and a 15-minute Zumba class, to raise awareness of heart disease among women. Go Red! Richmond, coincides with National Wear Red Day, when millions wear red to celebrate the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease in women. Heart disease is often thought of as a man’s disease, when in fact it is the leading cause of death for both women and men.

The Healthy Richmond Campaign strives to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors to improve the health of all Richmond residents. The Campaign recognizes that good health impacts not only individuals and families, but the entire economic well-being of the city of Richmond.

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Department Announces Change to Upcoming Black History Art Exhibit

The work of Jerome Jones will be featured along with that of Dawn Cherry Miles in the department's annual Spotlight Gallery Black History Month exhibit scheduled to open with a public reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 27 at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center. The exhibit, titled “Imagery, Imagination and African Influence,” will no longer feature the work of Thaddeus LaCrette as previously announced.         Jerome Jones, like Dawn Cherry Miles, is a local African-American artist. He has gained national acclaim for his unique and diverse collection of work. His creative style of portraiture reflects the likeness of his subjects and what they love to do.
     Jones also will participate with Miles in the artist’s discussion to take place on Jan. 27 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Pine Camp Theater.
     The theater and the gallery are located within the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Rd. Both events are open and free to the public.

     The exhibit will continue to be on display through March 2. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Spotlight Gallery to Feature African-American Artists

In celebration of Black History Month, the department will host an art exhibit featuring the works of two local African-American artists: Dawn Cherry Miles and Thaddeus LaCrette. The exhibit, titled “Imagery, Imagination and African Influence,” will open with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on January 27 at the Spotlight Gallery, which is located within the department’s Pine Camp Arts and Community Center at 4901 Old Brook Rd.

      In addition, the artists will discuss their work on Friday, January 27, from 6 p.m. to 7p.m. in the theater at Pine Camp. Both events are open and free to the public. 

     The works on display will include Thaddeus LaCrette’s life-sized beaded sculptures and ceramic sculptures by Dawn Cherry Miles. Dawn Cherry Miles is a Richmond native, while Thaddeus LaCrette is originally from Grenada and has lived in Brooklyn, NY, and Atlanta.

     The exhibit will be on display through March 2 in Pine Camp’s Spotlight Gallery. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Holiday Hours and Events

The department, its community centers and its cultural arts and community center at Pine Camp will be closed Friday, December 23; Monday, December 26; and Monday, January 2 for the holidays. All parks will remain open as usual from sunrise to sunset.

     The department’s Before and After School program is closed during Richmond Public School’s winter break and will resume when schools re-open on January 3, 2012. The programs provide children with a safe place before and after school at 20 Richmond elementary schools. In addition, children in the After School Program are introduced to cultural arts and sports. Registration is just $50 and decreases for each additional child per family. Scholarships are available so that no child is excluded from the program. For more information or to register, call 646-6034.

      The First Tee of Richmond will be closed Thursday, December 22, through Sunday, January 1, and will re-open on Monday, January 2. The golf practice facility is conveniently located downtown at 400 West School Street off of Brook Road just blocks from Belvedere and Broad. It includes a heated driving range, putting green, chipping green with sand traps, six-hole par-three course, and a clubhouse. Regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call 646-4074.

     The department’s indoor Swansboro swimming pool will be closed Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26, and on Monday, January 2. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, Thursday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30. 

      The department will hold a free Winter Solstice Celebration on Belle Isle on Thursday, December 22, at 4:30 p.m. at the Tredegar Street entrance. Join the James River Park staff and the Friends of James River Park around the bonfire to welcome the start of the winter season. For more information, call 646-8911.

    
The Richmond Community Nativity Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 23, at the Carillon, located at 1300 Blanton Avenue in Byrd Park. This live outdoor presentation is a Richmond tradition and was originally narrated by Douglas Southhall Freeman. It includes a cast and choir of approximately 200, some who have participated in the pageant for 30, 40 or 50 years or more. The pageant is produced by the non-profit Richmond Community Nativity Pageant organization with assistance from the department. It is a rain or shine event. For more information, call Paige Quilter at 804-358-8481.

     The department will hold Free Movies on Ice at 7 p.m. for those enjoying ice skating at RVA On Ice Saturday, December 24, Sunday, December 25, and Saturday, December 31. The 8,400 square-foot outdoor skating rink is located adjacent to Richmond CenterStage between Sixth and Seventh streets on East Broad. The movies scheduled are as follows:

            December 24 – “Shrek the Halls”

December 25 – “White Christmas”

December 31 – “It s a Wonderful Life”

For more information about the department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, call 646-5733. 

City to Present Free Holiday Performance at the Landmark

WHO: City and Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Officials

WHAT: A performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” a one-act opera for the entire family, sung in English, telling the story of a mischievous shepherd boy named Amahl, his mother, the three kings who visit them, and the miracle that changed their lives forever.

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Landmark Theater, 6 North Laurel St.

BACKGROUND: This one-act family opera, composed by Gian Carlo Minotti, was commissioned by NBC and broadcast live for the debut of the Hallmark Hall of Fame on Dec. 24, 1951. This heartwarming holiday classic that will charm both children and adults, is thought by some to be the most frequently produced opera in the world. This year, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities presents its production featuring an all-volunteer cast, for the 50^th time as its holiday gift to the city. Admission is free, no reservations are required, and seating is based on a first-come, first-served basis.