Dominion Gardenfest of Lights 2014

There's still time to see the lights! What a wonderful way to relax and get in the Christmas spirit. The half a million lights will put you in a peaceful zone and your mind will start wandering about all the good times from Christmas past. At least that's what happens to me. The season is very hectic, but here all the commotion goes away. After the visit you will be energized for Christmas 2014!

Dominion Gardenfest of Lights is one of the region's ultimate holiday attractions. It's not just lights either. The gardens are beautiful, even at night in the winter, and the lake reflects all this beauty. A nice, warm hot chocolate and a sampling of s'mores will hit the spot while standing by the fire pit! There are a couple of model train exhibits with working trains and we all have such fond memories of the model trains at Christmas time. Holiday dinners are available too along with nightly family activities.     

The Lights are open nightly from 5- 10PM and from Nov. 28, 2014 - Jan. 12, 2015. The park is closed December 24-25. Lewis Ginter Botanical gardens is located just off Lakeside Drive. Tickets range from $8 for kids to $12 for adults. Be on the lookout for promotions.

Some of the family activities include caroling, crafts, music, and story- telling. There are even a few leashed pet nights. Guided tours are also fun, but you need 15-40 adults with a reservation. Two eateries are ready to serve you- The Tea Room and The Garden Café. The Garden Shop is a great place to shop for your holiday gifts.

So much fun just waiting at Dominion GardenFest of Lights 2014! The winter nights are long, so plan on spending one (or more) of them there. Many of us at Extra Attic plan to step back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful holiday lights while sipping on a delicious, hot chocolate next to the crackling, toasty fire!

Modlin Center for the Arts

The Modlin Center for the Arts is a hidden gem in west Richmond. It was built in 1996 and is part of the University of Richmond. The music and theater, dance, and art and history departments are headquartered here. The Center presents more than 40 world- class performing arts events each year. Most of the shows are free and many feature an academic component designed for the Richmond students.

The mission of the Modlin Center for the Arts is extensive, touching students, research and the Richmond area arts fans and participants. It partners with the music, arts, and museum communities in metro Richmond. Many opportunities are made available to visual and performing arts students while nurturing arts awareness in our local region.

A wonderful by-product of their mission is the many quality shows made available to the public. There is a school series with 3 educational shows including Schoolhouse Rock, Harold and the Purple Crayon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. These shows are very fun and educational for elementary children. Another enjoyable set of shows comes from the Visiting Artists Residencies. The Residents provide performances, interviews, and instruction in their craft. These options are free to the public and include quartets, jazz groups, song writers, and many more professionals.

Some of the available arts are: concerts, theater, dance, comedy, film, ballet, music and speakers. That’s quite a list! What an opportunity for all of us to engage in so many artistic possibilities. In order to know what’s going on, the Modlin Center for the Arts has a website (modlin.Richmond.edu) and a comprehensive calendar which can be found on campus or through the website.

Richmonders love the visual and performing arts. Many arts venues are available to us, but the Modlin Center is very affordable and offers a continuous schedule of a wide variety of arts, all in one location. The Extra Attic family has enjoyed participating in the Modlin Center activities and looks forward to many more. What a place! Take advantage of all the diverse arts right here in our back yard.