I am a big fan of Plaza Bowl and happy to see Richmond BizSense.com ask them some questions. They say there is a slideshow but I can’t see it in my browser.

RBS: What’s your goal for Plaza Bowl?

JS: The facility itself is pretty old, so we’ll continue to upgrade fixtures. The first thing I did when I came in was improve the reliability of the machinery. I purchased used parts so I can keep the machines going. The lanes need some improvement — they’re kind of at the end of their life span. I want to give it a newer look, a cleaner look.

I like that it’s old, as long as I can keep it clean. The problem is when you get into seating that’s old, it’s going to show some wear — no matter how much you scrub it, it does look old. Most people that come in here like it, and get it, but some people, they’re used to several-million-dollar facilities. They’re going to build another big pin house a couple miles from here. I think it’s going to cost $70 million or something.

Show starts at 8:00 and I am hearing from Facebook that it is an all ages show. Sorry I don’t have ticket price information. I will be enjoying New Year’s Eve at Chez Couch featuring the wonderful band Cable TV.

Snow is not powerful enough to stop Rock and Roll. The show planned for tonight is still going to happen (or at least that is what I am being told). The band that shall be rocking are: – Emily Stine Band – View From the Top – Reid Madgette. Show starts at 8:00. Enjoy. I’ll be staying home for this one.

Richmond is in for a treat as Shonen Knife plays at Plaza Bowl. This band is great and you’re not going to find a band like them in RVA. Go to this show. Also playing but under my radar (doesn’t take much) Hex Machine, Hot Lava, and Jeff the Brotherhood. Show starts at 8 p.m. and is all ages. Bonus Shonen Knife video

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also performing will be EL PRESIDENTE and SYNVIOUS. I don’t have the ticket price.

Many folks (myself included) see a run down strip mall when they go past Southside Plaza but that may not be the whole story. Today’s Style Weekly has a different viewpoint. The main focus is the grocery store Farmer’s Foods and manager Rodney Saunders.

Saunders brought back the shuttle service for which Community Pride was known — spend at least $40 and get a ride home — and he passed out flyers to get the community to come back. It didn’t take long. “The secret is catering to the lower-class people,” Saunders says, meaning the mostly lower-income households that make up the surrounding neighborhoods. “You have to be a neighbor.” So far it’s worked: The store’s been profitable for three years, Saunders says, and sales this year have increased 15 percent despite an economic recession.

Success is not limited to Farmer’s Foods.

The out-parcels are healthy, too, including a renovated Radio Shack and a high-performing McDonald’s. Even the old duckpin bowling alley, Plaza Bowl, has seen a revival of late, becoming a popular live music venue.

Check out the full article for a closer analysis of this success.

I know Plaza Bowl will have prizes, candy, music and beer but I don’t know the price of admission.

The music at Plaza Bowl starts at 9:00 roughly. Bowling cost extra, support the Southside music scene.

Boneanchor formerly known as Frog Legs will be rocking out the Plaza Bowl tonight. Show starts at 8:00 and will set you back a 5 spot.

The Richmond Roots Music Sessions is a week of live music around the city in celebration of the upcoming Richmond Folk Festival. There are two Roots Music Sessions in the Hills and Heights area.

Sunday – October 4 – 5:00 pm Legend Brewing will host Eden and John’s East River String Band old timey blues duo from NYC with Slack Family a local bluegrass band.

Tuesday – October 6 – 7:30 pm Plaza Bowl will feature Jesse Lege a cajun dance band with Gypsy Roots bringing you django Jazz and gypsy music. Horo a bulgarian dance troop will also perform.

It will cost you $10 at the door and there will be a drawing at each show to win 2 VIP passes for VIP tent access and backstage access throughout the festival, 1 RFF t-Shirt, 1 RFF hat. All Locations and Artists

Plazabowl is at 521 East Southside Plaza and the duckpin bowling is extra. I haven’t made it out there in awhile due to conflicts but highly recommend you check it out.

Cities for Small Towns, Nakatomi Plaza, Marionette and Landmines at Plaza Bowl $5.

From Community Chest RVA:

Now if you’re looking for gritty, raw, honest, and OH SO libertarian comedy you’ll want to see Doug Stanhope on August 13th. If the name sounds familiar it is, he took over the Man Show after Adam Corolla left and has been on HBO and Comedy Central on numerous occasions. Doug’s return to Richmond has been much anticipated considering every corporate comedy club in America has banned him from returning including the Funny Bone in Richmond! He’s quoted as saying that “The Funny Bone are to comedy what Olive Garden is to authentic Italian food.”
That’s probably why you’re only gonna see Doug’s unapologetic show at Plaza Bowl. Tickets are still available you can find them HERE.

