Looking for something to do on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day? In the past your options were limited to The Byrd Theatre or Movieland at Boulevard Square but now a new venue has risen to challenge these pillars of holiday entertainment. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announced today that the museum will be open 365 days a year, offering special holiday hours so that you can share Richmond's art treasures with your guests from out of town:

Historically, the museum has been closed Mondays and in recent years, it was also closed on Tuesdays. Holiday closings were on New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Starting on the Fourth of July, VMFA will open on these holidays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Establish special holiday hours from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
• Maintain regular 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday hours for state and national holidays that fall on Mondays, such as Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day and Labor Day.
• Operate the VMFA Shop, Best Café and Amuse Restaurant during open holiday hours.
• Offer a special holiday-specific menu on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s in the museum’s restaurants.

Music will be in the air this June when the famed Jumpin' outdoor concert series returns to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Every Thursday in June from 6-9 PM the VMFA will host a concert in the Lora Robins Sculpture Garden.

This year's lineup of musical acts features:

June 3
Alejandro Escovedo & The Sensitive Boys
Eclectic guitarist and singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo has spent four decades as a performer and his music has ranged from punk, western, alternative country, cow punk and hard-hitting rock and roll.
“Escovedo & The Sensitive Boys have hit it into the stratosphere with the new disc, Real Animal.” – Belinda Accosta, South by Southwest Music Festival

June 10
Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball is a sensational, saucy singer, superb pianist and compelling storyteller who melds Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp.
“Ball’s music is “rollicking, playful, good-time blues.” – Rolling Stone Magazine

June 17
The Krayolas with the West Side Horns
From the very first notes they play, The Krayolas kick out Texas sounds with Tex-Mex rockin’ conjunto jostling with British Invasion contrasting to roadhouse swing, country, Motown, and jacked-up rock and roll.
“…effortlessly mixing Tex-Mex, Motown and British invasion sounds into a winning concoction.” – Jeff McCord, KUT/NPR “Best of Music 2009”

June 24
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
One of zydeco’s most soulful vocalists and fieriest accordionists, Terrance Simien infuses his sound with R&B, funk, gospel and reggae.
“Simien is a zydeco master.” – Rolling Stone Magazine

Jumpin’ tickets are $14 (VMFA members $12). Children age six and under are free. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 804.340.1405, online or at the museum’s Visitor Services desk. Parking for the event is available in the museum’s deck for $3 (VMFA members free with membership card).

Gates open at 6 p.m., music begins at 6:30 p.m. Jumpin’ tickets are not refundable or exchangeable. No pets, lawn chairs or coolers will be allowed in the garden.

On Wednesday morning the front doors of the Virginia Historical Society opened extra wide to accommodate a World War II era military jeep. The antique vehicle is on display as part of the Memories of World War II exhibit which you can enjoy for free at the Historical Society from May 8 to August 1st.

View more details on this exhibit at the Virginia Historical Society

 **DEVELOPING**

Crime hit the Fan this weekend as Richmond Police report a significant number of armed robberies between the VCU campus and the Boulevard. The rash of robberies on Friday and Saturday all share similar characteristics: two suspects armed with a gun robbing an individual.

 Richmond Police Report The Following Incidents:

ROBBERY
5/7/10 11:15 p.m.
1700 block of Grove Avenue
A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY
5/8/10 5:34 a.m.
100 block of North Morris Street
A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY
5/8/10 5:34 a.m.
1800 block of Grove Avenue
A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY
5/9/10 8:28 p.m.
315 N. Boulevard
A female reported she was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY ATTEMPT
5/9/10 9:28 p.m.
3000 Monument Ave.
A female reported she was assaulted during a robbery attempt by two unknown males with a gun.

Police have not yet confirmed a link or provided suspect descriptions for these crimes.

Are you fascinated by the urban residential architecture of the Boulevard and surrounding neighborhoods? The Virginia Historical society has a two part course that will explore the development of our "old west end" community from 1800 to 1929.

Says the Virginia Historical Society on the course:

This class will discuss the architecture and history of The Fan District, the West of the Boulevard area, and Monument Avenue. These neighborhoods were "modern" street-car related residential areas created to house Richmond's expanding middle and upper classes. They are the last intensely urban districts built before residential development became totally suburbanized in the middle of the 20th century. They represent the final and most sophisticated development of this type of densely packed urban neighborhood, which characterized Richmond from 1800 to 1929. The entire district is well preserved and retains its houses, schools, churches, shops, and restaurants.  It functions today much as it did a century ago.

The class takes place May 13 & May 20 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at the Historical Society.

Learn more and reserve your seat today!

Tibetan Monks from the Mangyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY are creating a sand mandala titled Avalkiteshvara (Wheel of Compassion). The artists will continue the intricate project through the next few days.

