Maury Place at Monument

Maury Place at Monument Trip Advisor "Travelers' Choice" Winner for 2012

2012-02-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

Maury Place at Monument

We are honored to be a recipient of a "Travelers' Choice" Award from Trip Advisor for 2012. Maury Place at Monument has been recognized by our guests as one of the Top 25 Bed and Breakfasts in the United States! We are grateful to our guests who have supported us over the year, and we appreciate their many kind comments and reviews on Trip Advisor!

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

Fifth Annual Virginia Wine Expo February 24-26, 2012

2012-01-30T10:05:00.001-05:00

The Fifth Annual Virginia Wine Expo takes place February 24-26, 2012 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Satisfy your desire for great wine, gourmet food, delicious luncheons, and fascinating seminars all under one roof! It will also be a great opportunity to taste and to purchase hundreds of Virginia wines.

The Virginia Wine Expo was voted the "Best Wine Fest Overall in Virginia" by readers of Virginia Wine Lover Magazine. Purchase tickets and view the full event schedule at www.VirginiaWineExpo.com. Maury Place at Monument is just a short drive from the Greater Richmond Convention Center, and we pride ourselves on serving Virginia wines to our guests!

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

Virginia Named One of the Best 10 Wine Travel Destinations by Wine Enthusiast!

2012-01-26T10:09:00.001-05:00

Wine Enthusiast, one of the most influential wine magazines around, has named the State of Virginia as one of the ten best wine travel destinations for 2012. The article, which can be found online at www.WineMag.com and in the February issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine, highlights Virginia as one of only three domestic destinations to make the list of wine regions that are ideal for wine lovers to visit in 2012. The other two domestic destinations are in California!

The article cites Virginia's rich history, natural beauty, and wine makers as some of the many reasons why Virginia is a hot wine travel destination. Our state is home to more than 200 wineries statewide. Virginia has wineries in virtually every area of the State, which sets it apart from other wine destinations. Where else can you enjoy bluegrass music at a winery, kayak to a winery, taste local wines in a beautiful national park, sip local wines at a national historic landmark, or bike from one winery to another? You can do all of those things at Virginia wineries!

Visit www.Virginia.org/wine to learn more about wine travel in Virginia or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free Virginia is For Lovers Travel Guide. Also visit www.VirginiaWine.org.

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

Richmond's Annual Acts of Faith Festival: January 13 through March 18

2012-01-23T10:11:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite events on Richmond's theater calendar is the annual "Acts of Faith Festival." Our own church, Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Richmond, is a convening sponsor of the festival, which is a collaboration between Richmond's faith communities and local theaters. The festival focuses on performances of plays that deal with some aspect of faith.

Starting on January 13, Richmond's theater companies--including some of our favorites such as Richmond Triangle Players, the Barksdale, and the Firehouse--offer a selection of faith-related plays, some with a direct religious reference and others showing the act of faith through other circumstances such as family dynamics, fate, and religious prejudice. Theaters also sponsor discussions after many of the performances with directors, cast members, and members of the religious community.

For more information or to see the festival schedule, visit www.theactsoffaith.org. Maury Place at Monument is within walking distance of Richmond Triangle Players and is just a short drive from the Barksdale and Firehouse Theaters.

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

Meet the Press

2012-01-19T10:13:00.001-05:00

Hatch Show Print of Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the nation's oldest working letterpress and printing shops. Its posters have promoted music concerts, football games, vaudeville shows, state fairs, and pretty much anything else related to pop culture.

Richmond gets a firsthand look at this historic marvel with the recently opened exhibit "American Letterpress: The Art of the Hatch Show Print." Organized by the Smithsonian Institution and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, this traveling exhibit celebrates the American graphic art tradition and includes about 50 original posters, hand-carved wood printing blocks, text panels and labels. The posters advertise everything from musicians and movies to such everyday items as Holsum Coffee, Graves Sausage, and Frigidaire.

Hatch Show Print opened in 1879, the year Thomas Edison introduced the incandescent light bulb to the world. "American Letterpress" runs at the Library of Virginia's exhibition hall through February 4. The Library of Virginia, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday through Saturday, is located at 800 East Broad Street, just a short drive from Maury Place at Monument. Admission to the exhibit and parking are free.

