Date Archives: October 2017

Ever wonder what it would be liked to be transported to a different place and time, where history, natural beauty, and learning meet? James and Salley Dooley, who lived in Richmond, VA more than a century ago, had the same vision, which is why they gifted their luxurious estate to the community for all to enjoy. The estate is called Maymont, and today it has become a place where you can learn, experience history first-hand, relax, and explore all of the outdoor fun that Richmond has to offer. Our real estate agents are here to tell you more about this truly unique Richmond home. 

The Maymont Estate Is the Gift that Keeps on Giving

The Maymont Estate is a gorgeous, Victorian-era property, with a spectacular interior and more than 100 acres of outdoor space. Like many homes in Richmond, every room in the Maymont Estate has a story a story to tell. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, the Maymont Estate has so much to offer Richmond residents.

• A Victorian Estate – Travel back in time to enjoy the classic luxury of a perfectly preserved Victorian estate, filled with history, antiques, and gorgeous art. The Maymont Estate has been lovingly maintained for more than 100 years, so that all visitors can enjoy the same gorgeous property as the original owners. What started as a gift has become a Richmond institution, where visitors from near and far can see what it was like to live in the Gilded Age.
  
  

• Outdoor Fun and Attractions – James and Salley Dooley loved the outdoor scenery of their Richmond estate, and it's easy to see why when you visit. Today, you can enjoy a collection of gorgeous gardens, with plants from around the world. The Maymont Estate is also a great place to have a picnic, scope out some local wildlife, and explore the natural beauty of the Richmond area. No matter what time of year you visit, you'll be treated to beautiful sights.
  
  

• Furry Friends – The Maymont Estate aims to provide fun for the whole family, and the many animals around the estate are sure to please visitors of all ages. Visit the nature center, take in wildlife exhibits, see what's happening down on the farm, and enjoy unique animal encounters that the kids will surely love. It's all waiting for you outdoors at the Maymont Estate.

• Guided Tours – With a mansion, formal gardens, and more than 100 acres to explore, the Maymont Estate certainly provides plenty to see. Taking a guided tour at the estate is a fantastic way to learn more about what life was like in the Victorian era, from the same experts who have worked so hard to preserve the Maymont Estate to this day. Tour the interior of the mansion, or hop in a golf cart for an easy way to explore the whole property.
  
  
• Special Events – There's plenty to see and do no matter what time of year you visit the Maymont Estate, including a busy schedule of special events for every season. Enjoy events for the kids, beer and wine tastings for the adults, and holiday events that everyone can enjoy. The Maymont Estate also offers facility rentals for your own special events, perfect for weddings, large gatherings, and corporate events.

Whether you're searching for a private estate or an affordable, appealing family home, our real estate team is here to help. Contact Napier ERA to buy and sell homes throughout the Richmond, VA area.

Supporting the Visual and Performing Arts in Glen Allen

When you're touring homes for sale in Glen Allen, take time to visit The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.

The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen offers local residents in the Richmond area an opportunity to discover the arts, develop a talent, and experience  all our community has to offer.

Young and old gather at the Center to share artistic experiences and develop creative skills. Four galleries showcase work from local and regional artists. Performance stages come alive with music, dance, and theater presentations. Regional artists and artisans market their work in a warm and friendly setting. The Center also rents four beautiful spaces for special occasions.

Our real estate agents live and work in the area. We know The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is a valuable community asset and celebrate the Center's best by sharing these upcoming programs and special events with you. 

Glen Allen Community Events   

• Halloween: Dia De Los Muertos
  The Center celebrates Halloween with a cultural twist. The family-friendly event celebrates Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with the Latin Ballet of Virginia. Visitors will enjoy music, dancing, treats, food, and creative activities. The Richmond Ballet Mind and Motion Ambassadors from will perform. Mercado Muertos will sell themed merchandise. October 29, 2017, 1-5PM; Free
  
  
• Virginia Cultural Marketplace
  Regional artists and artisans will sell jewelry, bath & beauty products, wreaths, pottery, and more just in time for you to purchase gifts for the holidays. The Center's Atack Family Gift Shop will sell creations by local and national artists and artisans. The galleries will be open as well, showcasing a collection of art by local and regional artists. Friday, November 10, 2017, Saturday, November 11, 2017, 10AM-8 PM; Free

• 19th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
  The Center will collaborate with the Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks to present the annual lighting of the Center's 60-foot Christmas tree. Guests will enjoy a bonfire, hot chocolate and cookies, a musical presentation and a visit from Santa. Saturday, December 2, 2017, 4:30PM; Free

• Illumination: A Festival of Trees
  After the Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Cultural Arts Center hosts "Illumination," a festival that celebrates Christmas trees. The event features an exhibit of specially themed trees. Santa will be there with his elves and young visitors can participate in a holiday scavenger hunt. Saturday, December 2, 2017, 5-7PM; Free

Live Presentations at The Cultural Center

The Cultural Arts Center celebrates the season with live concerts and theater performances. These upcoming events will start your holiday season out on a joyful note.