The public is welcome to attend the dismantling ceremony on Thursday May 6 at 5:30 pm. The sand will be put into a large vase, taken to the James River, and released into the water.

Do you live along or near the Boulevard? Well be sure to claim your parking spot tonight because this weekend is going to be a very busy one on our grand avenue.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts grand opening celebration on Saturday and Sunday will draw thousands of residents and tourists to the Grove through Kensington blocks of Boulevard. The expanded museum features a 600 car parking garage however we can expect many visitors to utilize free street parking.

Further south on Boulevard traffic and parking will also be more of a challenge than usual as Byrd Park hosts Arts in the Park. The 38th annual art show will feature more than 450 artists and will also draw thousands of people to the Carillon area in Byrd Park.

Arts in The Park will provide free parking and free shuttle service from the City Stadium parking lot to Byrd Park.

"MOOO!" to "MOOOVE OVER!" From cows to cars the Boulevard has experienced many changes over the past 150 years and now the Virginia Historical Society has an exhibit to tell the story.

Beginning on May 1st visitors to the Historical Society can view prints, photographs, and important historical stories in the exhibit: The Boulevard and How It Grew.

Says exhibit curator Jeffrey Ruggles on the display:

"This exhibition documents the steady evolution of the museum block, showing that like Rome, it was not built in a day." He adds, "Because there are buildings still standing that date back over a century, there is often confusion among visitors and residents about who owns and runs which structure. I hope that this exhibition helps clear up some of that confusion by showing how each part of the puzzle developed. I also hope that visitors realize that the institutions that occupy this block are significant in ways that reach far beyond the city of Richmond, and even the state of Virginia."

The exhibition tells how the thirty-four acres of farmland that was purchased from the Robinson family in 1884 developed into buildings that house extensive collections and impressive exhibitions related to world art and Virginia history.

Be sure to visit the Historical Society before this exhibit closes on July 18.

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm and Sunday 1 pm–5 pm (shop and museum galleries only). Admission: $5/adults, $4/seniors 55+, $3/students, free/under 18 and free/members. Admission to the galleries is free on Sundays.

FRENZIED PACE! Eight very busy days are all that remain of the five year construction project at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and construction workers and staff are making the most of the time left.

The largest expansion in the art institution's history began in November 2005 when ground was broken on the gigantic McGlothlin Wing.  Since then construction workers under the supervision of Whiting-Turner Contracting Company have worked with towering cranes and massive earthmovers to add 50% more space to the museum.

Today the VMFA staff and construction engineers shared the nearly complete museum expansion with local and national media and the result of the renovation can best be described as "visually stunning".

Boulevardizens have watched for years as construction workers installed panes and panes of glass which formed the dominant transparent theme of the McGlothlin Wing.

According to VMFA project director Peter Culley with SMBW Architects the "museum can look out and the city can look in." The firm carefully planned the design of the museum to embrace civic minded architecture and "make all of the buildings of the campus talk to each other."

There's more than just art to satisfy your palate at the nearly complete Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. According to a report in this week's Style Weekly the mega-museum will also offer a fine dining experience in the Amuse restaurant. This week Chef Greg Haley joined the VMFA team to offer culinary delights to famished fine arts fans. Says Style Weekly on Chef Haley:

Greg Haley, formerly of Michelle's, Europa and others in the Richmond Restaurant Group family, started his new position this week as chef de cuisine. He's creating menus for the restaurant, a spectacular glass-walled room with private party and banquet areas, all overlooking a sculpture park. Danny Ayers continues as executive chef, overseeing food service operations.

The Amuse restaurant is located on the Gallery Level 3 of the all new McGlothlin Wing and overlooks the sculpture garden and VMFA campus. According to the museum's new website:

An innovative lunch menu featuring regionally sourced Virginia products,  will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. daily, tea from 2:30 until 4 p.m. daily, and dinner service from 5:30 until 9 p.m. on Thursday evenings.  Enjoy cocktails and small plates in the comfortable lounge area, daily from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., and until 9 p.m. on Thursday nights.

Read More About Amuse From the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Our neighborhood art institution, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts launched their renovated website today at http://www.vmfa.museum

The new site effectively features the collections, exhibitions and events at the sprawling museum complex.

Be sure to follow the social media savvy museum on your favorite social networks:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• YouTube

It's wheels down for the construction trailers outside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as the massive expansion project nears completion. For several years the mobile structures have adorned the front lawn of the VMFA serving as home base for the workers involved in the project.

Today workers are disassembling the remaining trailers and preparing them for their journey to the next big construction project.