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

Elvis Lives--in your head, your heart, and in your stories!

2012-01-16T10:10:00.002-05:00

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts recently opened its excellent exhibit Elvis at 21, a series of black and white photographs by legendary photographer Alfred Wertheimer of Elvis Presley in the prime of his youth. To complement that exhibit, the VMFA will be hosting a film panel and conversation about Elvis on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the museum's Leslie Cheek Theatre from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets will cost $8.

A book sale and signing will occur from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Wertheimer will be on hand to sign copies of the exhibition catalogue. From 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., the film Elvis '56 will be screened. Narrated by Levon Helm, this amazing documentary captures the magical year when Elvis Presley was on the cusp of superstardom. Elvis's momentous appearances in Richmond that year are featured.

Finally, from 7:45 to 9:00 p.m., there will be a panel conversation with questions and answers with Mr. Wertheimer, local radio DJ Tony Booth, the Smithsonian Institution's S. Marquette Folley, and classic rock and roll singer Ron Moody (of Ron Moody and the Centaurs). This promises to be a memorable Elvis evening! Maury Place at Monument is just a few blocks away from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

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

Take in the Richmond Forum in 2012

2012-01-03T10:01:00.001-05:00

We are fortunate to have the Richmond Forum in our city. It is certainly one of the best and most renowned speakers' series in the country. Mac and I have attended many Richmond Forum evenings--including a memorable evening last year with Anderson Cooper, who just days earlier was covering the revolution in Egypt.

Seats are still available for the remaining speakers of 2012: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates on January 14, 2012; Music Legend Quincy Jones on February 4, 2012; political thinkers Charles Krauthammer and Robert Reich on March 24, 2012; and education experts Sir Ken Robinson and Rafe Esquith on April 21, 2012. All programs are at the beautiful Landmark Theatre at 8:00 p.m. Each speaker presentation is followed by audience question and answers.

Season subscriptions are still available. Visit www.RichmondForum.org or call 804-330-3993. Consider attending the Richmond Forum and spend the night at Maury Place.

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

Shockoe Bottom: Richmond's Oldest Neighborhood

2011-12-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

If you go back far enough, you could say Richmond began on a large, flat rock at the mouth of the James River. English settlers came up the river and traded with American Indians there on a rock the Indians called "Shockoe." The name means "large flat stone." In fact, the rock, which may have been located in what is today's Great Shiplock Park, gave its name to the creek (which ran between Church Hill and Shockoe Hill) and to the tobacco trading settlement that William Byrd established on the low-lying land near the creek in the 1600's. The first buildings there were temporary wood structures, and the largest buildings were Byrd's tobacco warehouses. The houses were one or two rooms, and were not built to last long. The area underwent a growth spurt in 1737 when Byrd's son, William Byrd II, commissioned William Mayo to lay out a street grid for a new town to be called "Richmond." Mayo's grid encompassed a 32-square block area that is present day Shockoe Bottom.

Shockoe Bottom's original grid ran from today's 17th Street to 25th Street. It is not only the oldest neighborhood in the city--it was once THE CITY! By 1742, Richmond was a village of 250. As far back as the 1800's, Shockoe Bottom was a mix of houses, stores, taverns and factories. It was also once home to a large slave trading center. Once the Capitol was being built in the 1780's, fashionable folks started moving up Shockoe Hill to be near it. That was the beginning of Richmond's westward development. Shockoe Bottom's oldest surviving house--aptly named The Old Stone House--was built in the 1700's. It is the only colonial era house that survives in the City of Richmond. The structure now houses the Edgar Allan Poe Museum and is located at 1914-16 East Main Street. Other houses in the Federal style from the 1700s and early 1800s still survive: the Adam Craig House at 1812 E. Grace Street, for example.

