As you sit there nursing your hangover why not read about beer? RTD looks at Legend Brewing’s switch to the 6-pack.

For Legend, the last few months of 2009 were given a boost by the introduction of the company’s first 12-ounce bottles for six packs, which are now being sold at retail stores in Virginia at a brisk pace, Gott said.

Since the first six packs rolled out of the South Richmond brewery in October, “we are seeing a dramatic increase in the overall sales” in that category, he said.

The RTD has some great pictures of Boulevard aka Nickel Bridge which turned 85 yesterday. I swiped one picture go to the link to see the rest.

It was once known as the “Nickel Bridge” for the 5-cent fare. People who bought lots in Westover Hills had free passage across the bridge until 1960. The RMA purchased the bridge in 1969 while building the expressway system. The toll was raised periodically over the years, reaching 35 cents last year.

Richmond Grid.com has the scoop on a new art gallery in Manchester. The gallery named RUSSELL/PROJECTS will occupy 1,500 sq. feet of space in the ArtSpace building. The gallery’s first exhibit will open January 26th head to the Grid for more details.

From Facebook, the following vendors are suppose to be at the Winter Farmer’s Market in the Blanchard’s Coffee parking lot: Faith Farm, Grammy O’s Sticky Buns, Cabbage Hill Farm, Cavanna Pasta, Alfredo’s Honey, Amelia Soap & Herb Co., Thistledowne Farm and Bread for the People. Blanchards will be open until 12 and I know Chocolates by Kelly will be open as well. If you are heading out bundle up it is artic out there.

From Craigslist: White Shih Tzu – lost (forest hill ave.) – Left for new years last night, came back home and dog was gone. He sometimes climbs out of the gate because he’s so small but has always stayed in the yard before. Please let me know if you find him. He responds to the name, “Q-BALL”. Thank you.

Effective January 2nd the Virginia Historical Society will not charge for admission. This will be the case for all of 2010 so go out there and get your History on. Press Release

The VHS is presenting the following new exhibitions in 2010: Cold War Crisis: The U-2 Incident (January 16–May 30, 2010); Memories of World War II: Photographs from the Archives of The Associated Press (May 9–August 1, 2010); Bizarre Bits from Virginia: Oddities of the Collection (June 12, 2010–February 13, 2011); Virginia Rocks: Rockabilly Music in the Old Dominion (August 28–December 30, 2010); and Organized Labor in Virginia (September 4–December 30, 2010). The Portent: John Brown’s Raid in American Memory and The John Marshall High School Corps of Cadets opened in October and will continue to be on display until April 11, 2010.

As of yesterday I have been posting on Hills and Heights for 1 year and this will be my 800th post. Thanks to all those that have helped by sending in pictures, stories, and comments. Special thanks to those of you that read the blog and put up with the incomplete sentences, numerous grammatical errors, creative spelling and occasional soccer post. The World Cup is coming up so expect a few more soccer posts this coming year, sorry I can’t help myself.

Next time you see a bit of news or item that tickles your fancy forward it to a few folks that you know in the neighborhood. The more people reading and commenting the better.

Thanks again and I am looking forward to another year on the good ship H&H.

Heather sent an email in asking for infant daycare recommendations. She will be needing some help starting in June. Anybody out there have an infant daycare provider they like?

We used Pauline Hillsman who operates out of her house Liechester (spelling?) just off Forest Hill before Powhite. Ruby had a great time and we were very happy. Unfortunately i don’t remember her phone number but she has her card and a binder with recommendations on the bulletin board at Blanchards.

CritterTown Bathhouse a self-service dog wash and pet store located in Stratford Hills gets a very nice write up in this morning’s RTD. This amused me:

But cat owners do show up once in awhile with their felines. “We average one cat a month,” Francis said.

He recalls a cat incident when the pet wash opened. A group of girls brought in a laundry basket full of feral cats they had found.