The departure of the trailers is fortuitous for the Boulevard as March marks the beginning of tornado season and these violent vortices are known for their attraction to trailers. The transport of the trailers from the Boulevard area surely spares the corridor from certain doom.

Carytown and select streets in the Museum District will be a lot more cheery this spring if the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has their way at tonight's city council meeting. The world renowned art museum is asking the city for permission to post banners throughout the Carytown to celebrate the grand reopening of their facility.

Documents filed with the legislation before city council indicates that the museum will sponsor 32 banners for placement on W. Cary St., Sheppard St., Belmont Ave, and Grove Ave. The proposed ordinance (No. 2010-42) will allow promotional banners to be displayed on utility poles in the residential areas of the Museum District between Carytown and the VMFA.

According to Suzanne Hall with the VMFA the Museum District Association board recently voted unanimously in support of the proposed promotional banners.

Hall says the VMFA will assume the cost of creating and installing the banners this spring and promises that residents can look forward to more banners celebrating exhibits at the facility.

Concerned about crime trends in neighborhoods west of the Boulevard? Lt. Michael Stith with the Richmond Police Department has the latest news from Sector 311 (Carytown, Museum District neighborhoods) in his February newsletter:

Noteworthy incidents from January 2010:

Kidnapping/Abduction

Jan. 28: 3400 Block of W. Grace Street-Arrest made

Burglary/B&E/Commercial

Jan. 02: 5600 Block of Patterson Ave., 0240 am

Burglary/B&E/Outbuilding

Jan. 18: 4400 Block of Hanover Av., 0000-0700 am

Theft from Motor Vehicle

Jan. 07: 4000 Block of Kensington Ave., (6:10 pm)
Jan. 07: 30 Block of Willway Ave., (5:00-5:25 pm)
Jan. 10: 100 Block of S. Blvd., (11:10-11:30 am)
Jan. 11: 5500 Block of Grove Ave., (10:10-10:35 am)
Jan. 11: 100 Block of N. Auburn Ave., (11:00 am-1214 pm)
Jan: 11: 200 Block of Roseneath Rd., (12:30 am– 12:00 pm)
Jan. 12: 300 Block of Lexington Rd., (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)
Jan. 12: 0 Block of Patterson Ave/Sauer Ave., (7:45 pm-9:00 pm)
Jan. 12: 0 Block of Patterson Ave/Sauer Ave., (7:45 pm-9:00 pm)
Jan. 13: 4500 Block of Wythe Ave., (9:00 am-2:00 pm)
Jan. 14: 3200 Block of Stuart Ave., (8:28 pm)
Jan. 14: 3900 Block of Patterson Ave., (8:15 pm-8:30 pm)
Jan. 15: 3100 Block of Hanover Ave., (9:20 pm-9:45 pm)
Jan. 15: 6700 Block of Kensington Ave., (8:00 pm-1159 pm)
Jan. 19: 900 Block of Maple Ave., (9:35 pm-1048 pm)
Jan. 19: 800 Block of Maple Ave., (10:00 pm-11:15 pm)
Jan. 21: 500 Block of Matoaka Rd., (11:00 am-2:21pm)
Jan. 22: 100 Block of Westmoreland St., (1:30 pm-1:45 pm)
Jan. 24: 3500 Block of Stuart Ave., (6:00 pm-11:00 am)
Jan. 25: 5700 Block of Grove Ave., (9:45 am-10:25 am)

Read More From Lt. Stith's February Newsletter and Check Out Some of Our Area's 2009 Crime Trends

Tonight marks the beginning of a series of inaugural celebration events in Richmond including a Ball on the Boulevard! The Attorney General's Inaugural Gala will be hosted at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Marble Hall from 7-10 PM tonight. The open bar and hors d'oeuvres event is black tie optional with tickets ranging from $65 to $25,000.

For more details on the event visit the Inaugural reservation site.

Our senior party crashing strategist rates this as a highly desirable event to partake in and the venue offers many stealth entrance opportunities.

"If the open bar and hors d'oeuvres starts at 7PM I'd say optimal [party] crashing starts at 8:30 PM. Everyone will be sloshed and have their guard down," says our strategist.

TRAFFIC ALERT: There are a number of street closings in downtown tomorrow (h/t to Adam for the tip):
Saturday, January 16 from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Grace Street between Jefferson Street and 9th Street

Franklin Street between Jefferson Street and 9th Street

8th Street between Main Street and Broad Street

7th Street between Main Street and Broad Street

6th Street between Main Street and Broad Street

5th Street between Main Street and Broad Street

4th Street between Main Street and Broad Street

3rd Street between Main Street and Broad Street

2nd Street between Main Street and Broad Street

1st Street between Main Street and Broad Street

Foushee Street between Main Street and Broad Street