The majority of the buildings that stand in Shockoe Bottom were built between 1870 and 1925. The largest buildings were warehouses and factories. As those buildings fell into disuse, the area declined, but it underwent a rebirth in the 1980s and 1990s as an entertainment destination and then as a trendy residential area. Today, it is one of our City's fastest growing residential districts. Shockoe Bottom today is an example of city living at its best. The neighborhood's fine and casual dining options as well as its active nightlife attract many residents, as does its architecture and proximity to downtown Richmond.

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

200th Anniversary of Historic Richmond Theatre Fire

2011-12-26T14:24:00.000-05:00

Today, December 26, is the 200th anniversary of the fire that destroyed the Richmond Theatre and killed at least 72 people inside. Nearly 600 people packed the Richmond Theatre on the day after Christmas in 1811. As the curtain rose for the final performance of the night, a candle on a chandelier brushed against the backing of some scenery, and it was not long before the extremely flammable theatre was engulfed in flames. The theatre was built five years earlier where the 1200 block of East Broad Street is today. It replaced another theatre that burned in 1800. With inadequate and narrow stairs and only three exits with doors that opened inward, the crush of people rushing to escape was just as lethal as the fire itself. Those killed included Virginia Governor George W. Smith and United States Senator Abraham B. Venable, who had become president of the Bank of Virginia. Of the 72 people confirmed killed, 54 were women. The remains of the victims are buried in a crypt underneath Monumental Church on Broad Street. The church was erected as a memorial to the victims and opened for worship in 1814. A marble monument on the church's portico bears the names of those who died. The Episcopal church congregation worshipping at that site grew during the following years and eventually led to the founding of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond in the 1840's. As Richmond, a city of nearly 10,000 people at the time, reeled in the aftermath of the disaster, evangelical clergy seized the moment to preach against the theater and other public amusements. There was a call to end such "frivolity" and move to a more "God-fearing" existence for the city. Plans for a new theatre took shape in 1816, but it took three years for the new theatre, dubbed "The Theatre," to be completed at the corner of Seventh Street and East Broad Street. Forty-three years later, it burned as well. Maury Place at Monument is just a short drive to Monumental Church in downtown Richmond.

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

Elvis at 21

2011-12-23T10:15:00.003-05:00

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is opening a very special exhibit just in time for the holidays! "Elvis at 21" will feature fifty-six dramatic black and white photographs taken by Alfred Wertheimer in 1956. The photographs feature Elvis Presley in his prime--and on the brink of international superstardom. Eleven of the images were taken here in Richmond, including the famous photo "The Kiss, backstage," when Elvis was in Richmond to perform at The Mosque--now Richmond's Landmark Theatre. The Richmond photos were taken at that theatre, the Jefferson Hotel, the Richmond train station, and other locations.

On January 8, Presley's 77th birthday, the VMFA will host a birthday bash for Elvis from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The event will be free and open to the public. The guest of honor will be Barbara Gray, of Charleston, South Carolina, who was recently identified as the young woman kissing Presley backstage at The Mosque in several of the photographs.

"Elvis at 21" will be showing December 24, 2011 - March 18, 2012. The exhibit is on the last leg of an eight-city tour. Admission is $8, with $2 discounts for students, seniors, and children 7 to 17. The exhibit is free to Museum members. Maury Place at Monument is just a short walk from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

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

Dramatic Lincoln Painting on Exhibit

2011-12-19T10:10:00.000-05:00

The City of Richmond is abuzz with news of the filming of the movie Lincoln in our midst. The movie is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones will also play a crucial role. The Lincoln cast and crew will be filming in the Richmond area through the end of the year, and our own State Capitol building will be standing in for the Lincoln White House. The movie will be released in late 2012.

With topics Lincoln in the air, it is appropriate that the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar is exhibiting Lincoln's Drive Through Richmond, one of the first paintings to depict the president's drive through the city in April 1865, just one day after fires swept through Richmond. Artist Dennis Malone Carter completed the work in 1866. According to curator Randy Klemm, the large-scale, oil on canvas work is significant because most people are not aware that Lincoln visited the city after its fall. "He didn't have to come to Richmond, but it was important to him that he be here, " Klemm said. "The painting is dramatic," he added. "Lincoln's carriage is at a crossroads. I believe that's symbolic. What's also interesting to me is how very small Lincoln is even though the canvas is massive. Of course, we know as the artist knew that Lincoln had only a few short days to live after his visit to Richmond, so the figures in the foreground and background are the people who will continue the story of the country."