“When they started bathing them, the cats went crazy,” Francis said. “Those girls weren’t prepared for that, so they quickly decided to stop.”

The pet wash can accommodate just about any pet.

“We’ve had a guinea pig, and we have a couple who brings in two goats to be washed so they can be in a manger scene,” Francis said. “One guy even came in with a parrot.”

Not sure when this flyer went up but think it was this weekend.

Richmond.com is doing what everyone is doing at the end of the year and making lists. The Nickel Bridge was number 8 on their Top Ten: Richmond in 2010.

A Toll-Free Nickel Bridge

It’s the only non-expressway toll in the city. Drivers who take the Boulevard Bridge aren’t taking it to shorten their commute or avoid traffic. They’re taking it because it’s the bridge that connects Westover Hills to that north side of the river … much like Huguenot residents take the Huguenot Bridge or Woodland Heights residents take the Lee Bridge or Manchester Residents take the Manchester Bridge. So why does Westover Hills and Forest Hill have to pay (not to mention sit in the traffic)?

That was the only one that was directly about H&H but a few others were in the ballpark including bikelanes (Richmond.com in favor), smoking ban (Richmond.com against), and development along the river (Richmond.com in favor).

HandsOn Greater Richmond is hosting a Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day on the 18th of January as well as a MLK Community Discussion & Social on the 15th of January. From the website, which is where you can sign up for a service project:

On the weekend of MLK Day, January 18th, 2010, citizens of Richmond will participate in 20 volunteer projects as part of “MLK Day: Make it A ‘Day On’ not a Day Off”, a national day of community service. The weekend will commemorate the teachings and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while encouraging citizens to give back to their community on their day off.

The service projects will begin with an MLK Community Discussion and Social at which community members will learn about Martin Luther King’s idea of the Beloved Community, discuss the Richmond community and how to improve it, as well as get to know their fellow volunteers and concerned citizens. Volunteer projects will take place throughout the Metro Richmond area from Friday, January 15th through Monday, January 18th. The projects range from making a PSA, building dressers, and painting a computer lab, to assisting with activities at an afterschool program.

Patrick Henry School is holding an open house this Thursday the 7th at 8 p.m. to distribute copies of the student application, discuss the school’s curriculum and answer parent’s questions. Applications are also available online and must be completed and post marked by February 12th.

They are also beginning to accept teacher applications. School would start in July so deadlines are coming up fast.

From the CVWMA:

The 2010 collection schedule will be mailed to 250,000 eligible households in our 7 participating jurisdiction by mid-January. Be on the look out for your 6 x 11 postcard to arrive in your mailbox. We thank DOMINION RESOURCES for their corporate sponsorship of the 2010 schedule.

If you can’t wait you can download the pdf. Correct me if I am wrong but I think we are all “blue weeks” in the H&H reading area.

Style Weekly takes a look at restaurants opening all over the Richmond area but in this house we are waiting for Parkside to open up next to Crossroads.

From Brian Munford, owner of the 12-year success story that is Patina Grill in Short Pump, comes Parkside Café, due to open in late winter at 3514 Forest Hill Ave. The neighborhood cafe will be “heavy on the family thing,” Munford says, serving lunch and dinner daily and weekend brunch. South of the border and Asian influences will spice up the menu, herbs will come from the adjacent garden patch, and the warm and woodsy, 40-seat haven is being crafted of cypress and bamboo.

The article also mentions:

Outer Banks Seafood, not coming to Stony Point Fashion Park as reported elsewhere. Mall officials say that deal never got done. The seafood business might resurface elsewhere in town.

This wonderful photo was taken by Phil Riggan. This and others showing off the icy wonder of Forest Hill Park are posted on his blog RichmondOnTheJames be sure to check out the other photos. Great stuff thanks for sharing Phil.

Thanks also to John M. of CHPN for pointing them out to me.

