Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

So as clever and witty as my last post was regarding Richmonders and our reactions to snow and all forms of frozen precipitation...it is less funny now beacuse it is soooooo true. Case in point, this blog is supposed to be about happenings and cool things to see and so about town...but...since inclement weather has struck and Jack Frost thinks that Richmond is really Vermont NOTHING has happened in our beautiful city. Children finally went back to school today only to have more bad weather threatening the safety of our little ones tonight. Some schools systems have started cancelling school ahead of time in anticipation of more snow...

So as annoyed as people are and as much as they claim that they are ready for no more snow...I do NOT agree. This is so rare in Richmond that I, for one, am enjoying sitting in my warm house, catching up on the DVR and watching the snow pile up. Now if Spring thinks it should wait to show its lovely face until later than usual then we may have a little problem. I will take the cold as long as we have snow. After the snow, I am ready for springtime once again...

Go figure...3-6 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow (Tues and Wed) and it is supposed to be in the high 40's-low 50's this weekend. Gotta love the Old Dominion!

Pardon me for borrowing the above picture of students frollicking in the snow on the University of Richmond Campus!

Richmond Gets Bad Weather

So, for those of you not from the area, let me open by saying that Richmond is a panic-driven city. Heavy rain, hint of snow...people are packed into grocery stores buying bread and milk and who knows what else might possibly be needed when we are snowed into our houses for weeks on end. Now, does that ever really happen? Not exactly. We got 10-12 inches in December which is A LOT for us and the city was indeed paralyzed. But weather predictions right now are on again off again with the amount of snow we should be expecting that I wonder if we'll get any at all. (A sure way to guarantee we will...)

But I thought I would share with you the truth about Richmond and bad weather...I am sharing an article on Richmonders and weather because it is SOOOOOOOOO TRUE!!!!

Enjoy!

http://www2.richmond.com/content/2010/jan/27/snow-coming/
Snow is Coming!
Karri Peifer

Published: January 27, 2010
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch and every meteorologist in town, Richmond is going to get a nice snowfall this weekend … up to a foot, some people say. The snow is supposed to start as early as Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday.
In case you're new to Richmond, let me tell you how we do it here.
Someone somewhere says snow is coming to Central Virginia.
We Richmonders start paying attention.
Someone says it's coming to Richmond.
We Richmonders really start paying attention.
Someone brandishes the word "accumulation."
Done. Finished. Over. We who call Richmond home all-out lose our minds. In the case of this snow, it happens like this:
Tuesday morning: The word "accumulation" is used.
Tuesday afternoon: Accumulation confirmed. All weekend plans put on stand-by or out-right canceled.
Tuesday evening: First trip to supermarket for bread, milk, wine, beer and cookie dough.
Wednesday morning / afternoon: Calls around town for sleds begin (for the record, Richmond.com is one step ahead. No one has them; Pleasant's is expecting a shipment on Friday).
Wednesday evening: Local news does a story about the run on supermarkets for bread and milk. Second trip to supermarket for extra bread and milk, plus frozen pizzas and non-perishables, because you never know.
Thursday morning / afternoon: Spend workday obsessively checking the forecast. More calls for sleds. Search online for sleds, but decide against them because you can't believe how much sleds actually cost.
Thursday evening: Meet friends out for drinks or dinner because you never know when you'll get out again. Realize you forgot to buy bagels. How could you forget bagels? Third trip to supermarket.
Friday morning: Alternate staring out window for snow and consulting forecast for exact snow start time. Cancel the rest of weekend plans.
Friday afternoon: Weather.com reports that it is snowing in your area. Run to window. Spend at least one hour yelling at weather.com because it is clearly not snowing. Ask boss about company inclement weather policy. Complain about said policy. Wait an hour; ask boss if company is closing early.
Friday evening: Fourth trip to supermarket on the way home for last-minute necessities, like chocolate and fancy hot cocoa. Alternate staring out window and watching local news for exact snow start time. Watch the Closings scroll to see if your work is closed on Monday, because you never know.
Friday night: Snow finally begins. Call/text all of your friends and family to see if it's snowing in their area and to make sure they're OK in the storm. Update Facebook status to reflect snowfall in case you missed anyone. Order pizza so you don't have to break into rations too soon.
Saturday morning: Marvel at snowfall. Fling pets / children into the snow so they can marvel and so you have pictures for your Facebook page.
Saturday afternoon: Drive or trudge to nearest hill and attempt to sled on a cookie sheet/shower curtain/trashcan lid/pool float.
Saturday evening: Meet friends for out for drinks or dinner to celebrate snow.
Sunday: Eat leftover pizza and stare out window, watching snow melt. Obsessively watch Closings list. Feel happy when the county you once lived in announces closing and then sad because you never became a teacher and now you have to go out, clean off the car and then go to work tomorrow. Plus you've got all that bread and milk to eat.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

Legendary Santa

There is little that Richmond takes more seriously in December than Santa Claus. So much so that growing up in the Richmond area I always thought this famous line, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus," was about our Santa Claus, the "Real" Santa...Legendary Santa. My sisters and I were sooooo sure that this was the real Santa (and we're right) because the Santa that we saw every year at Christmas was the same man in the pictures of my mother and uncles from their childhood...only the real Santa could have lasted that long! I am, admittedly, older than most of the girls that go sit on Santa's knee but this is a tradition that my family takes very seriously...