The painting is on display through mid-April at 500 Tredegar St. For details and admission prices, visit www.tredegar.org or call 804-780-1865. Tredegar is just a short drive from Maury Place at Monument.

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

Plan to Visit the VMFA's "Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb"

2011-12-15T10:13:00.001-05:00

Mac and I just went to see the latest blockbuster exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, "Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb," and it was great!

The exhibit starts with a fascinating 3-D Movie about the 3000-year old mummy and tomb of Nesperennub, a temple priest. The documentary is narrated by Patrick Stewart, so Mac (who is a Star Trek fan!) was very excited about that! The 3-D floating mummy at times did resemble the Enterprise! The movie takes you into a 3-D tour of the interior of the mummy itself to discover how old Nesperennub was and perhaps how he died. The movie also recreates an image of what he looked like when he was alive.

At the end of the film, the theatre doors automatically open to the exhibit itself. Over 100 artifacts from the world-famous Egyptian collection of the British Museum are on display. We were awestruck by the detail of the large stone sculptures and tiny human figures. It is also amazing how vivid the painted colors and imagery of the ancient coffins remain. We also are always impressed at how the curators of the VMFA create such impressive galleries. The dark brown walls and aqua blue display cases set off the ancient objects perfectly. In addition, if you want to stay in "Egypt mode" you can explore the VMFA's own Ancient Egyptian Gallery, which is worth a trip in itself. Of course, the shop at the end of the exhibit is quite good, and the VMFA's main shop never fails to disappoint. To top the afternoon off, we had a delightful dinner at the museum's Amuse Cafe.

It is amazing that we can immerse ourselves in ancient Egypt within walking distance of Maury Place at Monument. The exhibit runs through March 11, 2012.

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

Holiday Glitter on Monument Avenue!

2011-12-13T15:33:00.000-05:00

The Valentine Richmond History Center sponsors great walking tours throughout the year. Many of our guests frequently take their tours of Hollywood Cemetery or historic Richmond neighborhoods. Certainly one of their most popular tours of the year is the "Holiday Glitter" tour of Monument Avenue after dark.

Monument Avenue is at its height of Christmas beauty right now. Beautiful homes along the historic street are aglow after dark with glittering lights and Christmas trees. The most popular tour of the year occurs on December 26 and 27 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Visit HistoricRichmondTours.com or call 804-649-0711, extension 301, for reservations and starting location.

Of course, Maury Place at Monument, located at the intersection of West Franklin Street and Monument Avenue looks stunning after dark! Happy Holidays, and may all your days have some "glitter"!

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

Merry Christmas from Inn Dogs Chico and Lucy!

2011-12-08T10:47:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays! Mac and I endeavored to take a photo of Chico and Lucy in their Christmas finery for our family Christmas card. Enjoy this video of our photo session!

Here is the picture we will be using for our card below!

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

Fan Holiday House Tour: December 10 and 11

2011-12-06T10:02:00.004-05:00

It is that time of year again! Christmas lights and holiday wreaths are appearing on beautiful historic homes across the Fan and the Museum District--two of Richmond's historic neighborhoods within walking distance of Maury Place at Monument.

The Fan District Association's Annual Holiday House Tour will occur on December 10 and 11 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Eight extraordinary homes will be featured on the tour, including one of our Monument Avenue neighbors, 2710 Monument Avenue. Tickets are available at area Martin's stores and other area merchants $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour. For further information, visit http://www.fantourrichmond.com/.

Stay at Maury Place at Monument during the weekend of the tour and receive 10 percent off your first night with proof of tour admission.