• A Tribute to the Carpenters: Susan Greenbaum Band
  Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 7PM; Tickets: $30.
  
  
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
  Friday, December 8, 2017, 7PM; Saturday, December 9, 2017, 11AM and 1PM; Tickets: $12.
  
  
• The Richmond Divas: Holiday Divas
  Debra Wagoner, Cathy Motley-Fitch, and Desiree Roots perform holiday favorites. Wednesday, December 13, 2017, 7PM; Tickets $30.
  
  
• Twas The Night Before Christmas
  The VA Rep Tour presents a fun musical inspired by Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Saturday, December 16, 2017, 11AM and 1PM; Tickets: $12.

When you need information about Glen Allen real estate, we're available to answer all of your questions. Contact Napier ERA to buy and sell homes in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Who Has the Fastest Feet in Petersburg? Find out Saturday. 

The marriage of Halloween and a running event may seem like a match made in well … Transylvania, but according to Running USA, Halloween is the second most popular running holiday, trailing behind Thanksgiving.

Maybe it's the need to burn off calories from gobbling a few too many milk chocolate bites, the irresistible call of dressing like a super hero or zombie to compete in a race, or the desire to take part in local community fun, but this Saturday's Petersburg Half Marathon and 5K Run is sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

The race courses begin and end in Petersburg at Union Station, 103 River Street.  The Half Marathon course features a scenic tour of Petersburg winding through the Old Towne historic section complete with buildings and architecture dating back to the Civil War era.  The 5K course features a loop in our Downtown area with a one-hour time limit. 

Admittedly, Petersburg's historic downtown is a hands-down hit as a backdrop for this local event, but the best scenery may be the participants—many of whom don super hero, villain, funny,  and scary costumes.  Costumes are optional, but having a good time is required.

Runners and walkers of all fitness levels are encouraged to participate.  All finishers from both the Half Marathon & 5K Race will receive a signature Halloween-themed medal and t-shirt to commemorate the event.

Each year race coordinators go to great lengths to design a Halloween-themed medal and t-shirt using a different Halloween character each year—bats, vampires, skeletons, zombies, and werewolves.  Frankenstein may make an appearance this year.  What started as memorabilia for some participants has become a collectible for runners luring them back to Petersburg every October.

Ghosts and Goblins Are Scary, But Buying a House Doesn't Have to Be

If you're one of the past race participants who have decided to make Petersburg your permanent home, contact Napier ERA to view homes for sale in Petersburg.

Our REALTORS® will be by your side every step of the way to ward off any home buying fears that might turn your dreams of owning a home into a ... Nightmare on Elm Street. 

Tour Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery ... If You Dare

October's changing weather and earlier sunsets bring thoughts of Halloween. If your inner child feels the ghostly pull of haunted places, perhaps it's time for a visit to our Historic Hollywood Cemetery. It's located in Richmond's Oregon Hill neighborhood at 412 South Cherry Street. If the possibility of a ghostly encounter doesn't scare you, you can walk (or run) through the grounds or even sign up for a tour. 

While our real estate agents value Hollywood Cemetery for its national historical significance, we also recognize it as the perfect place to generate Halloween inspiration.

A Brief History

Cemetery founders, William Haxall and Joshua Fry, commissioned Architect, John Notman, to design a cemetery at a vast property called Harvie's Woods. As the work began, Notman recommended the name "Hollywood" for the proliferation of Hollywood trees on the site.

Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place of a long list of notable Americans. In 1969 the site was added to the National Record of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. It's also listed as a United States Historic District.

Vampires and More

Hollywood Cemetery is known nationally as a historic venue. But over the years, it developed a higher profile as the home of hauntings and unusual events.

• Richmond Vampire sightings
• Whispering dead at Dimmock's Pyramid
• Unexplained blasts of icy air

No one knows if these eerie cemetery tales are true, but they could be. Hollywood is 130 acres of aging monuments memorializing centuries of buried dead. Its history includes horrible deaths in a collapsed underground tunnel, thousands of dead Confederate soldiers and an iron dog watching over a toddler's grave. Given the colorful history, it's the perfect environment for ghostly happenings.

Burial Place of the Known and the Unknown

If you're more interested in Hollywood's history than scary experiences, you can track down graves or tombs for President, James Monroe, President, John Tyler, a Supreme Court Justice, and six Virginia governors.

A monument of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, stands over his grave.

There's a 90-foot stone pyramid marking the spot where 18,000 Confederate soldiers are buried. The identities of 11,000 of these soldiers remain unknown.

One of the best-loved monuments in the cemetery is the cast-iron Newfoundland dog standing guard over a grave of a two-year old Richmond girl.  There are a number of versions of how the Iron Dog came to rest by the little girl's grave.

