Picasso, Faberge, and Ife: Special Exhibitions at the VMFA

As it celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is rolling out one blockbuster exhibition after another in its newly expanded space in Richmond VA.  The VMFA has just closed the special exhibition Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, which broke attendance records with 229,729 people viewing the exhibit in three months, 26,000 people in the last three days alone.  According to the VMFA, 29% were first time visitors to the museum. The VMFA was the only East Coast venue for the 7 city international tour of the exhibition, which included 176 works from Picasso’s personal collection.

Closing this weekend is “Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria”, featuring sculptures and artifacts from the 12th to 15th century. This exhibit showcases extraordinary pieces from Ife artists, including full size copper head portraits made using techniques that were the most advanced in the world at that time.

Coming this summer is “Fabergé Revealed”, featuring the work that Russian jeweler Karl Fabergé produced for the Russian imperial family in the 19th and 20th centuries.  The exhibition will showcase the artists highly ornate work, such as enameled picture frames and clocks, gold cigarette cases and cane tops, hardstone animals and flowers in rock crystal vases, and ruby encrusted brooches and boxes.  This special exhibition will comprise the largest collection of Fabergé in the United States, running from July 9 – October 2, 2011.  This exhibit will be a particularly special event for the VMFA, which in its permanent exhibits houses the largest collection of Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs outside of Russia.

The Virginia Museum is one of the most popular Richmond Virginia attractions for visitors.  The museum is open 7 days a week, and all permanent exhibits are free to the public.  Special exhibitions do have a cost and require tickets, which can be purchased online at the VMFA website.

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Maury Place at Monument Supports Green Travel!

"Green Travel" and "Green Lodging" have become popular themes for tourists, who want to enjoy and protect the planet we live in, while enjoying the world through travel.  Bed and breakfasts in particular have been an integral part of the green travel movement, as we naturally enable travelers to travel locally, and enjoy locally purchased products.  One area that has recently become a focus of environmentalists is the widespread use of bottled water, which travelers often use out of convenience, or concern for water quality.

Both in the U.S. and worldwide, the use of bottled drinking water has grown exponentially in recent years, at a significant cost to our environment.  Some experts estimate that Americans throw away 70 million plastic water bottles per year, with the vast majority going to a landfill.  It is also estimated that it takes 2,000 times the energy to make and transport bottled water as it does to make tap water.

As a luxury inn, Maury Place at Monument provides complimentary beverages to our guests, including bottled water, a convenience we are pleased to provide.  We strive to make it easy for guests to recycle used containers, providing recycling receptacles in the inn and in guest rooms.  As an effort to do more, we are also encouraging guests to enjoy our re-usable Maury Place water bottles, in place of disposable bottled water.  The Maury Place water bottles are complimentary for guests to take and use throughout their stay, and to take home with them, making it possible to save countless bottles from being thrown away.  As a "thank you" to guests who help us in this environmental effort, we are offering a "Green Savings" special,  $5 credit on the stay of guests who take advantage of our re-usable water bottles in place of disposable bottled water.

We are pleased to enable Maury Place at Monument the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of bottled water, while joining us in protecting our environment.  Guests can also feel good about the quality of our water, as the city of Richmond tap water is tested annually, and meets every standard of water quality tested by the EPA, standards that are as stringent as those required of bottled water producers in the U.S.

Maury Place at Monument is proud to be certified Virginia Green Lodging by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.


Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Another Maury Place Innkeeper Collection: State Plates!!

Mac and I are busy putting the finishing touches on our mountain vacation home in Lexington, Virginia.  After some debate on how to do so--and a few stray nail holes!--we managed to hang my collection of state plates!