Legendary Santa was originally housed in the famed, Richmond-based department store of Miller and Rhoads...whose boxes are still passed around in the family at Christmas despite their having closed their doors in 1990. For a short while Santa could be found in Thalhimer's (gasp...the "Other" Department Store), followed by 6th Street Marketplace, the Richmond Convention Center and now...finally...to the Children's Museum of Richmond. Parts of Legendary Santa and Santaland have changed over the years but the essentials remain the same. If you are lucky enough to arrive early and get a good spot in line you might just hear the prance of reindeer hoofs on the roof, hear the jingle of sleigh bells and see the magic of Santa's boots coming down the chimney piece. And nothing strikes the hearts of children quite like when Santa asks," Have you been good this year?"

We miss the Tea Room with Rudolph Cake and Santa magically drinking his glass of milk, we miss the Fawn Shop, Bruce the Spruce and the Snow Bears...but the Snow Queen and the Elf remain! Newcomers to Richmond and Old Timers alike can appreciate the magic of Santa cherished by Richmond, VA.

Sgt. Santa

Another famous, local Santa is Sgt. Santa. He is a wonderful man that I have been lucky enough to meet on numerous occasions. This frosty-bearded gentleman is a retired police sargeant who took it upon himself to start collecting donations for less fortunate families during the holiday season. His humble beginnings have grown to epic proportions in Richmond and it is reported that tens of thousands of gifts are given by Sgt. Santa on each Christmas Eve. This Santa is such an important part of our community that every other year he graces the final float in the Ukrop's Christmas Parade, another local tradition which takes place on the first Saturday morning in December. (He and Legendary Santa take turns!)

All of Sgt. Santa's "elves" are volunteers, like you and I, who want to make a difference for families and children. If you are interested in volunteering you can contact Sgt Santa of Richmond, Inc at (804) 358-7281.

Hanover Fire Dept. Santa

Hanover County is a fantastic place to grow up. Not only are the schools great but the Volunteer Fire Department is great too! Each year, the Fire Department coordinates its volunteers and Santa gets to ride a Hanover County Fire Engine around the county. Imagine this...you've checked the Mechanicsville Local and know when to expect Santa in your neck of the woods. The family is gathered around the TV watching Rudolph or the Grinch (the old school cartoon, of course) and you hear sirens in the background. All the kids jump up and scramble to get our coats and shoes on and run out of the house in time to see a fire truck with escort cars turn the corner. Santa is on top and he tosses candy and treats down to the kids. Now, if you are prepared you will have brought a flashlight to try to find the candy in the grass. But if you are lucky, you will miss a few...nothing beats going out in the morning to catch the school bus and finding a few last pieces to take to school!

This is a great tradition! Like Sgt. Santa the only reimbursement that this Santa receives is shining in the faces of the children he meets!

The Richmond Area has many Christmas Traditions; ie: Lewis Ginter Parade of Lights, Mechanicsville and Chesterfield Christmas Parades, the nativity at the Metro Richmond Zoo (with live animals) and much more, but dear to everyone's hearts is the man in the red suit who spreads joy and cheer to local children and adults alike.

Welcome to Richmond, VA!

WELCOME TO HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS!

Good Afternoon, great big world!!

I wanted to introduce myself and my company and start off our brand new blog!

Hometown Realty is the largest locally-owned real estate firm in Central Virginia. For over 20 years we have been providing top-notch service to this region as well as sincere involvement in this community. This company, as well as our agents and staff, have been involved in many charitable events and organizations (ie: March of Dimes, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Massey Cancer Center, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and much more!). Not only are we involved and invested in our community but we do a great job helping you buy and sell real estate too! With 98% client satisfaction, nominations for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and recipient of the Hanover Business Lifestyles Award, we have a proven track record of our work.

My name is Emily Richardson and I manage the Global Services Division (GSD) of Hometown Realty. The GSD covers Corporate Relocation, Broker-to-Broker Referrals, National and International Referrals, REO business and our Corporate and Military Affinity Programs. I like to keep a finger on the pulse of Central Virginia so I can more fully welcome newcomers to the area and be a great resource for our clients. Part of that pulse, in fact the lifeblood of our region, are the fantastic communites that make up Central Virginia and the fun events and traditions that make us special. With this blog I would like to help welcome you to Richmond and to get you excited to know your Hometown!

Coming Soon...The Hometown Christmas Bash, The Ukrop's Christmas Parade and the many Santa Claus' that Richmond LOVES!!