The indefinitely suspended leaf collection is back on. The Westover Hills, Forest Hill and Woodland Heights should see the trucks roll through 1/25 – 1/29. Most of our piles are no quite flat and half-way to compost. There was a good discussion on the original post about compost check it out if you want to help out your garden and the environment. Full Leaf Collection Schedule.pdf

Found at 9am on 1/4/10 near Huguenot Park off of Robious Road (zip 23235)
Rich tan in color (darker spot on his back near his tail)
45 or so pounds
Young neutered male – maybe 1 or 2
Floppy ears and a pointy tail
Red collar with a pattern in the center.
Contact Shawn at 804-560-8216 if this is your pooch or you know where he might belong.

From the Richmond police we learn that a suspect was arrested for the fatal shooting that occurred last spring.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Office arrested Trae M. Tate, 25, of Tappahannock, yesterday in connection with an April homicide in Richmond .

Tate has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the April 12 shooting death of Kemal Dickerson, 33, of the 5900 block of Glenway Court . The shooting occurred in the 5000 block of Forest Hill Avenue .

Richmond Police investigators will continue to work the case following up on leads. Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Picture of the suspect

Read more >

We mentioned this way back in 2009 but now there is a hard deadline. If you want one of these fine plates you need to get moving. The organizers (Friends of James River Parks System) need to have 350 applications in by January 15th. Once 1,000 plates are sold the FJRPS will receive $15 of the $25 application fee. FAQ and Application.

From the official Press Release:
Open enrollment applications available Jan. 11;
Open enrollment period runs from Feb. 2­16

Applications to attend open enrollment schools in Richmond will be available to parents beginning Jan. 11 at any Richmond City school or from the district’s Office of Pupil Personnel Services located on the 13th floor of City Hall.

Students may apply to attend a maximum of two schools. (This is a change from 3 last year. – ed.) Applications may be submitted to the Office of Pupil Personnel Services from Feb. 2­16. No applications will be accepted after 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 16.

Students already attending an out-of-zoned school through open enrollment must complete the “Intent to Return” form and also list any siblings living within the residence who also wish to attend the school. Richmond Public Schools will not provide transportation for open enrollment students.

Read more >

Jerry Williams is offering a $5,000 reward in the slaying of his daughter after the two suspects were acquitted in August. From the RTD;

“Erica was everything to me,” said Williams, who called his reward “not much, but if it will get someone to come forward and help find out who killed Erica, I’m willing to pay the price.”

Erica Williams, 21, was found shot to death shortly before 1 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2008, behind an apartment building in the 3300 block of Moody Avenue, an area of South Richmond frequented by known drug dealers.

As 2009 comes to a close the latest crime report from Lieutenant John A. O’Kleasky, Jr. takes a look at 2009.

In 2009, Sector 312 experienced a 9% overall increase in crime. (city-wide = 4.2% increase) Violent Offenses were down 10%, and most of our increases were Property Crime related, Burglaries +33%, Theft from Motor Vehicles +41% and Theft of Mopeds +163%.

Although Violent Offenses were down in every category Homicides increased from 1 in 2008 to 5 in 2009.

Full Report

From Plaza Bowl Duckpin Bowling on Facebook: Elvis Presley’s 75th Birthday Celebration Tonight at Plaza Bowl! Bring family and friends to remember the KING of Rock and Roll, duckpin bowling with great tunes from the 50′s, free twinkies, and $1.00 pbr drafts till 9pm. Yes you read that right “FREE TWINKIES”. There are some great pictures of Elvis at the Mosque Theater on the Scotty Moore website.

Update 7:21 p.m. saw this on Facebook just now: Tonight @ Plaza Bowl – Bowling. $1 PBR’s. New Calendars Revealed. New Stage. The Misled. Anteitam. Earthling. Niiiiiiice! See ya’ll round 8pm!

HFHN has a post up about the Brookside Estate that was located in the Reedy Creek neighborhood. The image below came from  Forest Hill Neighborhood Flickr set and was shared by the Friends of Forest Hill Park.