Brick’s Blog

     Remember this guy. Yep, that’s Billy Carter. You know, Jimmy’s little brother. As Billy once said, "I’m a real Southern boy. I got a red neck, white socks and Blue Ribbon beer."  Down South, we love fellas like Billy, because they are the genuine item - soft spoken, amusing, guileless, true blue and just a pleasure to be around. Sure, if they’re family, they’ll embarrass you from time to time, but it’s never malicious and only because it was Billy just being Billy. And when the going gets tough, it’s a Billy who will be there by your side.

     So next time you meet one of these American originals, you can either smirk all you want or just plop yourself down and be prepared to be amused, enlightened, and thoroughly entertained. After all, would you have rather had a beer with Billy or Jimmy? 

     Try this one on for size. It’s located in the Fox Head subdivision of Hanover County near Virginia Center Commons. Here’s a link to a Visual Tour for the property. The property is offered at $274,950, has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a one car garage, and the most unbelievable backyard you’ll find at this price. There will be an open house Sunday August 13, 2006 from 2 - 4 p.m.

     Did you know that Richmond once had its own U.C.L.A? That’s it in the picture left. Yes, it was an institution of higher learning. It didn’t have great basketball teams, but I’d wager a virtual who’s who of Richmond attended this intitution. 

     Think you know what it is? Be the first to correctly post your answer and I’ll send you a Blockbuster or Starbucks gift card. It’s my son’s 17th birthday and I’m feeling generous.

     Well,  hush my mouth. Yesterday’s post concerning Joe’s Inn winning 2 categories in Richmond magazine’s Best and Worst edition requires an edification on my part.

FYI: Readers — not Richmond magazine staff — vote on the Best and Worst winners by ballot. No one here is related to or paid by Joe’s Inn, and finally, the Bon Air location also has an active takeout and breakfast business.

Thanks,
Kate Andrews
Richmond magazine associate editor

    I appreciate the correction, Kate, but I do believe the lady does protest too much. I demand a recount. I think the hanging chad ballots weren’t counted. As I stated yesterday, I am never amazed, aghast, yes; by what Richmonders (your readers) consider good cuisine. And Joe’s Out, it’s in Dogtown. Need I say more. Joe’s did open an oulet in the West End near Innsbrook. It closed.

FYI - The great restaurant that was adjacent to Joe’s on Shields was the The Fan Grill. Their specialty was a 5 oz. club steak cut by the butchers at the old Stanley’s market on Belmont.

     Richmond magazine is out with its annual Best and Worst edition. Someone at Richmond magazine must get fed free, be related to management or ownership, or live on Shields Avenue without transportation or the energy to walk a few blocks for Joe’s Inn to receive not one but two best wins - Best Neighborhood Takeout Joint and Best Place for Weekday Breakfast.  Now I could understand if Joe’s won for Surliest Wait Staff, Most Mediocre Food, or Succeeding for No Explanation. Well, maybe not in that last category, because there’s plenty of other competition (think Crazy Greek, McLean’s, Robin Inn, ad nauseam) in Richmond to make that category a real toss-up, but I am never amazed by what Richmonders considers a good restaurant.

     Does anyone remember what really great restaurant was adjacent to Joe’s on Shields Avenue? Even better do you remember what their "special" was?

     This Sunday, August 13th, will be the 23rd Ukrop’s Carytown Watermelon Festival. The Watermelon Festival is largest one day musical event in Richmond with over a 100 performances by local groups and musicians. Here’s what Sunday’s music schedule is for the 10 stages that will be aligned along West Cary Street. 

     But music isn’t the only thing the Watermelon Festival offers. Originally conceived to be a sidewalk sale during  the slow retail days of August, the festival has grown to such an extent that West Cary Street is now closed from Thompson Street to the Boulevard during the festival hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to the normal eclectic shops found in Carytown, numerous street vendors are added. Watermelon is sold for a $1 a serving with all watermelon sales going to charity. And since the dog days of August are typically in force during the festival, the watermelon is a perfect respite from the heat. Parking is available along the side streets leading into Carytown and also at the 2 municipal lots at Crenshaw and Colonial Avenues. 

     Here’s one I bet you didn’t know. That’s the Robert E. Lee Monument at Lee Circle on historic Monument Avenue in dear old Richmond, Virginia.  The Lee Monument, as well as monuments to J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis, and Stonewall Jackson, are located along Monument Avenue (therefore, the name) in a neighborhood presently known as the Fan. The Fan derives it name from the shape of the area. The boundaries for the Fan are Grace Street on the north, Cary Street on the south, Belvidere (or Munroe Park) on the east, and the Boulevard on the west. Beginning at Belvidere, about every 4th block of western progression, another east-west street is added until we reach the Boulevard. 

