Tag: U.S. travel

Richmond Surprise: Day 5

Richmond Surprise: Day 5

It was the last day of camp and we were all glad to have made it the full week and to be celebrating artistic accomplishments! We dropped off the girls and my son and I spent the morning looking at Richmond architecture. I was specifically 

Richmond Surprise: Day 4

Richmond Surprise: Day 4

Day 4 arrived and we did our morning commute to art camp yet again. After the drop off, my son took a snooze in the car while I tried to find something for us to do. I learned from my past hanging out sessions in 

Richmond Surprise: Day 3

Richmond Surprise: Day 3

Enjoying the architecture exhibit at the Virginia Center for Architecture.
Enjoying the architecture exhibit at the Virginia Center for Architecture.

Day three of our Richmond travels began thankfully smoothly. We dropped off the girls and drove to our morning destination, the Virginia Center for Architecture. We had an hour before the museum opened so my son took a nap and I read.

The exhibit on current display was an overview of the 99 best architectural structures in Virginia. My son enjoyed the huge map of Virginia at the entrance, especially pointing out numbers to me.

Look mom!  Number three!
Look mom! Number three!

I wasn’t really paying attention to what these numbers meant but since my son kept drawing my attention to them I took better notice. When he got to the number zero, I was shocked by the information.

We do love Colonial architecture here in Virginia.  Perhaps we need to encourage modern twists on colonial architecture that incorporate other perspectives.
We do love Colonial architecture here in Virginia. Perhaps we need to encourage modern twists on colonial architecture that incorporate other perspectives.

I always enjoy the exhibits at the Virginia Center for Architecture. It is a bit different from a traditional museum in that there usually are not original works of art guarded in glass, climate-controlled cases. Generally there are no original works at all. It is more like a unique display of information. But it really works!

The exhibit techniques are usually novel uses of graphic design. The display methods are as much a part of the exhibit as the artifacts themselves! In this case, the architecture works were numbered from 1-99. There was a photograph of each building with some brief information about the building and then a plastic sliding sign with the number of the building in the ranking system.

We had the exhibit to ourselves and took our time looking at each work. There were also some great quotes from architects in the exhibit as well.

Gorgeous architecture was used in the renovation of an elementary school.  What a great learning environment!
Gorgeous architecture was used in the renovation of an elementary school. What a great learning environment!
The unique wall display with sliding plastic partitions.
The unique wall display with sliding plastic partitions.

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I had no idea Virginia had a D-Day memorial.
I had no idea Virginia had a D-Day memorial.
Another Richmond landmark to look forward too!  VCU is in the process of constructing a contemporary art museum.
Another Richmond landmark to look forward too! VCU is in the process of constructing a contemporary art museum.
What a staircase!!
What a staircase!!
After the exhibit we ran around the grounds outside for a bit.  Such a lovely home!
After the exhibit we ran around the grounds outside for a bit. Such a lovely home!

The Virginia Center for Architecture is going through a few changes at the moment. Some information at the museum indicated that the mission of the center is going to expand beyond architecture into interior design, fashion and other related disciplines. Sounds amazing! Their gift shop was also empty and undergoing some sort of remodeling effort. So there are some more things to look forward to on our next visit.

Inspired by the architecture we saw, we took a leisurely stroll around the block and made note of Richmond’s wonderful historic architecture. Then we went to pick up the girls from camp.

We had a packed schedule today and I had been so preoccupied getting the girls ready for their ballet class that afternoon that I forgot to pack lunches! So, we drove toward our afternoon destination looking for something the children would find appetizing. There were lots of cute bistros but nothing we could get a consensus on. Finally, we stopped at the last eatery before our destination.

We ended up at a small, neighborhood convenience store.
We ended up at a small, neighborhood convenience store.

We walked in and saw typical convenience store far, like candies and drinks. Since the sign outside promised sandwiches I looked around expecting a display of prepackaged sandwiches. To my surprise, instead there was a very tiny grill in the corner and a woman ready to cook up fresh sandwiches, fries and chicken. We tried the chicken fingers special and a turkey sandwich.

We had to wait for our food in front of this delicious display of homemade desserts.
We had to wait for our food in front of this delicious display of homemade desserts.

As we waited, we overheard conversations between the regular customers and the staff.

“Hey….haven’t seen you around for a while. Are you still working?”

“No. I haven’t had any work in three weeks.”

Everyone was very friendly. When our food was ready, we purchased it along with some bottles of milk and a treat each child picked out from the immense display. Our total came to $10! It was quite the bargain.

We drove to the nearby park and found a picnic bench in the shade.

Devouring the chicken fingers and fries.
Devouring the chicken fingers and fries.
Thumbs up for the grilled turkey sandwich too!
Thumbs up for the grilled turkey sandwich too!

For the afternoon, our destination was Maymont, the giant park that was formerly a very wealthy estate. The grounds are gardens are incredible. It was the first time my eldest daughter had been.

All that open space inspires running.
All that open space inspires running.

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You get a little bit of a free zoo experience at Maymont.  They have a collection of injured raptors and some black bears.
You get a little bit of a free zoo experience at Maymont. They have a collection of injured raptors and some black bears.
The black bear statue is well polished where all the children climb all over it.
The black bear statue is well polished where all the children climb all over it.
We made our way to the Japanese garden.  My daughter was duly impressed.
We made our way to the Japanese garden. My daughter was duly impressed.
My daughters compared knee ouchies.  You can tell how much fun a little girl is having at Maymont by how many knee scrapes she has.
My daughters compared knee ouchies. You can tell how much fun a little girl is having at Maymont by how many knee scrapes she has.
Everyone's favorite . . . leaping on the stepping stones.  My son was upset that I wouldn't let him attempt the 1 foot gaps by himself.  I wasn't up for a swim at that moment.
Everyone’s favorite . . . leaping on the stepping stones. My son was upset that I wouldn’t let him attempt the 1 foot gaps by himself. I wasn’t up for a swim at that moment.
More koi.  My children were thrilled and started naming them.
More koi. My children were thrilled and started naming them.
We made our way back to the car via the lovely Italian gardens.
We made our way back to the car via the lovely Italian gardens.
The row of red hibiscus plants was very striking, especially paired with the pink accent flowers.
The row of red hibiscus plants was very striking, especially paired with the pink accent flowers.

Back at the car, we pulled out the first aid kit to dress the knee wounds, used a large wad of baby wipes to give an improvised shower, changed into ballet clothes and headed back to Fredericksburg for ballet class. Whew! Another successful day!

Richmond Surprise: Day 2

Richmond Surprise: Day 2

We were late for the second day of camp. We were running just about on time until we hit a traffic situation on I-95. About 15 minutes away from our exit, traffic ground to a halt. We crawled along at 2 miles an hour or