1. One tells the story of how a local shopkeeper remembered how much the child loved the dog perched in front of his Main Street store and gave the statue to her family to guard her grave. 
2. The second story says the child's father placed the dog's statue at his daughter's grave to prevent it from being melted down for bullets during the Civil War. 
   
   

Take a Tour

If you're interested in getting up close and personal with Hollywood Cemetery history and scary legends, you have several tour options:

• Historical Walking Tour
  Check the tour schedule. Choose a Daily, Evening, or Saturday Specialty Tour. Meet your tour guide at the entrance located at Cherry and Albermarle Streets and prepare yourself for a two-hour cemetery adventure.
• Segway Tour
  If you prefer gliding through the cemetery instead of walking, contact Segway of Richmond to schedule a Segway tour.
• Trolley Tour
  Each Saturday from April to November, you can take a trolley tour. Visit the RVA Trolley website to book your tour.
• Gem Car
  If you prefer an eco-friendly ride, you can schedule a 2 to 10 person private tour in an electric car. Visit the rvagemcartours.com to schedule your group.
• Self-Guided Car Tour
  You don't have to leave your car when you opt for a self-guided tour. You can view or download a map online or pick one up at the cemetery office.

Your Real Estate Professionals in Richmond, VA

It's not uncommon for people who own homes in Richmond to add the Hollywood Cemetery at the top of their list to show guests and visitors.  If you're interested in relocating to this area, our professionals can help. Contact Napier ERA if you're thinking about buying or selling your home in Richmond, Virginia.

Congratulations are in order for Napier's own Libby Gatewood, who was awarded the prestigious VHDA (Virginia Housing Development Authority) Service to Virginia award last night for her ongoing efforts to create affordable housing opportunities for all.

Nominees are judged based on their contributions to initiatives at the local, state and national level as well as their support of individual homebuyers in their effort to achieve affordable, sustainable homeownership.

Libby is the Managing Broker for our Tri-Cities office, and we're delighted to celebrate this achievement with her!

Mark Your Calendar for Saturday, October 7 for Powhatan's Festival of the Grape

Powhatan has many claims to fame; its biggest may be its renowned Powhatan Festival of the Grape, a high-energy celebration of the vintner's art.

Festival of the Grape is a Tradition You Don't Want to Miss 

While many communities throughout the country get ready for Halloween in October, the residents of Powhatan and the surrounding area have their own tradition. The Festival of the Grape will be celebrating its 15th year on October 7.

The Festival of the Grape is held in Historic Courthouse Village, the part of town that celebrates the Revolution-era courthouse that was the community's original reason for being. This annual event connects wine connoisseurs with top wineries throughout Virginia. A full selection of reds, whites, roses, and bubblies will be available to attendees.

What to Expect from Powhatan's Festival of the Grape

Nearly two dozen wineries, the majority of which are from Virginia, will be exhibiting at the Festival of the Grape. Naturally, wine aficionados will have the chance to try their tastiest wares and access special pricing available only during the event.

But that's not all – dozens of craftsmen and artisans will be on hand with lots of breathtaking souvenirs. You'll find photography, jewelry, pottery, knitted goods, glasses, and more. InsideOut and Route 64 will be the headlining bands playing live.

If you're looking for a snack or even a full meal to go with your wine, you won't be disappointed. A dozen different restaurants and food trucks are expected to be on hand. You'll have a choice of everything from fine chocolates or barbecue to pizza or seafood.

Powhatan is no slouch when it comes to wines, even when the Festival isn't in town. In fact, the community is home to two of its own local wineries:

• Skippers Creek Vineyard
  Skippers Creek boasts five acres of viniferous vines, part of property that has been in the co-owner's family for more than 75 years. The vineyard features a variety of barrel-fermented Chardonnays, fruity Viognier varieties, and blends.
  
  
• Bodie Vineyards
  Bodie Vineyards bills itself as the first farm winery in Powhatan, and was founded in 2008. It is known for semi-dry white and red wines from fine local grapes. Group tastings and tours are available on the winery grounds, which can also host weddings. Bodie won't be attending the Festival of the Grape this year, but that doesn't mean you can't visit when you're in Powhatan!

Fall in Love with Powhatan, VA

If you are interested in attending this year's Festival, the best time to purchase a ticket is now! Online ticket sales will close on October 7 – the day of the event. Tickets are reasonably priced and a great value for a full day of fun! Children aged 12 and under are free, and guests between the ages of 13 and 20 enjoy a discounted price. To order your tickets, visit the Festival of the Grape website.

Do you want to do more than visit?

Contact Napier ERA and we'll show you homes in Powhatan that are perfectly suited to your needs. Our real estate agents are experts in the local market who have helped buyers from around Virginia and the country find an ideal home.