This description is from Community Chest RVA:
Grupo Fantasma – is a GRAMMY nominated band hailing from Austin TX. This is truly the type of band you’d never expect to see in a bowling alley. They are a 10 piece symphony of a band that we are all very excited to host. Please check out what local free publication STYLE WEEKLY had to say: Grupo Fantasma at Plaza Bowl, July 29 You danced to them beneath the tent at the Richmond Folk Festival. Now let this 11-piece Latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas, put a shimmy in your duckpin bowling stroke. As Jesus Quintana sayeth in The Big Lebowski‚ Wooo! You gotta date Wednesday, baby!

Listen to some samples here.

This weekend Plaza Bowl brings the variety. If you’re feeling ambient head on down Friday. If you need blues or mountain music to drill the duck pins, then Saturday might be more your bag.

Fri Jul 24 08:00 PM
Ambient, Indie, Experimental showcase! Live music provided by:

• Adams Castle
• VR32
• The Goose (electro/rock Dance)
• KNOT FEEDER (ex: Don Cabellaro)

Sat Jul 25 08:00 PM
Blues, Rock, Mountain Music!

• Tom Peloso
• The Virginia Sheiks
• The Way of the Sun

Tickets: $5

Design*Sponge is a daily website dedicated to home and product design run by Brooklyn-based writer, Grace Bonney. In addition to DIY projects, reviews of stores, and much more the site also publishes City Design Guides and the latest is our very own Richmond.

For the Southside a quick overview is given of Caravati’s, Williams & Sherrill, Gather, Legend Brewing, Savor, and Planet Zero Art Center.

I would add Crossroads for their local coffee house art scene, Plaza Bowl for the music and hipsters, and Pony Pasture because it has that whole nature thing going for it. What did I miss? Remember your choice should come from a design standpoint.

If you want your music fix head over to Plaza Bowl to hear O’Death. Style has this to say:

Taking their name from Dock Boggs’ famous banjo-plucking plea to the grim reaper, the members of Brooklyn’s O’Death undoubtedly have a soft spot for traditionalist folk tunes and old-timey arrangements. Laid atop this reverential foundation, however, is an unruly, devil-went-down-to-Georgia gypsy concoction that gives the band’s fiddles and loony jug-band rhythms their due respect with metal, punk and grunge. Rambunctious and at times hardly rational, O’Death comes across as the kind of roots fanatics that would willingly play its barn-burning songs within an actual burning barn. On the road supporting its latest album, “Broke Hymns, Limbs, and Skin,” O’Death plays Plaza Bowl on Wednesday, July 8, at 8 p.m. 233-8799.

Also playing will be James Menefee (River City High), Dean Lee & the Unwelcome Guests.

Music starts at 8pm at the Plaza Bowl

Duchess of York
Octane Saints
The Flying Eyes
The Thunders

Plaza Bowl made the cover of Style Weekly today because of violations found by the city’s Community Assisted Public Safety program, known by its initials: CAPS. Style weekly is asking the question whether a program initially started to combat crime through strict enforcement of zoning and building regulations has lately been targeting music and art events.

Andrews says his initiation of an enforcement action against Plaza Bowl came after reading about bands playing there as part of Style Weekly’s recent Music Issue, an annual feature that pays special attention to local bands, venues and musicians.

“If he’d applied for a permit for the stage … that’s working in the right direction,” Andrews says of Plaza Bowl’s business owner, Jim Szilagyi. “If he started using the stage [without a permit], that’s a problem.”

In fact, that was exactly the problem at Plaza Bowl. When Szilagyi bought the struggling bowling alley, music became his financial salvation, inspiring him to tear up a few lanes in October and replace them with a raised stage area. He did it all without a permit, a situation he’s trying to rectify.

Some other examples of enforcement include rental properties that have too many tenants and an illegal ballet studio. Both business owners that are quoted in the article understand the situation and are looking to work with the city.

There is no denying that everyone should follow the correct building code but I would hope that enforcement of the codes are universal and don’t drain the life and resources of those that are trying to make the community more vibrant. As of this afternoon there are still shows slated for Plaza Bowl but one has to wonder how long that will be the case. Check out the full article for how this enforcement could also have a negative affect on First Fridays.

This weeks Style Weekly focuses on music and we’re the beneficiary! There’s a profile on the Plaza Bowl and how mixed use venues like itself are well-suited for these tightwad times.

SW is also providing a great compilation of local music from bands like The Hotdamns, Bio Ritmo, No BS Brass Band and more. Listen to it now and go back to the link between May 1 and 9 to download them. If you’re more into analog, Style Weekly will be handing out CD’s at various events starting with Richmond’s Bluegrass Festival (we have a bluegrass fest? who knew!) on May 9 at the Science Museum.

Are you in a band based here in the Hills and Heights area? Post your info in the comments and let us know when you’ll be playing and where!

Bowling as always is extra.

I know nothing about these bands so you are on your own. Plaza bowl is located at 521 E. Southside Plaza.

I was torn about posting this because I don’t want it to be too crowded but my desire to share good music won out. Bio Ritmo is incredible and to see them in this small of a venue is a chance that can’t be missed.

Located at 521 E. Southside Plaza bowling is not included in the cover charge.