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

Church Hill Holiday House Tour on December 11

2011-12-05T10:06:00.001-05:00

The Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, with more than 400 years of history, is a treasure trove of history, architecture, some folklore, and at its very center, St. John's Church, the city's oldest church. The St. John's Church Historic District is the city's oldest historic district and stretches from 21st to 32nd Streets, and East Franklin to East Broad Streets. In 1775 at St. John's, Patrick Henry uttered his famous words "Give Me Liberty or give me death," sparking Virginia to deliver troops to the Revolutionary War. The neighborhood today includes three large parks, a bevy of top rated restaurants, coffee shops, community gardens, and the recent addition of a dog park!

This year, Church Hill's Annual Holiday Weekend will occur December 9 through 11. The Holiday Weekend is an extensive holiday celebration with a holiday vespers service and candlelight caroling on Friday night, a neighborhood party on Saturday night, and the annual Holiday House Tour on Sunday afternoon. During the Holiday House Tour, visitors get to see the creativity and uniqueness of Church Hill's historic homes. The House Tour will be from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 11. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour. For ticket purchases online and further information, visit www.churchhillrichmond.com.

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

The Christmas Shopping Season Officially Begins!

2011-11-30T12:32:00.001-05:00

Now that Thanksgiving is a memory, the Christmas shopping season is officially in full swing. Why not stay at Maury Place at Monument for a Christmas shopping weekend? Take advantage of the many shopping opportunities Richmond offers and then return to Maury Place at Monument for rest and relaxation after a full day of shopping.

One of Richmond's Christmas shopping highlights is The Bizarre Bazaar. The 36th Annual Christmas Collection will take place from December 1 through December 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Richmond Raceway Complex. Visit "Murphies" in Carytown for advance tickets and see http://www.thebizarrebazaar.com/ for further information.

Of course, Maury Place at Monument is within walking distance of one of Richmond's most fashionable and eclectic shopping areas, Carytown, and we offer exclusively to Maury Place guests a card good for ten percent off purchases at select Carytown merchants. Our two nearby museums, the Virginia Historical Society and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts both have excellent shops for Christmas shopping and both are within walking distance of Maury Place. In addition, we have our own retail area featuring books about Richmond, jewelry from local artists, Maury Place souvenirs, and more. Take advantage of our Christmas sale--15% any purchase from our shop! We would also be happy to assist you in planning a day of shopping at any of our other nearby shopping areas such as Short Pump Town Center or Stony Point Mall. Happy Holidays!

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

The Boulevard: Another of Richmond's Grand Avenues

2011-11-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

Maury Place at Monument is located at the intersection of Franklin Street and Monument Avenue, two of the most historic thoroughfares in our City. This past Sunday, however, we spent a crisp fall afternoon strolling down another nearby "Grand Avenue," the Boulevard. The Boulevard is located just a few blocks East of Maury Place at Monument, and the Stonewall Jackson monument is located at the intersection of Monument Avenue and Boulevard. In addition to the Jackson Monument, Boulevard boasts two of Richmond's most significant museums, an attractive mix of architecturally distinguished houses and apartment buildings, and one of our City's largest parks at its most southern point.

The Boulevard's history dates back to 1817, long before Richmond's western expansion. The road was originally called Clover Street and was part of the proposed town of Sydney, which never developed. The street's oldest house is the Robinson House, which today is on the grounds of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It was built around 1860. The road grew more prominent in 1875, when it was widened to accommodate travelers going to the recently completed reservoir and park at its southern end. That park was named William Byrd Park by 1907 and was a destination in itself.

By 1890, the street became known as the Boulevard and began to grow. In 1884, the Confederate Soldiers' Home was established to house disabled Confederate veterans on land where the VMFA now stands. Construction of Battle Abbey began in 1912 on land adjacent to the Confederate Soldiers' Home, and is now the headquarters of the Virginia Historical Society. Construction of the VMFA began in 1934, and the museum opened in 1936. Residential development of the Boulevard in the area of the museums began around 1912 and continued into the 1930's. The many architectural styles include Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Craftsman. Apartment living became fashionable in the 1920's, when many of the street's beautiful apartment buildings were built. Many apartment dwellers had larger houses in the country, and apartments in the city--many of which were so fancy that they had maid's quarters!