So far, I have accumulated 25 states and the District of Columbia!  Unfortunately, I broke the Missouri plate in the course of hanging, but I spotted Georgia in an antique mall in Lexington.  After confirming I don't have Georgia, I will have to go back and get that one, which will put me over halfway there to all 50!
Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Travel Review Features Maury Place at Monument

Susan St. George featured several Richmond VA attractions in her recent article for the Washington Home and Garden Online Magazine, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Secco Wine Bar.  Susan relates,

But, truly the biggest surprise was the Maury Place at Monument bed and breakfast. For two and ½ years just four rooms have impressed visitors world wide.   Jeff and Mac have done a spectacular job in decorating this old 1916 mansion with classic furniture, oriental carpets as well as the modern comforts.

Read the full article here.

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Just in time for Summer: Maury Place Kick Gas Special!

Don't let rising fuel prices prevent you from enjoying a relaxing getaway this summer.  Maury Place at Monument is helping vacationers reduce their travel expense with our Kick Gas Special, giving guests who book two or more nights $25 off, savings that can be used to offset those higher fuel costs.  Maury Place at Monument is a luxury Richmond Virginia bed and breakfast located just a short drive from Washington DC, Norfolk, or Charlottesville.

Maury Place at Monument makes the perfect summer escape when you really want to pamper yourself with the very best.  Guests can relax at our beautiful pool and hot tub, sip complimentary Virginia wine on our porch overlooking Monument Avenue, or enjoy an in room massage (available only in the Pathfinder Suite or the Fontaine Suite). Our neighborhood location is walking distance to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Carytown shopping, and many great restaurants.

Reserve your summer getaway online today! Check out our Kick Gas Special and other specials on our website.

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Richmond VA Executive Apartment Franklin Place

Franklin Place

We have just launched a website for Franklin Place, luxury executive apartment located right next door to our Richmond VA bed and breakfast Maury Place at Monument.

Franklin Place is a fully furnished Richmond VA corporate apartment for professionals and extended stay travelers seeking luxury accommodations.  The apartment offers 1,250 square feet of living space, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, full kitchen, office, spacious great room, and a front porch overlooking Monument Avenue.

The office at Franklin Place

Franklin Place offers two bedrooms,  each with its own bathroom.

The Great Room

Kitchen

Amenities include use of the Maury Place at Monument pool and hot tub, complimentary off street parking, and high speed internet.  The apartment can be rented for a minimum stay of 30 days for $3,000 per month, which includes utilities and house cleaning. The new Franklin Place website includes the executive apartment floorplan, photos, and an availability calendar.

Franklin Place is part of a duplex that shares a history with the property that is now Maury Place at Monument.  The Maury Place house was once owned by a Richmond Virginia pediatrician, who build the duplex to be his medical office.  Some long term residents of our neighborhood have told us they remember visiting the doctor there when they were children.  Over the years, the two properties were separated, with the duplex becoming rental property.  When we purchased the home that became Maury Place at Monument, we negotiated to purchase the duplex, in order to bring the properties together again, and in order to offer a unique space for all of our guests.

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Travel Blogger Melinda Joy visits Maury Place at Monument

Melinda Joy visited our home town in April 2011, posting reviews of Richmond VA attractions as part of her "Romantic Getaways Series" blog reviews for travelers. Melinda is a popular blogger, writing about a wide variety of topics, including book and product reviews, travel destinations, and cooking.  In her article on Maury Place at Monument, Melinda gave our inn high praise, saying "One of the things you notice after spending any amount of time here is their thorough attention to the details.  Down to the unique dishes (china of former presidents - photo below) they serve breakfast on, this bed and breakfast has put thought into every inch of space."

Maury Place at Monument Inn Dog Lucy,
pictured with blogger Melinda Joy

Even the inn dogs received mention in Melinda's review, with a picture of Lucy included in the blog post!  Melinda closes her review by saying, "I would give this location the highest review, and would definitely go back!"

As part of her recent visit, Melinda also reviewed two other Richmond VA attractions, the Julep Restaurant and the Richmond Canal Cruises.  You can check out the Melinda Joy Blogs below:

Melinda Joy
Our Home
Cakes by Melinda Joy

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument