I think you and I disagree on what makes for a bonus in an elementary learning environment.

That said, it’s a school in a transition, hopefully a positive one. There are far better schools in the area, I just suggested OP should looks into them.

I don't have kids there, but it's my Rotary club's main service project, so I'm relatively familiar with their struggles. It's a school that wants to be better, but still has a way to go to get there. One of their biggest hurdles is that ESL is a huge barrier there. More than 40 different languages are spoken as the native tongue for the students there. That said, they have a caring principal and my club has built community gardens for them, do classroom reading to students, a welcome back to school carnival in the fall, and various other projects. You may want to see if you can afford other districts in Henrico.

Since we're going fantasy, I'll call up a few from the past:

Soup: Lobster Bisque from now gone Zuppa
Starter: The Perfect Egg from now defunct Dutch and Co
Main: Tuna and Osso Buco from now shuttered Mamma Zu
Dessert: I'm not a big dessert guy, so insert your favorite here

Man I miss some former great RVA spots.

Glad you got some of your stuff back. Long shot paid off.

I did not set them there, just came across them when I was doing my lunch workout. Check the cameras, might get lucky.

It’s under the pull-up bars on the north side of Marshall between 33rd and Chimborazo

Hey man, sorry this happened. I came across what looked like what may be your stuff dumped in CH. it was a deWalt drill and bits still in case, and two mostly empty Kobalt bags. PM me and I can give you details if you want.

Grisette gets a fair amount of love around here, but it's deserved. My wife and I went with no reservation on Friday and there was no space at the bar. They said they'd call us when it opened up (we live fairly close) and Donnie the owner called us about 30 minutes later. My wife had a cocktail and we split the 3 and 3 charcuterie. The rabbit one is unbelievably good, but everything was delicious. As always, the service was friendly and on point.

One quibble: I'm a beer drinker and they used to have Mind Haze on draft, but now carry only one beer, a canned lager. It's fine, but a better selection would be appreciated.

I'm trying to recreate some Mamma Zu favorites for some friends this evening. I'm making veal osso buco, broccolini, and both marinara and gorgonzola pasta sauces. I haven't tried any of the recipes, so I won't post them unvetted, but I will in two weeks if they're successful.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Chimborazo park. They're redoing the water runoff from the hill. All kinds of construction equipment, working all the time and you can get up close and personal if you wish. My dog does not wish to.

Asterion gave you the place, but make sure you pay attention to the sign that dictates which day is which direction. No one wants a head on collision.

Yeah, it's not marked really at all. Cross Government and stay left of the tracks. Cross over Gillies Creek on the RR bridge and immediately the trail descends off to the left. Follow that for roughly half a mile and you'll come to an intersection marked by three tires. Go right there to come up to Jennie Scher. You can go straight, but it's basically just a half mile loop that runs back on itself.

Cross Jennie Scher and follow the RR tracks maybe 200 yards and off to the right there'll be a trail that ascends the hill. If you bear left at the fork and then cross the stream, there's a couple of miles of trail that serve as a loop. If you go right, there's an out and back trail that I've never run to the end of. It's at least more than a mile, and like I said, technical but very fun. The whole area has sharp turns, steep climbs, bridges and creek crossings. It's quite a find if you're an offroader.

At the bottom of Chimborazo Park, there's a trail that takes you over to Government Road. Cross the road and stay left of the tracks and there's another trail that takes you to Jennie Scher. Cross the road and stay right of the railroad tracks and you can pick up another trail that has a couple of ways to go, but it entails miles and miles of additional wooded, relatively technical, trails. I occasionally see other people there, but for the most part, you'll have it to yourself.

Not sure what you consider reasonable. But I’ve used both llama wood and Dave at Toastys and they’ve been reliable and seasoned. It’s pricey, but in my experience through CL and other venues, you get what you pay for. I do have a guy extremely affordable, but it’s unseasoned. I’ll call him in August when it’s got time to dry out.

I've read/heard that it was a really shitty place to be a POW. Lack of food, lack of blankets and lack of shelter. So this:
>worst during the civil war

Seems about right.

How, in all my years of living here, did I not know there was a gravesite on Belle? I mean, I should have assumed b/c god knows how many people have died there. OP, directionally, where on the island is it so I can find it the next time I go?