Today, the Boulevard Historic District sits in the heart of some of the City's most prestigious residential and shopping areas, dividing the Fan District from the Museum District (in which Maury Place is located), and Carytown. Having Byrd Park, the Fan, Carytown, and the museums within walking distance gives the Boulevard neighborhood special appeal.

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

Richmond Heroes Among History's Giants

2011-11-10T10:05:00.001-05:00

Richmond was home to several heroes that are among the giants of American History. John Marshall, our nation's first Supreme Court Chief Justice, lived in the midst of what is now our city's courts complex and influenced the development of constitutional law in our nation. Edgar Allan Poe, who grew up in Richmond, studied at the University of Virginia, and spent much of his career here. Poe was perhaps one of the most influential figures in the history of American literature, and arguably invented the detective story and science fiction.

Our own Matthew Fontaine Maury, who was known as the Pathfinder of the Seas and the father of modern oceanography, was an experienced seaman and served as the first superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory.

As editor of the Richmond Planet, one of the country's most influential African-American newspapers, John Mitchell, Jr. launched a crusade against lynching and segregation in the Jim Crow South that inspired a generation of black Americans. At the same time, Richmond's Maggie Walker became a symbol of the strength and independence of African-American culture as an entrepreneur, community leader, and bank president. Civil rights advocate and Richmonder Oliver Hill argued Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court and won when the Court in 1954 declared public school segregation was unconstitutional.

Finally, Arthur Ashe, who was raised in Richmond and played tennis on our City's public courts, broke racial barriers in becoming one of the truly great champions of tennis. These are just a few American heroes that have strong ties to our own Richmond, Virginia.

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

"Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb" at the VMFA November 19 to March 11

2011-11-07T10:11:00.003-05:00

From the world famous Egyptian collection of the British Museum comes an exhibition that examines death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. Human and animal mummies and over 100 objects--a guilded mask, jewelry, canopic jars, monumental stone sarcophagi, statuary, tomb lintels, and more--will immerse visitors in the life and death of a 3000-year-old mummy named Nesperennub, who served as a temple priest.

This stunning exhibition at our own Virginia Museum of Fine Arts takes visitors on a journey all the way back to 800 BC to explore Nesperennub's world through objects found in his tomb--and inside his mummy. The experience begins with a 3-D film that uses the most advanced scanning technology to "virtually unwrap" the mummy of Nesperennub. This fascinating process provides insight into life expectancy, health, disease, and funerary beliefs in ancient Egypt, as well as the complex procedures of mummification. John Taylor, assistant keeper in the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum and curator for Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb, states that Nesperennub's mummy was selected for this project because it was completely untouched and Egyptologists knew that his tomb had never been opened.

Mummies have fascinated humans for centuries. "It's the mystique," Taylor says. "You are confronting someone from the distant past, a recognizable human being, not just bones." This special exhibit will run from November 19, 2011 to March 2, 2012. Maury Place at Monument is just a short walk from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

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

Harvest in a Bottle!

2011-11-03T10:25:00.005-04:00

Fall is a glorious season to visit a Virginia winery. The mild temperatures and breathtaking scenery lure throngs of visitors to our state's wineries. Beyond the buzz of conversations and clink of glasses in tasting rooms, out there in the vineyards, it is also harvest season, a crucial, exhilarating whirlwind that can foretell the future for Virginia winemakers. With 220 wineries scattered throughout the state, there are multiple harvests going on every day from August through November.

Virginia ranks 5th in the United States in number of wineries, with over 3000 total acres planted in wine grapes. The most white grape acreage in Virginia is chardonnay, and the most red grape acreage in Virginia is merlot. The New Kent Winery's Chardonnay Reserve has been named the Governor's Cup champion for white wines for its 2009 vintage. The New Kent Winery is just a short drive from Maury Place at Monument. One of our favorite reds is Barboursville Vineyard's Merlot. Maury Place at Monument is just a short drive from several Virginia wineries. Let us plan a tasting tour for you!