     The development of this area began in the last 1800’s and in response to the public’s desire for fashionable "West End" addresses. (Ever thought why West Avenue is called West Avenue?) When Lee’s statute was unveiled in 1890, it  was still surrounded by tobacco fields awaiting development. By the 1930’s, this area to the Boulevard had been developed.

     As development westward progressed through the remainder of the 20th Century, (yeah, we, Richmonders, have an insatiable desire to be in the West End), this area on the eastern edge of the "West End" was in need of a new identity. About mid century, the area began to be referred to as "the Fan." And I bet you thought it had always been the Fan?

     Saturday, my son and I pointed the car west and headed up to Bath County, Virginia in the Alleghany Mountains to retrieve my daughter from her summer camp where she had spent the last 6 weeks. Earlier in the week, we had received a letter from my daughter, which was written last Sunday and began "Today was our last church. It is beyond sad." If you were wondering why I waited almost a week to retrieve my daughter from something that "is beyond sad", than you don’t know about Camp Mont Shenandoah (CMS).

     What my daughter was finding so sad was that on the coming Saturday the 2006 session of CMS would be over. The rest of her letter was a checklist of events for the last week at CMS. The passing of each would sadly bring her one step closer to the conclusion of camp. Besides last church, the night before had been the Senior Musical (Oklahoma, this year), in which she was in the chorus and had one line. Later in the week, there would be "wishing boats", (where the girls launch paper boats with lit candles down the Cowpasture River and make a wish. If your boat makes the rapids with your candle still lit, your wish comes true), team songfest (the camp is divided into 2 teams and their team songs are sung), final honor meet (when awards are handed out and "honor" campers acknowledged) and, of course, final banquet (a secret theme "final supper" unknown to campers until they enter the dining hall).

     CMS was founded in 1927 based on 5 core values of love, loyalty, friendship, sportsmanship and spiritual awareness. This was the 5th year, and third as a 6 weeker (CMS has 2 - 3 week sessions), that my daughter, who turned thirteen in May, has attended CMS. To say she loves CMS is an understatement, but she is not alone in this sentiment. All the girls feel this way. Maybe it is the waters of the Cowpasture River, but these girls are like a cult. And let me explain why.

     Every year, my daughter negotiates her attendance for the next summer on the car ride home. (Saturday was no exception to pass years.) CMS sends out commitment letters for the next session in September with an October cut off date. There is no peace in our house until my daughter knows she is signed up. This normally requires at least several e-mails exchanges with the camp director, written verification from the camp, and even seeing the canceled deposit check. Around Christmas, we begin a daily countdown until the Mid Winter Reunion, an afternoon event held here in Richmond every February. Once, the Mid Winter reunion passes, we start the countdown for the actual first day of camp. Now, want to know the scary part? Other parents report the same behavior.

     Saturday’s ride home was quieter than it had ever been. Normally, my daughter is a jabberwocky with one tale after another of the summer’s events. Asked why so quiet, she mournfully replied "I just miss camp so much." Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if we all could have 6 weeks each year of complete bliss? I’d settle for a week, how about you? 

     Every month, I report the local real estate market conditions for Richmond to Realty Times. While this reporting requires several hours of compilation and analysis, I find it to be a worthwhile exercise. I also report on various Richmond submarkets like Chesterfield, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, and Midlothian. In doing my analysis, I look at inventory levels, average sales price, days on market, and the average dollar per square foot on sales. Here are my comments on July’s conditions:

     "Ready for what’s happening in the Richmond Real Estate market? If you’re a Buyer, you’ll love this market. There’s plenty of inventory and a very relaxed environment in which to make an informed and unrushed decision. These are 2 elements absent from the marketplace for several years now. For sellers, they are discovering buyers want "perfection." Homes in prime condition are the ones selling at the higher price ranges. In recent weeks, we have seen more re-pricing (price reductions) on homes, which have been on the market 30 plus days. I don’t think this is fundamentally a sign of a declining market, but simply a result of inexperienced agents not properly factoring "condition" into the initial list price. Now, more than any other time in recent history, sellers need an experienced professional. Frankly, I am tiring of hearing other agents whine about the market. Markets are cyclical; and if you’d been in this profession for more than a few years, you would have experienced this cycle.

Inventory levels have increased slightly over June levels, but the significant factor of days on market remains flat. The dollar per square foot values in the area are up marginally for the year driven by increased cost to builders. Although interest rates are up, keep some perspective. Rates are still excellent and lenders are constantly offering new and creative programs.

The Richmond Real Estate market still remains softest in the middle. Under $300,000 continues to sell well, while $1,000,000 dollar plus sales have already equaled last year’s record. As outlined above, homes properly priced and in "perfect" condition will have the sales advantage." 

If you interested in specifics (i.e., average sales price, days on market, etc.), please visit Realty Times.