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

Virginia Historical Society Military Murals Conservation Underway

2011-11-01T10:33:00.001-04:00

The Virginia Historical Society has embarked on the conservation of the Charles Hoffbauer Memorial Military Murals. The effort is supported by Save America's Treasures through a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Park Service. The talented team of conservators from Richmond Conservation Studio have been hard at work restoring the important large-scale pieces of Civil War artwork that were painted between 1913 and 1920. The delicate work of not only cleaning but also repairing areas where the paint layers are flaking and where glued canvas has detached from the plaster wall will take several years, but the results will be spectacular when completed. The huge murals that surround gallery visitors on all four walls depict historic Civil War battle scenes. The Virginia Historical Society is a short walk from Maury Place at Monument.

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

A "New Yew" for Historic St. John's Church Cemetery

2011-10-27T10:10:00.001-04:00

For almost two hundred years, a sprawling yew tree sheltered the grave of Elizabeth Arnold "Eliza" Poe, Edgar Allan Poe's mother, in the graveyard of historic St. John's Church. In 2007, the tree was removed by the city, leaving a huge void in the landscape surrounding one of the burial grounds' most famous residents. A new yew has now been planted and will be dedicated on October 30--though it is certainly much smaller than its more aged predecessor.

Yew trees can thrive for hundreds of years and are often found in cemeteries. The yew that was cut down in 2007 possibly pre-dated the construction of St. John's Church, which was constructed in 1741. "Eliza" Poe was a local actress who died in 1811 at the age of 24, possibly of tuberculosis. Her son Edgar was not yet three years old.

She was buried at St. John's, although the congregation reportedly was not pleased about having an actress buried in their churchyard. Acting was not considered a particularly worthy occupation at the time, so she was buried well away from the church on the outskirts of the property. The precise location of Eliza's final resting place was not precisely known until The Raven Society of the University of Virginia determined that she had been buried within a few feet of the old yew tree. The Raven Society erected a memorial marker on the spot in 1927.

The new yew tree will be dedicated at noon on October 30. What better day to commemorate a graveyard location associated with the life of Edgar Allan Poe? This year also marks the 200th anniversary of Eliza Poe's death. St. John's Church is one of Richmond's oldest and most significant historic sites. It is within a short drive of Maury Place at Monument.

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

It's Restaurant Week in Richmond: October 24-30

2011-10-26T08:07:00.000-04:00

This is the 10th year for Richmond's annual Restaurant Week. Savor a gourmet, three-course meal for only $25.11 at some of Richmond's hottest restaurants this week. And the best part of the bargain is that your dinner out will help feed children, homebound neighbors, working poor families, and the elderly on fixed incomes--all who greatly need the healthy food provided by the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit those charities.

Maury Place favorites such as Acacia Mid-Town, Six Burner, Avenue 805, Tarrant's, Bacchus, Bistro 27, Mezzanine, Millie's, Water Grill, and Zeus Gallery Cafe--among many others--are participants. Your dinner at a participating restaurant will lead to a million more meals for those in need in Richmond.

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

"Xu Bing: Tobacco as Subject and Medium" Now Featured at the VMFA

2011-10-24T10:05:00.003-04:00

Having opened on September 10, 2011 and running through December 4, 2011 in the Evans Court Gallery at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Xu Bing: Tobacco Project explores the production and culture of tobacco as seen through the eyes of one of China's most innovative and contemporary artists. The exhibit combines important pieces from the artist's earlier projects at Duke University in North Carolina and the Shanghai Gallery of Art in China with new work inspired by visits to tobacco farms, warehouses, and cigarette factories in Virginia.

Xu Bing uses tobacco--as a material and a subject--to explore a wide range of issues, from global trade and exploitation to the ironies of promoting a potentially harmful substance. As a printmaker and bookmaker, he is especially fascinated by the visual culture of packaging and marketing tobacco. In exploring the complex relationships between people and tobacco, the project ultimately concerns fundamental issues of human culture and of tobacco as a medium of social exchange.

Xu Bing's first visits to Virginia included a tour of the Philip Morris manufacturing center in Richmond and trips to a historic tobacco warehouse and several family-owned tobacco farms in the Southside region of Virginia. He also conducted research at the Valentine Richmond History Center. Maury Place at Monument is within walking distance of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

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